The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim are trying to keep the team’s name in front of fans, even if the pucks aren’t flying.
Al Coates, the team’s senior vice president of business operations and interim general manager, said the Ducks aren’t “sitting still” during the hockey lockout.
The team has upped the number of community events it holds in a bid not to burn bridges with fans and corporate sponsors. The National Hockey League season was set to start in early October.
Last month the league locked out players with Commissioner Gary Bettman telling teams to release their arenas for other events through the end of October.
“The biggest goal we have set for us is retention,” Coates said of season seat holders and corporate partners. “It’s an opportunity for us to have more communication because we have the time.”
The team recently held a free dinner and movie for season ticket holders and partners on the beach at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, a first for the Ducks.
Coates said the Ducks likely wouldn’t have held this type of event “under normal circumstances.” But he said he was happy with the turnout.
Bill Chapin, director of ticket sales and customer service, said the event drew about 1,200 attendees, who watched the hockey film, “Miracle” and got free dinner from Santa Ana-based Fresca’s Mexican Grill’s Anaheim restaurant.
Fans also got to hang out with Mighty Ducks Head Coach Mike Babcock.
“We had an overwhelming response,” Chapin said.
The event also let advertisers and other team sponsors know “they’re top of mind,” he said.
The Ducks team has more events up its sleeve, according to Chapin.
“We think it positively impacts our season ticket base,” he said.
The team has retained more than 81% of its season ticket holders and signed up about 550 to 560 new accounts, Coates said.
Plus, the team’s suites “are all sold out for the first time in three and a half years,” he said.
Coates said he also plans to speak at various luncheon events to give people an update on the team and the lockout.
“We’re 100% supportive of what the commissioner is doing,” Coates said. “We’re going to play at some point.”
The team, meanwhile, keeps striking its own deals.
It recently signed a two-year contract with San Diego-based The Mighty 1090 AM to continue as its flagship radio station. The Mighty first signed with the Ducks last season.
OC Outpost
Westport, Conn.-based Source Marketing is eyeing OC.
The company recently opened an office in Ladera Ranch in a bid to grow its West Coast client base.
Vice President Kristen Daniels leads the office.
“Kristen’s experience as a West coast liaison and account director complements Source’s need for onsite representation to service clients on both coasts,” said Howard Steinberg, Source Marketing’s chief executive. “Her experience in promotional and marketing projects is a strong asset for managing bi-coastal campaigns for Source’s national clients.”
Daniels previously served as account director for the West Coast operations of Tipton & Maglione, a New York-based marketing firm.
Source Marketing’s clients include Time Warner Inc.’s AOL and Time Warner Cable, J.P. Morgan Chase Bank and Mattel Inc.
Board Play
Irvine-based Ocean Pacific Apparel Corp. is chasing skaters.
The surfwear apparel maker, which recently was bought by New York-based Warnaco Group Inc., has signed a licensing deal with Carpinteria-based OS3 Distribution LLC to make and sell “Op” longboard skateboards and slalom-style cruising skateboards.
OS3, which owns the Anomaly Skateboards, Revenge Trucks and Bulk Hardware brands, has “broad experience and competence in action sports product manufacturing and marketing,” said Andrew Lelchuk, senior vice president of Op, in a statement. “Its California roots make it a natural partner for us.”
The skateboard maker likely will piggyback on Op’s distribution and sell the skateboards in surf and skate shops and sporting good stores nationally.
Chip Marketing
The Orange County Ad Club is set to host Donald MacDonald, vice president of Intel’s sales and marketing group, at the Hyatt Newporter in Newport Beach on Tuesday.
MacDonald is set to talk about the marketing of Intel’s Centrino chipset for portable computers.
For more details, see ocadclub.org.
