$418,000 (USD) RAISED FOR HOCKEY
FIGHTS CANCER THROUGH NHL ON-LINE AUCTION
NHL-edition Dodge Viper, Wayne Gretzky’s Jersey Each Raised More Than
$80,000
[February 9, 2000] -- NEW YORK, NY – A bidding
frenzy on the final date of the Hockey Fights Cancer Dodge On-Line Charity
Auction attracted more than $120,000 USD in bids, bringing the final total
raised to $418,330 USD ($601,438 CDN). Conducted by the National Hockey
League, National Hockey League Players’ Association and Dodge, the Hockey
Fights Cancer/Dodge On-Line Charity Auction was the first ever on-line auction
of unique hockey memorabilia and original artwork, and benefited Hockey Fights
Cancer. Of the 100 authentic hockey items featured, the following items
garnered the highest bids:
·Special NHL edition Dodge Viper -- $84,500 USD
($121,580 CDN)
·Wayne Gretzky’s final game-worn NHL All-Star jersey --
$80,500 USD ($115,830 CDN)
·Jaromir Jagr’s game-worn 1999 NHL All-Star jersey --
$8,000 USD ($11,510 CDN)
·Trip to Japan for 2000-2001 NHL Season Opening Game --
$7,500 USD ($10,790 CDN)
·The NHL’s Visions of Hockey collection, a body of
hockey-themed artwork commissioned by the NHL to
commemorate the sport, featured 12 original works of
art and collectively raised $54,137 USD ($77,890 CDN)
NHL fans, who according to Nielsen Research, have more access and are more
Internet proficient than fans of other sports leagues, accounted for more than
8,000 bids on-line. The bidding, which was held between Jan. 19 and Feb. 7,
saw participation from fans around the world, including those from Australia,
Canada, England, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay,
United States, and parts of Latin America. The bidding base for the Hockey
Fights Cancer/Dodge On-Line Auction not only represents hockey’s global fan
base, but also its player base, where NHL rosters are made up of players from
17 different countries.
Hockey Fights Cancer is a joint charitable initiative founded in December
1998 by the NHLPA and NHL in honor of those in the hockey community who have
struggled or continue to struggle with the disease. Hockey Fights Cancer has
raised more than $2.45 million USD ($3.5 million CDN) to date for local cancer
organizations as well as the Canadian and American Cancer Society national
organizations.
Dodge, the official vehicles of the NHL and NHLPA, promoted the Hockey
Fights Cancer/Dodge On-Line Charity Auction with a special advertising
campaign, featuring national television, radio, and print advertisements.
Dodge will provide all registered bidders a URL address linking them to an
on-line photograph of the NHL All-Star team with the NHL branded Dodge Viper.
The official auction partners of the Auction were Internet Sports Network (OTCBB-ISNI),
a leading provider of internet-based sports auctions, contests, fantasy
leagues, sports merchandising and promotions, (www.sportsrocket.com) and
Auctions.com, the world's fastest growing on-line auction network (www.auctions.com).
MINNESOTA WILD ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT
WITH KMSP, UPN 9 AS THE EXCLUSIVE OVER-THE-AIR BROADCAST PARTNER
[February 10, 2000] -- The National Hockey
League’s (NHL) Minnesota Wild announced today that the club has signed an
exclusive five-year over-the-air television broadcast agreement with KMSP,
UPN 9 to telecast Minnesota Wild home and away hockey games, starting with
the Wild’s inaugural 2000-2001 NHL season. As per club policy, no financial
terms of the agreement were disclosed.
KMSP, UPN 9 will televise between 22-25 regular season games per season
over the five-year agreement that runs through the 2004-2005 NHL season. KMSP,
UPN 9 will also have the right to broadcast selected Minnesota Wild Stanley
Cup contests in the first and second rounds. Additionally, KMSP, UPN 9 will
produce unique Wild programming that includes pre-season and post-season
specials and programming surrounding the NHL Expansion and Entry Drafts. This
agreement will also provide strong promotional, community and marketing
opportunities between the Minnesota Wild and KMSP, UPN 9.
“We are extremely excited to be partners with Stu Swartz and the entire
KMSP, UPN 9 family. It is exciting to be associated with a prestigious station
that gives us great credibility and validates our goal of being a franchise
for the entire Upper Midwest region,” said Wild President Tod Leiweke.
“KMSP, UPN 9’s outstanding viewer reach in the Twin Cities and greater
Minnesota will serve our fans and help achieve our vision of being a
regional-based franchise.”
Through its cable and translator penetration KMSP, UPN 9 can reach more
Minnesotans than any other television station. Based on Nielsen TV and Cable
TV household estimates, KMSP, UPN 9 can reach a total of more than 1.7 million
households in and outside the Twin Cities metro area. The Eden Prairie, Minn.
based KMSP, UPN 9 is owned by United Television, Inc.
