WILD 365 CREATES HOCKEY EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR
Mar 11, 2015Wild 365
By Tom Witosky
@toskyAHLWild
Fans for life.
That’s what Iowa Wild President Todd Frederickson is seeing more and more as the American Hockey League franchise nears the end of its second season in Iowa.
“At this point, we have fans of the Iowa Wild for life,” Frederickson said last week in an interview. “Right now, we rank 11th in the league in attendance after having a remarkably strong renewal of season tickets last year. We are extremely happy and appreciative of how our fan base is coming together.”
Just its second year in Des Moines, the Wild is averaging more than 5,700 fans per game this season and has been sinking its roots deep into a community that has responded positively to the club’s efforts. Iowa Wild sweaters, sweatshirts and hats are now seen frequently throughout the area as the club’s foundation is being built effectively with patience and commitment to community.
For example, Frederickson said, the club’s sponsorship of a Floor Hockey program for Des Moines area schools jumped from 65 schools last year to 100 this year with student participation jumping from 22,000 participants to 35,000.
The Wild’s top executive said he visited a school recently when four Wild players – Kurtis Gabriel, Tyle Graovac, Alex Gudbranson and Johan Gustafsson – showed-up to play floor hockey.
“They were having a ball,” he said. “They aren’t that far from being kids themselves.”
The club’s elementary school reading program will have 24,000 participants this season alone.
Meanwhile, the Iowa Wild’s mascot, Crash, or players like Gabriel, Graovac and Marc Hagel are each becoming more well-known through the area with their public appearances and community service.
“For us, we remain committed to continue building our connections to the community and grow our commitment as a corporate contributor to the community. We have achieved a lot in the community in a short period of time, but we still have work to do.”
As a result, Frederickson and his staff are touting a new program for full season and 21-game season ticket holders that provides the growing group of fans with an easy way to keep their interest in the Wild alive all year long, bring them closer together as Wild fans and give them financial flexibility in keeping their ticket packages year after year. The Wild has 1,700 season tickets sold for the current season, but believe offering the new club -- Wild 365 – will provide incentives for fans to renew their tickets or upgrade to become a season ticket holder.
“Essentially, your season ticket purchase will also make you a part of an exclusive club of season ticket holders who will be able to do a lot of things throughout the year, not just between October and April when the team is playing,” he said. “We want to keep people engaged with the club and with each other all year.”
Frederickson acknowledged that season ticket prices have increased up to three percent, but said that the jump doesn’t wipe out the cost savings compared to buying a ticket for individual games. Overall, purchasers of full season tickets will save from eight percent to 39 percent on individual tickets depending upon seat location.
“We’ve had an increase in the cost of business,” Frederickson said, pointing out that the club kept prices the same for two seasons.
Frederickson said a season ticket holder clubs are not common among minor league franchises, but have been used successfully by major league clubs. “The Washington Capitals have one, as do the Cleveland Cavaliers,” he said. “We think this kind of benefit for our season ticket holders provides them with outstanding benefits and value for their dollars.”
In all, there is a robust list of over 20 exemplary benefits of joining Wild 365.
Benefits for membership in the new Wild 365 club include:
--Discounted prices on Minnesota Wild tickets (select dates) plus free tickets to one Minnesota Wild preseason game.
--2015 Season Ticket Holder night at an Iowa Cubs game.
-- Flexible payment plans for season ticket purchases including a 12-month plan.
--Exclusive Meet the Team Party.
--Discounted and presale tickets to selected events at Wells Fargo Arena.
Frederickson also said that anyone renewing or purchasing either a full season or 21-game season tickets for the 2015-16 before March 15 will receive a Wild 365 membership blanket emblazoned with a new club logo.
“The new logo is about being part of an exclusive club that Iowa Wild fans will want to be member.” Frederickson said. “It is an easy way to represent themselves as being part of this club.”