BEARS ANNOUNCE 2015-16 PROMOTIONAL, THEME NIGHTS

September 1, 2015

HERSHEY, Pa. – The Hershey Bears Hockey Club announced today the schedule of promotions and theme nights for the 2015-16 regular season.  The announcement was made by Bears president/general manager Doug Yingst.

Thanks to the generosity of its sponsors, the Hockey Club is once again proud to include a variety of giveaways for its loyal fans.  The Bears have finished at the top of the American Hockey League’s attendance chart for a ninth consecutive season, and as such, no fewer than 3,000 promotional items will be distributed on any single giveaway night.  For the upcoming season, fans will receive a complimentary item on 21 of the Bears’ 38 home game nights.

This season’s giveaways begin on opening night at GIANT Center, Saturday, October 24.  The first 8,000 fans will receive a magnetic season schedule courtesy of PNC Bank.

Thanks to the generosity of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company, the Bears again will hold four popular HERSHEYPARK Pass Nights – the first of which is set for Sunday, November 1.  All fans through the gates will receive a complimentary one-day pass to HERSHEYPARK (valid through July 31, 2016).  HERSHEYPARK passes will also be distributed to all fans on Sunday, December 20; Sunday, January 10; and on Sunday, February 7.

The rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are once again the opponent in the Bears’ record-setting Teddy Bear Toss.  All fans are asked to bring a plush toy to toss onto the ice when the Bears score their first goal on Sunday, December 6.  The Teddy Bear Toss is once again proudly sponsored by WGAL-TV and Northwest Savings Bank.

The 2015-16 Metro Bank bobblehead will be distributed with a fun twist on Sunday, January 24.  In conjunction with the Bears’ annual Hometown Heroes Night, the figurine – featuring Hershey defenseman Mike Moore – will either depict the blueliner dressed in police attire or firefighter gear.  Fans will have the opportunity to vote on either design during a period of several weeks, with the winning vote ending as the actual giveaway to the first 5,000 fans on January 24.

Prior to two holidays, all fans will enjoy the chance to take to the GIANT Center ice and shoot for prizes.  The Sara Lee & Canteen Vending Turkey Shoot is slated for Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday, November 25; and the Dietz & Watson Ham Shoot will take place on Saturday, March 26 – the night before Easter.  Dietz & Watson is also presenting a lineup of five games featuring the popular Dollar Dog Nights, on which fans may purchase hot dogs for $1 at select concession stands.

An addition to the giveaway lineup features a Bears garden gnome, courtesy of Capital BlueCross.  The first 5,000 fans will receive this new item on Saturday, April 16.

All fans will receive a scratch-off card revealing one of several exciting prizes in the final giveaway of the season on Fan Appreciation Night, set for Sunday, April 17.

The Bears are grateful to all of the club’s giveaway partners listed above, as well as the Hershey Company, Reese’s, Pepsi, United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 214, David A. Smith Printing, the Pennsylvania Lottery, PSECU, UGI, Ames Janitorial Services, Labatt Blue, the Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Fairview Golf Course.

Popular jersey auctions also return this season to benefit charity, and the team will wear special themed jerseys on select nights throughout the campaign.  Such jerseys will be auctioned off either silently or live following that night’s game.

The complete schedule of promotional and theme nights follows.  The schedule is subject to change.

HERSHEY BEARS 2015-16 PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE & THEME NIGHTS