“We are looking forward to the NHL’s return to the state of Minnesota
and we can’t wait to start televising the inaugural Minnesota Wild
season,” said KMSP, UPN 9 General Manager Stuart Swartz. “This agreement
maintains our station’s position as the Twin Cities leader in local
over-the-air sports broadcasting.”
KMSP, UPN 9 has a strong tradition of covering hockey in Minnesota
including broadcasting Minnesota North Stars games and the Minnesota State
High School League Boys and Girls State Hockey Tournaments. Additional sports
coverage on KMSP, UPN 9 includes Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Minnesota
Twins, the Minnesota State High League Basketball Tournaments and the
Minnesota State High School League Football Tournament’s Prep Bowl.
The Minnesota Wild begins play in the 2000-2001 NHL season in the Northwest
Division of the Western Conference. For more information on the Minnesota Wild
please call (651) 222-WILD (9453).
FINALISTS NAMED FOR THE 16TH ANNUAL
MR. HOCKEY AWARD
TICKETS FOR THE MR. HOCKEY AWARDS BANQUET ON MARCH 12th ON SALE NOW
[February 23, 2000] -- SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.
-- The National Hockey League's (NHL) Minnesota Wild announced today that
Matt Hendricks of Blaine, Tim Jackman of Park Center, Paul Martin of Elk
River, Colin Peters of Eden Prairie and Aaron Slattengren of Proctor are the
five finalists for this year's Mr. Hockey Award. The club also announced Jake
Brandt of Roseau will be awarded The Frank Brimsek Award in
recognition of the state's top goaltender. The sixteenth annual Mr. Hockey
Awards Banquet is on Sunday, March 12 at noon from the Prom Catering Company
(484 Inwood Avenue North, located at the intersection of I-94 and Radio Drive
in Oakdale).
As part of the club's Grass Roots Hockey Initiative, the Minnesota Wild are
co-sponsors of the Mr. Hockey Awards Banquet along with Acceleration
Minnesota. The Mr. Hockey Award is hosted by The Minnesota Minutemen.
The Mr. Hockey Award is given to the outstanding senior high school hockey
player in the state of Minnesota and is selected by a panel of National Hockey
League Scouts and Division One Coaches from around the state. The runners up
for this year's Mr. Hockey Award were Andy Canzanello of Rochester Mayo, Ross
Carlson of Duluth East, Ryan Connelly of White Bear Lake, Jon Hart of Park
Center and Ryan Langenbrunner of Cloquet. Jeff Taffe from Hastings High School
was the 1999 Mr. Hockey Award recipient. Two other awards will be presented at
the banquet. The John Mariucci Award is given to the Class A and Class AA the
high school coaches of the year and The Cliff Thompson Award is presented to
the "Old Timer Coach" of the year.
For more information on tickets for the Mr. Hockey Awards Banquet,
please contact Larry McMahon at (612) 504-6322 Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM to
5:00 PM or contact Mary Hedberg at (651) 735-2184 during evenings and
weekends.
MINNESOTA WILD ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT
WITH WCCO RADIO (830 AM) AS CLUB’S OFFICIAL FLAGSHIP RADIO STATION
[February 28, 2000] -- The National Hockey
League’s (NHL) Minnesota Wild announced today that the club has signed an
exclusive three-year radio agreement with WCCO
Radio (830 AM) to broadcast all Minnesota Wild hockey games starting with
the Wild’s inaugural 2000-2001 NHL season. WCCO Radio will become the
official flagship station of the Minnesota Wild through the 2002-2003 season.
As per club policy, no financial terms of the agreement were disclosed.
All Minnesota Wild hockey games, including all pre-season games, regular
season contests and Stanley Cup Playoff games (where applicable) will be
broadcast by WCCO Radio over the three-year agreement. In addition, WCCO Radio
will produce exclusive Wild programming that will include extensive pre-game
and post-game shows along with a Head Coaches Show to be aired twice a week
during the season. WCCO Radio will also produce special Wild programming
around the NHL Expansion and Entry Drafts and expansive coverage of the
Wild’s inaugural training camp. Any preempted games will be heard on KSGS
Sold Gold Soul Radio (950 AM).
“We are thrilled to partner with the state’s largest radio station,
WCCO Radio,” said Minnesota Wild President Tod Leiweke. “This agreement
ensures that every Minnesota Wild game can be heard by hockey fans throughout
Minnesota and the Upper Midwest.”
WCCO Radio is a 50,000-watt clear-channel station that covers 88 counties,
including 13 in the Twin Cities metropolitan area and 75 non-metro counties in
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and South Dakota. In the evening, the station can
be picked up in over 28 states and 3 Canadian provinces. It has been
Minnesota’s most listened to radio station based on total cumulative
audience since 1924. WCCO Radio is owned by Infinity Broadcasting Corporation
and CBS.
“We are extremely excited to partner with the Minnesota Wild and be able
to broadcast every moment of the NHL’s return to our state,” said WCCO
Radio Vice President and General Manager Brian Whittemore.
