Earlier today while at Health South…err, TSC…I had a chance to catch up with Kings executive and VP of Marketing Chris McGowan (who, if you read stuff here regularly, we like to call McChris).
After such a phenomenal inaugural event last summer, we wanted to know what was being planned for HockeyFest v2. As you’ve probably read, it’s scheduled to be a one-day event this year – held at the training facility on Saturday, September 11th.
Here are some details to hold you over until the official press release comes out in a few weeks:
* Ticket info is probably the most important thing you should pay attention to. They’re lowering the price to around $20 and there will be a limit of 2,000 tickets sold. Last year’s event sold a reported 3.500 tickets over the three days – so, if you plan on going, get your tickets when they go on sale.
* There will be plenty of parking! They’ve rented out the 6 or 8 story parking structure just west of TSC. There will a special walkway built with an entrance into a giant tented area that will cover what is now the main parking lot in front of the building. The tent will host the autograph signings, vendor tables, food, drink, etc. (similar to the tented area last year).
* A roller hockey tournament will take place on TSC’s outdoor roller rink.
* The main ice – where the Kings practice – will be covered and used as the “auditorium” for the seminars (i.e Q&A, featured speakers, etc.). Fans will be able to sit “on the ice” or in the permanent grandstands.
* Various skating sessions / clinics will be scheduled thoughout the day on the Olympic ice sheet.
* While last year’s event had a focus on the history of the Kings, this year’s theme will highlight the present…and to a certain extent, the future.
* The Kings 2010-11 Training Camp will begin a few days after HockeyFest 2010, so many – if not all – of the players are expected to participate (like last year).
* They’ll re-evaluate the entire event after it’s over to determine if it should stay at TSC or be moved back to downtown for v3 in 2011. As of now, they do plan to make the 2011 event a 2-day festival. This year was scaled back to one-day due to the Kings already hosting the draft, etc.
Stay tuned for more info in the weeks to come.
In the meantime, here are some MayorsManor articles from last year’s HockeyFest:
HF09 – Day One – Offhanded Observations
HF09 – Day Two – Where Art Though?
HF09 – Day Three – Sunday’s 3rd Best Session
HF09 – Day Three – Sunday’s 2nd Best Session
HF09 – Day Three – Saving the Best for Last
About John Hoven
