Time ticking on tipoff for Broomfield sports

BROOMFIELD – The city of Broomfield is doing its part to solidify Colorado’s reputation as a sports-loving state. The city is a couple months away from hosting semiprofessional hockey and basketball at its new events center.

The Rocky Mountain Rage is one of two expansion teams in the Central Hockey League’s 17-team field, and the Colorado 14ers is one of seven expansion teams in the NBA Development League and affiliate team of the Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors and the New Jersey Nets.

The teams are slated to begin their inaugural seasons at the new Broomfield Event Center after it opens in November.

As for ticket sales, Gary Hunter, president and chief executive officer Broomfield Sports, says he’s pleased. “We’re just beginning to have to a full marketing campaign for the rest of the fall to make our season ticket sales goals,” Hunter says.

Those goals are ambitious: to sell out every night for all games. “I know that’s a big goal, but that’s what we’re trying for,” Hunter says.

Season ticket prices for one ticket for hockey range from $480 to $1,180 for 32 games. Individual games range from $12 to $37 plus service charges. Season-ticket basketball prices run from $230 to $885 for 24 games and $7 to $37 plus service charges for individual tickets.

Nathan Reilly, director of ticket sales, said sales are going well. “We have a lot of interest and a lot of marketing hitting the airways.”

However, Reilly says there are still “plenty of season tickets” left for both sports.

Season Tickets are available now for the 2006-07 season by calling 303-439-RAGE or 303-465-HOOP. For more information, visit www.Broomfieldeventcenter.com. Individual game tickets will go on sale online Oct. 9 online at www.BroomfieldEventCenter.com.

The teams are also selling hats, T-shirts, sweatshirts and novelty items such as lapel pins, car decals and mini hockey sticks.

The center is a $45 million, 180,000-square-foot, 6,000-seat multipurpose arena currently under construction on the south side of U.S. Highway 36, between 112th and 120th streets. The center will include 25 suites, 900 club seats, a restaurant, two theme-bars and a separate basketball practice facility, and it will host more than 130 events per year, including concerts, trade shows, rodeos and sporting events.

The center is expected to open on time Nov. 1 and is a major anchor for the 215-acre multiuse development known as Arista. In addition to the center, the Arista development includes about 70,000 square feet of retail space and 150,000 square feet of office space. Hibernia Holdings and Trammell Crow Residential will build apartments, lofts and condos.

The center is teaming up with several area businesses for sponsorships. To date, more than 20 companies have also officially partnered with the Broomfield Event Center for the 2006-07 inaugural season.

Hunter says he’s “very pleased” with the response from the area business community for partnerships. He adds that Broomfield Sports is looking for many more businesses – from large companies to mom and pop retail stores – for sponsorship opportunities. He wouldn’t discuss what the pricing was for sponsorships.

One partner, Westminster Total Beverage, announced a multiyear agreement in August as a founding partner and official adult beverage supplier.

Erin Thomas, general manager of Westminster Total Beverage, says the partnership is good for the north metro area, “in particular Broomfield, Westminster and Thornton.”

The Rage will drop the puck on the 2006-07 inaugural season on Oct. 20 against in-state rival, the Colorado Eagles, at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland. The 32-home, 32-away game schedule begins with a six-game road trip. The team’s first home game at the center will be Nov. 10 against Tulsa.

“We have an exciting first season lined up,´ said Tracy Egeland, Rage head coach. “We are expecting to have a good conference with a lot of skill and talent on display. I think fans will be happy to see this level of hockey.”
Former Denver Nuggets player Joe Wolf will coach the 14ers.

Team Approach

Here are some of the companies signed on as sponsors, service providers and concessionaires for the inaugural season at The Broomfield Event Center.

Affiliated Fit Chiropractic (official chiropractor)
All Copy Products Inc. (business machines)
Baseline Engineering Corporation (engineering firm)
Boulder Broker Inn (official host hotel)
Dave and Busters Inc. (restaurant and entertainment)
Colorado Clean Gear (hockey equipment cleaner)
Crown Trophy (trophies and awards retailer and supplier)
Del Taco (24-hour Mexican and American quick serve restaurant)
Insight Lasik (Official lasik vision specialist)
Instant Imprints (T-shirt and merchandise supplier)
Joseph Mazzola’s Dentistry (official team dentist)
Omni Interlocken Hotel and Resorts (official four diamond hotel and resort)
Rocky Mountain Tire and Auto (auto service and repair)
Saunders Construction (construction company for the center)
Sherrick Construction Inc. (concrete construction)
Splitz Bowling Center (entertainment facility)
Summit at FlatIrons (official apartments for the Rocky Mountain Rage)
Marriott TownePlace Suites (official housing for the Colorado 14ers)
Waste Management
Zephyr Headwear (official retail headwear)

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