Red Wings Fight Off Detroit Woes, Add $1M-Plus In New Sponsorship

By Tripp Mickle, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

Red Wings Ticket Revenue Through 14 Home  Games Is Up 7% From '07-08 NHL Season

Despite the economic travails besetting Detroit, the Red Wings have exceeded more than $1M in new sponsorship business by adding 11 new sponsors and increasing sponsorship rates on existing partnerships. The team has lost seven sponsors this season, including Chevrolet, but it has added big box retailer Meijer, BP and others to its roster of more than 40 sponsors. The increases come following a reorganization in the offseason that saw the team combine its suite and sponsorship sales divisions into one department. It hired Matt Brown from the Indians to head the department as VP/Corporate Partnerships. The Red Wings are exceeding expectations at the gate as well -- ticket revenue through 14 games was 7% ahead of the same period last season and the team has sold out eight of 14 games, compared to just two sell outs at the same point last season (18 games). Red Wings Senior VP/Business Affairs Steve Violetta said: "Can we maintain that? I don't know. It's going to be a battle."