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WHL Brandon Wheat Kings

Wheaties slash season ticket prices

June 8, 2006 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Brandon Wheat Kings News Release


Brandon, Manitoba - In an unprecedented move, the Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings have announced plans to cut Season Ticket prices to $250 for the 2006-07 season, in an effort to sell over 2,500 season tickets for the first time in franchise history.

The Wheat Kings, who sold 1,700 ticket packages last season, averaged 3,154 fans during the 2005-06 campaign, ranking them sixteenth in the 20-team circuit. Although last year's season ticket numbers were among the best ever, Brandon general manager/head coach/owner Kelly McCrimmon says those totals fall well short of other clubs in similar size markets.

"We have identified for some time that one of the organizations make or break challenges is to grow our season ticket base," says McCrimmon. "While we have shown modest improvements over the past five years we still rank at the bottom of the WHL in terms of season tickets."

"We are using this price shock to jump ticket sales dramatically," McCrimmon went on to say. "$250 equates to a ticket price of $6.95 per game, less than half the regular admission price and down from $10.28 per game last year."

To streamline and simplify the season ticket buying process, their will be two price points available this season. Adult tickets will be $250 and youth (ages 18 and under) will be $125.

Winners of three of the last five Eastern Division pennants, the Wheat Kings also announced that ticket prices at the door will remain the same (among the lowest in the league) for the third year in a row.

2006-07 Gate Admission Prices;

Adults $14.00
Seniors $11.00 (ages 60 and over)
Gen X $11.00 (ages 19-30)
Youth $ 9.00 (ages 13-18)
Children $ 6.00 (ages 6 to 12)

In other news, the Wheat Kings in conjunction with the Keystone Centre are pleased to announce that thanks to the efforts of the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba, Brandon will have the opportunity to host games one and two of their best of seven opening round playoff series in March, should Brandon have home ice advantage in round one. During recent years, the Wheat Kings have played game two on the road to accommodate the start of the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair.

"I personally am extremely grateful to Keystone general manager Patty Griffith, Provincial Exhibition President Jim Ferguson and general manager Karen Oliver for their efforts in accommodating our request for the Saturday preceding the Winter Fair," says McCrimmon. "This is great news for Wheat King fans and players."

As well as introducing their new Season Ticket prices, the Wheat Kings used Thursday's news conference at the Royal Oak Inn to unveil their new 40th Anniversary Commemorative logo.

Designed by Keith Flynn of Flynnagain Productions in Toronto, the Anniversary logo recognizes Brandon's 40th season in the WHL. After splitting time between the Manitoba and Saskatchewan Junior Hockey Leagues during the fifties and early sixties, the Wheat Kings joined the Western Canada Hockey League in 1967, finishing in eighth place with a record of 21-33-6 in sixty games.

Plans for what should be an exciting and eventful 40th Anniversary season are currently underway with details to be announced throughout the summer.

Fans wanting to purchase 2006-07 Season Tickets can phone 726-3535 or by emailing the hockey club at office@wheatkings.com

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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