Winterhawks nominated for 2024 WHL Business Award
The Portland Winterhawks Hockey Club is proud to be recognized by the Western Hockey League as the U.S. Division nominee for the WHL Business Award. The Winterhawks are one of four finalists nominated for the 2024 WHL Business Award, which is presented annually to the WHL Club that best exemplifies giving back to the community and producing an electrifying game-day experience for the fans.
The Winterhawks welcomed over 165,000 fans this season and strived to grow the sport while also giving back to our community. While the team was pushing for its U.S. Division Regular Season Championship, the fans showed their unwavering support at family-friendly game nights, including selling out the VMC during the Teddy Bear Toss game for a second consecutive year.
In total, 22 of our 34 home games were highlighted by a promotion or community initiative to provide extra entertainment and fundraise for community groups. We partnered with local organizations like the Boys and Girls Club Portland, Women in Sports and Events (WISE), Portland Women’s Hockey League, First Tee, You Can Play, the Oregon Zoo, the Sunshine Division, and more in our various “Hawkey For All” theme nights – Hawkey For All Night, Black Hockey History, Pride Night, Women of the Rose City Night, and Kid’s Day Game.
It is our goal to showcase the best sport in the world to the greater Portland area and expose more youth to the sport of hockey. In addition to the game night promotions, our Winterhawks players helped run 14 on-ice classes and skated with Portland-area youth as part of our free, learn-to-skate Tom’s Tykes program. The Boys and Girls Club Portland was one of the groups to benefit from this program, sending 40 of its kids to learn to skate. Charity events like our annual Winterhawks Golf Tournament in the fall help to raise funds for initiatives like the Tom’s Tykes program.
The Winterhawks continued its local partnership with Portland Gear and introduced new merchandise collections throughout the season to align with key promotional nights. On four occasions, this merchandise initiative included a theme jersey. Select theme jerseys were auctioned off with a portion of the proceeds going directly back to our community.
On game nights, fans enjoyed extended access to our V.I.P lounge and social areas, including on-ice viewing experiences in the Winterhawks Beer Garden, Tap Room, Bottle Shop, and Community Corner. The Winterhawks implemented a targeted marketing strategy on a bi-monthly basis to highlight their upcoming promotions and game nights. This strategy included TV and radio commercials, digital billboard campaigns, social media campaigns, and partnerships with local bars and restaurants.
The players also assisted the marketing efforts in collaboration with their college media class. The Winterhawks connected with Portland youth through a pen pal program, helped with merchandise and marketing photoshoots, in-game messaging, and social media activations. The college class also allowed the players time to self-produce and record a player-led portion of the Winterhawks bi-weekly podcast, giving fans an inside look at the Winterhawks players and season.
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Tickets for the Winterhawks’ 2024 WHL Playoffs run are on sale NOW! Click here to purchase single-game tickets (more games will be added as they are announced/needed) and be there as your hometown Hawks chase a fourth WHL Championship!
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