Predators Owner Craig Leipold said his strategy on
marketing the expansion team in its early stages was "to try
to create an in-your-face image, very aggressive image."
Predators VP/Business Operations Tom Ward said the team's
plan was to market to the mass market, small to medium and
business to business. Ward: "We had a marketing plan for
each of those business units and how they interact with each
other" (TENNESSEAN, 10/27)....The ABL Portland Power's
season-ticket sales are up 17% from last season, and GM
Linda Weston. The Power will launch a new ad campaign
geared toward Blazers fans missing games due to the lockout
starting Thursday (OREGONIAN, 10/28)....In St. Paul, Charley
Walters reported that 50% of the St. Paul-based NHL
expansion Wild's 10,975 season-ticket depositors came from
the St. Paul side of the Mississippi River, and 50% from the
Minneapolis side. When the Bloomington-based North Stars
were in town, only 15% of season-ticket holders came from
the St. Paul area (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 10/27)....An
"estimated" 1,200 fans were at the Daley Center to honor
the MLS Cup Champion Fire (SUN-TIMES, 10/28).....The Padres
made an appearance in Tijuana on Monday to thank fans for
their support. The team was greeted by "hundreds" of fans
and given keys to the city (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 10/27).
