SF Bulls Inaugural Season - Part 2: Off-Ice Efforts

Published on April 24, 2013 under ECHL (ECHL)
San Francisco Bulls News Release


While no doubt, Bay Area natives flocked to the Cow Palace in the thousands each night to see the SF Bulls in action on the ice, the organization was just as proud of its off-ice efforts as those that took place on the ice. Below we highlight some of the Bulls community outreach, media coverage and special guests whose presence graced the Cow Palace in Year One.

Community Outreach

The Bulls from day one wanted to be ingrained in the Bay Area community through public appearances by members of the staff, the players, Rawhide, the Cow Belles and the Moo Crew. Throughout the season, the Bulls made nearly 100 appearances, visiting locations such as the SF Zoo, elementary schools, ice hockey rinks and hospitals. Whether it was signing autographs for children or helping in a Relay for Life walk, the Bulls strove to create added excitement for events around the Bay Area. But with the hockey season over, the community outreach won't slow down. Be sure to check the Community Page on SFBulls.com to find out where the Bulls will be next.

Along with community appearances, the Bulls, with the help of sponsors and fans, donated over $140,000 in money and goods for 240 non-profits in the region. Highlights included raising over $4,000 for the You Can Play Project, $3,000 for Kristi Yamaguchi's Always Dream Foundation, over $2,000 for SF Pride, $2,000 for the youth hockey organizations SF Sabercats and Oakland Bears, and nearly $2,000 for the Seton Medical Center Foundation to help in the fight against breast cancer.

In addition, the Bulls helped raise nearly 900 pounds of food for the North Peninsula Food Pantry and 300 toys for the SF Firefighters Local 798 Toy Drive. On December 7, over 2,500 stuffed animals littered the Cow Palace ice for the team's first Teddy Bear Toss. The stuffed animals were donated to Seton Medical Center to help those children in need especially during the Holiday Season.

Media Attention

With the SF Bulls bringing pro hockey back to the Cow Palace for the first time since 1996, the city was buzzing about the newest pro sports team in the City by the Bay. Media attention was aplenty in the inaugural season, with the SF Chronicle even gushing about the team writing the "Greatest Local Press Release of 2012."

A number of local news outlets and blogs sent beat writers to cover the team on a game-by-game basis, including the SF Examiner, SFBay, Sports Radio Service and InsideHockey.com.

Opening Night, which featured a sold-out crowd of 8,277, hosted about 50 media members, and was covered in a variety of media outlets, including the SF Chronicle and CSN California . Even before the season started, the Bulls drew plenty of attention from the signing of their first player, Peter Sivak, and the announcing of their affiliation with the San Jose Sharks.

The game at HP Pavilion on December 17 and the signing of Ryane Clowe garnered additional coverage from the likes of San Jose-based outlets, such as the Mercury News.

Pat Curcio and the players were seen and heard on a number of TV and radio programs, including Chronicle Live on CSN, Lamont and Tonelli on 107.7 the Bone, Murph and Mac on KNBR, Sports with Gary Radnich on KRON and the KGO Radio Morning Show.

Vern Glenn on CBS 5 also had some fun with the Bulls, demonstrating his fighting skills against Menlo Park native, Hans Benson.

Nationally, the Bulls received a slew of press. The affiliation of the Bulls with the Sharks reached the Associated Press, spreading the news to dozens of media outlets across the nation. Yahoo! Sports blog, Puck Daddy, commented multiple times on the Bulls, twice for their creative commercials, promoting upcoming games, including Wrangle a Date Wednesday . ESPN's subsidiary website, Grantland, covered the team's National Anthem tryouts over the summer . The Wall Street Journal, twice, and the Huffington Post also stopped by the Cow Palace to write feature stories. Plus, SB Nation's Outsports website covered the Bulls' LGBTQ Night in March .

Special Guests

It certainly doesn't hurt to have a pro hockey team in one of the greatest cities in the world. There is no shortage of celebrities in the Bay Area, and a number of them paid a visit to the hallowed grounds. Opening Night was a night to remember, featuring a VIP Party that hosted a number of the faces of the San Jose Sharks, including GM Doug Wilson and longtime "Voice of the Sharks," Dan Rusanowsky. In addition, Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead performed at the game. James Hetfield of Metallica also stopped by to take in a game. Closer of the World Series Champion San Francisco Giants, Sergio Romo, dropped the puck on November 9 and "Robo-Bombed," following an interview on Comcast Hometown Network. The Bulls also welcomed Kristi Yamaguchi and Bret Hedican for the Always Dream Foundation game. Plus, Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Champion Joey Chestnut judged the Bulls' Hot Dog Eating Competition, while Emmy Award winning anchor on ABC 7, Dan Ashley, performed with his band, Push.

Tickets

Season Ticket and Partial Plan Holders, put down a deposit by June 1 and receive Bulls merchandise incentives for renewing for the 2013-14 season. For more information on becoming a Season Ticket Holder, call up the Bulls office at 855-SF-BULLS.

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