Flying Aces release full promo schedule for 2017-18 season
Youth jersey, stocking hat, camo hat giveaways among 20 different giveaway nights this season
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The Central Illinois Flying Aces released on Wednesday its full promotional schedule for its 2017-18 home season.
Included in the overhauled promo calendar are 20 different giveaway nights, season-long food and drink specials, and a series of postgame events that will give fans multiple opportunities to interact with Flying Aces players throughout the season.
“We’re incredibly excited about the fun-filled and giveaway-packed season we have put together for ours fans,” said Brendan Kelly, the Flying Aces Chief Operating Officer. “From the giveaways to the theme nights to the in-game experience, there are a lot of reasons to come out to a game this season — not to mention the next generation of NHL stars that fans get to watch. We’re also very grateful to have so many sponsors and supporters in the community to make all of these special nights possible.”
The Flying Aces drop the puck on the home season this weekend with a pair of games that will include the first taste of the revamped fan experience. Opening Night on Friday will feature the first of five $1,000 giveaways, a magnet schedule for the first 1,000 fans courtesy of Midwest Office, and a $3 drink special for 16-ounce domestic drafts and 24-ounce sodas. Military Appreciation Night will take place on Saturday night. The first 1,000 fans will receive a camouflage Flying Aces hat and hot dogs will be just $1 throughout the game. All active and retired military members will receive a free ticket to the game by showing identification at the Grossinger Motors Arena box office. The second of the five Grand-A-Game giveaways will also take place on Saturday night.
The Flying Aces will have postgame skates after all of the Sunday games this season (Dec. 31, Jan. 21, Feb. 18, and March 18), while fans will have the chance to get autographs after select Saturday games.
Although the Flying Aces have only three other home games before the holiday break in mid-December, all three games will have a giveaway and the Grand-A-Game promotion. All fans will receive a Flying Aces aviator winter scarf on Central Illinois’ Black Friday game on Nov. 24, the first 500 fans will receive a Flying Aces stocking hat presented by OSF Healthcare on Nov. 25, and the first 500 kids under the age of 12 will receive a light saber for STAR WARS Night on Dec. 1.
After the holiday break concludes, the Flying Aces will hold the Grand Re-Opening Night on Dec. 29, featuring the opening of the official team store ‘The Hangar,’ the unveiling of the new mascot, and the first game with the brand new dasher board and glass system in place. That night will also be the first Flying Aces Free Shirt Friday, which will be a series of three t-shirt giveaways during the second half of the season. The other dates for Flying Aces Free Shirt Friday are March 9 and March 23.
Besides Star Wars Night, the Flying Aces will have host of other theme nights throughout the season. Teddy Bear Toss will take place on Black Friday on Nov. 24, as fans will have the chance to throw stuffed animals onto the ice after the Aces’ first goal to benefit Toys for Tots. Other theme night highlights include Salute to Agriculture Night on Jan. 19, 80s Night on March 2, Pucks & Paws Night on March 3, St. Patty’s Night on March 10, and Youth Hockey Night on April 6. Those nights include several giveaways, as the Flying Aces will hand out cowbells (first 500 fans) on Salute to Agriculture Night, fanny packs (first 500 fans) on 80s Night, and dog bowls (first 250) on Pucks & Paws Night. Pucks & Paws Night marks the return of Wiener Dog Races, the second season of the event, while the Flying Aces will wear special green jerseys on St. Patty’s Night.
As is the case with Opening Weekend, the rest of the season will also include food and beverage specials. The $3 drink special for 16-ounce domestic drafts and 24-ounce sodas will take place at every Friday night game, and the ‘Dollar Dog’ special for $1 hot dogs will occur each Saturday throughout the season. In addition, all kids tickets will cost only $5 for every Sunday game, and the New Year’s Eve game on Dec. 31 will include both $5 kids tickets and $1 hot dogs.
The Flying Aces will have four postgame skates this season, as fans will get the opportunity to skate with the team at Grossinger Motors Arena following each of the Sunday games. The dates for the postgame skates are Dec. 31, Jan. 21, Feb, 18, and March 18. Along with the opportunity to interact with the Flying Aces players at postgame skates, fans will also have the chance to get autographs after select Saturday games on ‘Signature Saturdays.’
Fans can view the entire promotional schedule here. All promotional nights and corresponding giveaways are subject to change.
ABOUT THE FLYING ACES
Known as the Bloomington Thunder from 2014-17, the newly-rebranded Central Illinois Flying Aces are a member of the top junior hockey league in the United States, the United States Hockey League (USHL). The only Tier I junior hockey league in the country, the USHL has become renowned for developing the next stars of both Division I college hockey and the NHL. At the start of the 2017-18 season, there were 128 active USHL alumni on NHL rosters, with at least one USHL alumnus playing for each of the 31 teams. In total, there have been 253 USHL players who have gone onto NHL careers, including Patrick Sharp, David Backes, Johnny Gaudreau, and Joe Pavelski, among others. The players in the USHL range in age from 16-20 years old, 95 percent of whom will go on to play college hockey at the Division I level. For more information, visit flyingaceshockey.com or ushl.comor download the USHL Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
