Indy Fuel Touts Early Ticket Sales
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndianapolis' new professional hockey team is reporting more than 500 season ticket commitments in its first month. The ECHL team will play its home games beginning in October at the State Fairgrounds Coliseum. Indy Fuel President Sean Hallett and Indiana State Fair Commission Public Relations Director Andy Klotz discussed the franchise last month on Inside INdiana Business Television.
January 22, 2014
News Release
Indianapolis, Ind. — As they prepared for a public introduction late last year, owners of the Indy Fuel hockey team counted on an enthusiastic response from Hoosier fans anxious to welcome the professional game back to the Circle City. Early ticket commitments show their optimism was more than justified.
With only grassroots promotion, limited seating and ticket pricing information (the team’s 'home ice,' the State Fairgrounds Coliseum, is still under construction), the new ECHL expansion franchise attracted more than 500 season ticket commitments in its first month.
“The support has been overwhelming,” said Fuel president Sean Hallett. “Fans are passionate about pro hockey and excited to welcome it back to the Fairgrounds.”
The Fuel recently moved into new offices at the State Fairgrounds and hired minor league hockey and baseball marketing veteran Scott Brumfiel as its Vice-President of Ticketing & Operations to expand the franchise sales and marketing effort, building on early momentum.
“We were excited to announce the franchise after finalizing the Coliseum lease with the State Fairgrounds,” Hallett said. “But we did so in the middle of the holiday season, without a coach, final ticket prices or even a seating chart, using local publicity and social media. Reaching more than 500 season tickets in just a month shows us the incredible potential pro hockey has in Indianapolis.
“We're building a front office organization with top-flight professionals like Scott Brumfiel, and look forward to building a team that gives our fans an exciting brand of winning hockey – we're just getting started.”
Brumfiel has more than twenty years of front office and consulting experience in minor league hockey, baseball and basketball, Major League Baseball and motorsports. He most recently served as Director of Sales for the Kannapolis Intimidators baseball franchise (North Carolina) and the Odessa Jackalopes CHL/NAHL hockey team. He has worked with teams in Fort Wayne and Richmond, Indiana, as well as the Cincinnati Reds.
“Indianapolis is well-known as a great sports town across the country, and I believe the existing hockey fan base and the commitment of the Hallett family can make it a great pro hockey market too,” said Brumfiel. “I'm excited to help build a winning team and reintroduce the pro game to Indy – and to be back in Indiana for such a great opportunity.”
Hallett said the team is currently in discussions with potential National Hockey League affiliate partners, and also expects to announce a coaching staff in the spring. Player recruitment will be underway by early June. As construction on the renovated Fairgrounds Coliseum progresses, the team also expects to release an exact seating chart with ticket pricing and begin capitalizing on strong corporate interest.
“Many fans have been waiting for more details on tickets and the team,” finished Hallett. “We expect to make a lot of news over the next few months, as well as offering group packages – there's not a bad seat in the house, with affordable family fun for only $12 to $39 a ticket.”
Season ticket deposits reserved by January 1st were entered in a lottery to select the first seats in the Fairgrounds Coliseum. The Fuel will announce the lottery winners in early February and host these ticket-holders at an open house at the Coliseum in April. Ticket deposits are now being accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis online at IndyFuelHockey.com, where fans can also keep up with the latest news from the team. Fans can connect with the Fuel on Twitter @IndyFuel and at Facebook.com/IndyFuel.
Source: Indy Fuel