Post by Banana Cat on Mar 24, 2012 5:40:02 GMT -5
siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/a1/weeklong-effort-prepares-tyson-events-center-for-bandits-kick-off/article_01cee600-913d-5c58-bb4a-28a9cb2f1792.html
Weeklong effort prepares Tyson Events Center for Bandits' kick-off
By Nate Robson / siouxcityjournal.com
March 23, 2012
SIOUX CITY -- Hockey goals were swapped for field goal posts in a weeklong transformation that turned Tyson Events Center's ice rink into an indoor football arena for the Sioux City Bandits' opening kick-off Saturday.
The football turf was unrolled, end zones painted, sponsorship signs hung and hotdogs stocked in preparation for the start of the team's 12th season.
Aran Rush, the city's executive director of events, said the most interesting part of pregame preparations is watching the Musketeers' hockey rink transform into a football field.
The process is similar to what's done when the New York Rangers' rink is swapped for the New York Knicks' basketball court at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, Rush said.
"Putting the Bandits floor down on top of the ice is always interesting," Rush said. "We have to put a cover on the ice, then put the AstroTurf on top of that. It's definitely a process."
Crews took a week to prepare for the Bandits' season opener Saturday, but most times they have to prepare overnight as the Tyson center transitions from one scheduled event to the next.
Team merchandise also has to be ordered and stocked for fans eager to cheer on their team in style.
Bandits General Manager Mark Carley said he could not release specific numbers, but he said 60 percent of merchandise sales consists of hats, T-shirts, sweatshirts and sweatpants. The Bandits sell about $60,000 worth of merchandise each season.
A new item some expect to be popular this year is a women's Bandits blouse adorned with "bling," or colorful sequins, but Carley said horns, whistles and any other noisemakers are also popular items.
"People like to have horns or anything that makes noise," Carley said. "Especially the kids."
Concessions also take a lot of preparation to ensure fans enjoy their game experience, Rush said.
Last season's home games averaged almost $16,000 each in concession sales as an average of 4,150 fans washed down nachos and hotdogs with soda and beer.
Food is just as popular outside the stadium, too, where as many as 800 fans can often be found tailgating before finding their way inside, Rush said.
"We stock food every week," Rush said. We have big refrigerators and freezers in the ground floors of the Tyson that we store all the food in for each game and events."
By Nate Robson / siouxcityjournal.com
March 23, 2012
SIOUX CITY -- Hockey goals were swapped for field goal posts in a weeklong transformation that turned Tyson Events Center's ice rink into an indoor football arena for the Sioux City Bandits' opening kick-off Saturday.
The football turf was unrolled, end zones painted, sponsorship signs hung and hotdogs stocked in preparation for the start of the team's 12th season.
Aran Rush, the city's executive director of events, said the most interesting part of pregame preparations is watching the Musketeers' hockey rink transform into a football field.
The process is similar to what's done when the New York Rangers' rink is swapped for the New York Knicks' basketball court at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, Rush said.
"Putting the Bandits floor down on top of the ice is always interesting," Rush said. "We have to put a cover on the ice, then put the AstroTurf on top of that. It's definitely a process."
Crews took a week to prepare for the Bandits' season opener Saturday, but most times they have to prepare overnight as the Tyson center transitions from one scheduled event to the next.
Team merchandise also has to be ordered and stocked for fans eager to cheer on their team in style.
Bandits General Manager Mark Carley said he could not release specific numbers, but he said 60 percent of merchandise sales consists of hats, T-shirts, sweatshirts and sweatpants. The Bandits sell about $60,000 worth of merchandise each season.
A new item some expect to be popular this year is a women's Bandits blouse adorned with "bling," or colorful sequins, but Carley said horns, whistles and any other noisemakers are also popular items.
"People like to have horns or anything that makes noise," Carley said. "Especially the kids."
Concessions also take a lot of preparation to ensure fans enjoy their game experience, Rush said.
Last season's home games averaged almost $16,000 each in concession sales as an average of 4,150 fans washed down nachos and hotdogs with soda and beer.
Food is just as popular outside the stadium, too, where as many as 800 fans can often be found tailgating before finding their way inside, Rush said.
"We stock food every week," Rush said. We have big refrigerators and freezers in the ground floors of the Tyson that we store all the food in for each game and events."
By the numbers
30 - Gallons of field paint used each season
300 - Number of game balls bought each season
30-35 - Number of footballs used per game
420 - Number of T-shirts thrown to fans each game
12,000 - Gallons of beer sold each season
12,000 - Gallons of soda sold each season
2,000 - Average number of hotdogs sold each season
$6.50 - Average amount a fan spends on food per game Inside