In addition to the return of popular annual events including Race Weekend (Jan 22 and 23), Pink in the Rink Weekend (Feb. 12 and 13), the Teddy Bear Toss (Dec. 20) and the Pooch Party (April 10), the coming season will also feature several events that highlight the team’s historic return home to Bojangles’ Coliseum.
Opening Night on Saturday, Nov. 7, will feature a viewmaster giveaway, presented by Bojangles’, that showcases the history of hockey in the building dating back to the sold-out first game in 1956. Opening Weekend, which includes a rematch with Manitoba the following afternoon, will also feature cowbell and magnet schedule giveaways and the opportunity to skate with the team immediately following Sunday’s game.The Checkers will further recognize their heritage on Throwback Weekend, presented by Husqvarna, on Saturday, Dec. 5, and Sunday, Dec. 6. The team will wear the same jerseys worn by the 1996 Riley Cup championship team on both nights, with alumni from that team present for a ceremony on Saturday and several of the team’s builders, including former coach Pat Kelly, honored on Sunday. Throwback jerseys worn by the current group of Checkers during both games will be available during a postgame auction on Saturday.
Other new promotions include “Winning Wednesdays” in which all fans in attendance for Wednesday games will receive a free ticket to the next Wednesday game should the Checkers emerge victorious. The Checkers will also hold their first ever Social Media Night on Dec. 17 and a LEGO Night on April 1.
Returning events include Star Wars Night (Dec. 19) and the expansion of the team’s popular Thirsty Thursday promotion, featuring $1 Bud Light draughts, to several other weekday games (six total). The Checkers will continue to offer discounts for families and college students on select dates and will hold several community drives, including toy and DVD drives to benefit Novant Health, a toy drive sponsored by Country Boy Landscaping, a cell phone drive presented by Verizon and WSOC’s Steve’s Coats for Kids drive.
Tickets for opening night on Nov. 7 go on sale Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 10 a.m. Tickets for all other games go on sale exactly one week later on Tuesday, Sept. 29. Season tickets, mini plans and group outings are on sale now.