As part of this agreement, WCCO Radio becomes a community relations,
marketing and promotional partner with the Minnesota Wild. WCCO Radio’s
website, www.wcco.com
will also be linked to the Minnesota Wild website, www.wild.com
.
The Twin Cities leader in live game sports broadcasting, WCCO Radio is home
to the Major League Baseball’s (MLB) Minnesota Twins, the National Football
League’s (NFL) Minnesota Vikings and the University of Minnesota football
and basketball teams. WCCO Radio is also home to the World Series, the Super
Bowl, the Final Four and Monday Night Football.
MINNESOTA WILD ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT
WITH VOLUME SERVICES AMERICA TO MANAGE FOODSERVICE IN NEW SAINT PAUL ARENA
[February 29, 2000] -- The National Hockey
League’s (NHL) Minnesota Wild announced today that Volume Services America,
one of the nation’s largest providers of foodservice for sports,
entertainment and convention center venues, has been awarded the food and
beverage contract for the New Saint Paul Arena. As per club policy, financial
terms of the multi-year agreement were not disclosed.
The 18,600-seat New Saint Paul Arena, currently under construction in
downtown Saint Paul, will be directly connected to the adjacent RiverCentre
Convention Center. The Minnesota Wild will begin play in its inaugural NHL
season in the new arena in the fall of 2000.
“We are excited to partner with Volume Services America in the New Saint
Paul Arena,” said Minnesota Wild CEO Jac Sperling. “Fans attending events
at our new multi-purpose arena can look forward to receiving terrific food and
beverage selections combined with superior foodservice.”
Volume Services America will manage all concessions foodservice, and it is
providing consulting assistance for the venue’s catering and luxury suite
dining. The company is also assisting in the design and construction process,
as it pertains to food and merchandise services.
“We are extremely proud to be a part of the Minnesota Wild team,” said
Steve Denny, regional vice president for Volume Services America. “Our
General Manager, Mark Pevan, has a long history of NHL foodservice experience
to bring to the New Saint Paul Arena, as Mark served the former Minnesota
North Stars when the team called Bloomington their home. Creativity,
outstanding customer service and premium products are cornerstones in our
planning and preparation.”
According to Denny, regional foods such as Walleye strips and mini-donuts
will be abundant, and display kitchens and cooking areas will be featured
throughout the venue. In addition to standard food, concepts planned include
Sausage Haus, Sweet Snacks, Pizza, Grills, Hot ‘n Spicy, Espresso Bar,
Carvery and main and Club Level lounges.
Volume Services America has provided the foodservice for the RiverCentre
Convention Center since 1977 and for the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in
Minneapolis since 1982.
Based in Spartanburg, S.C., Volume Services America is one of North
America’s largest providers of food, beverage, merchandise and facility
design and management services for sports, convention and entertainment
venues. With approximately 120 accounts, the company serves 10 National
Football League (NFL) stadiums, seven Major League Baseball (MLB) parks and
the largest number of major convention centers in the United States.
MINNESOTA WILD ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT
WITH MORRISSEY HOSPITALITY COMPANIES INC. TO PROVIDE PREMIUM FOODSERVICE
[February 29, 2000] -- The National Hockey
League’s (NHL) Minnesota Wild announced today that Morrissey Hospitality
Companies Inc. has been awarded the premium foodservice contract for the New
Saint Paul Arena. As per club policy, no financial terms of the multi-year
deal were disclosed.
Morrissey Hospitality Companies Inc. will be responsible for providing
premium food and beverage service for the Minnesota Wild’s 74 suites, a
190-seat restaurant in the Club Level and a unique private Club Level lounge.
This premium foodservice will include innovative food, wine and beverage
selections for Minnesota Wild premium seat patrons. Morrissey’s focus on
customer service and staff training will ensure that premium seat holders will
have a top-quality food and beverage experience in the new Arena.
“We are very excited to announce that Morrissey Hospitality Companies
Inc. will provide our premium foodservice,” said Minnesota Wild CEO Jac
Sperling. “They share our commitment to providing our fans the best upscale
hospitality and dinning experience possible in our building.”
Started in 1995, Morrissey Hospitality Companies Inc. has built an
excellent reputation in the Twin Cities and Minnesota as a premier provider of
hospitality services. They currently operate first-class foodservice at The
St. Paul Grill, The Saint Paul Hotel and Pazzalunas in downtown St. Paul, The
Timbers Restaurant and Sticks Lounge at The Lodge at Giants Ridge in Biwabik,
Minn., the Port of Red Wing Restaurant and the St. James Hotel in Red Wing,
Minn. Bill Morrissey, President of Morrissey Hospitality Companies Inc., has
worked in the foodservice business for 32-years.
“We look forward to serving the arena customers who demand the high-level
of foodservice we offer,” said Morrissey. “Eating at the Saint Paul Arena
will be as exciting as the arena and events will be.”
