Golden State Hockey Rush Establishes Another First with Outdoor Hockey Game

The American Hockey League outdoor game between the Stockton Heat and Bakersfield Condors scheduled for Sacramento's Raley Field on Friday, December 18, will be the first time the AHL has ventured outdoors anywhere in Western North America. In addition, Golden State Hockey Rush will establish another first by altering the layout of the ice rink to optimizing the fan experience.

When the Heat and Condors take the ice at Raley Field, fans will find that the ice rink extends from home plate to second base instead of the more traditional first-to-third orientation with which they are familiar. The decision, which will fundamentally change the way outdoor games are presented, was made by the event's organizers after careful analysis of the sight-lines at Raley Field. The modification of the layout has everything to do with fans and the experience that event organizers want to provide.

"This simple change will ensure that every seat at Raley Field will be a good one. Between the feedback we have received from fans and the in-depth sight-line analysis we performed, it really is an obvious decision to make," said RS Ice Sports, VP Marketing & Media Relations, Mark Francis. "With large-scale events of this nature you have to constantly evaluate everything you do and we believe that making this change will ensure that all fans in attendance have the best possible experience in watching some of the best hockey players in the world perform."

It is important to note that with this change, Stockton will now be attacking the home-plate end during the first and third periods, with Stockton attacking the home-plate end during the second. Current ticket-holders have the opportunity to change their seat locations by returning to their point of purchase.

The Golden State Hockey Rush is being presented in conjunction with "The Biggest Show on Snow," which opens at Raley Field on Friday, November 20. The six-week winter event features fun for the whole family, including public skating, a Monster Ice Slide, interactive games, theme nights, and more. Tickets for both events are going fast and can be found at www.gshockeyrush.com or www.thebiggestshowonsnow.com.