The Quad City Mallards today announced their 2015-16 promotion schedule, a slate headlined by the return of the ever-popular $1 Beer/$1 Dog Fridays presented by 97X, Black Out Night and Star Wars Night Genesis jersey auctions, the introduction of the Frozen 5K and a Darren McMillan bobblehead giveaway presented by KWQC-TV6. Single game tickets for the coming season go on sale Thursday.
Each of the Mallards’ 14 Friday night home games will again this season be $1 Beer/$1 Dog Fridays presented by 97X. Fans will have their first chance to enjoy $1 beer and $1 hot dogs from iWireless Center concession stands when the Mallards play their home opener Friday, October 23 against the Tulsa Oilers. Every Friday game will also be a MetroLINK College Night this season. The Mallards have once again partnered with Metro to provide transit service between Augustana College and downtown Moline during all Friday home games. As part of Metro’s unlimited ride program, Augustana riders can use their Augustana ID as their fare.
An explosive start to the season is guaranteed: a fireworks show outside the iWireless Center will immediately follow the October 23 home opener. The curtain raiser is just the start of a 36 game home schedule packed with exciting promotions, savings and more.
The Mallards will renew tradition by teaming with Genesis Health System for a pair of game worn jersey auctions to benefit the Genesis Health Services Foundation. On Friday, November 27 the Mallards will celebrate Black Friday by wearing special (nearly) all black sweaters against the Kalamazoo Wings on Blackout Night. Those jerseys will be auctioned off one night later following the Mallards’ match-up with the Cincinnati Cyclones. The Force will no doubt be with the Mallards during their Saturday, March 5 game against Wichita Thunder, a contest during which the Mallards will wear Star Wars-themed jerseys.
The Mallards will start a unique new tradition on Sunday, January 17, with the inaugural Frozen 5K preceding the Mallards’ Pink in the Rink game against the Kalamazoo Wings. The race will be run along the Mississippi River beginning at 11:00 a.m. Pink will be the color of the day during the Mallards’ tussle with the Wings as the Mallards team with Genesis Health System to benefit the fight against breast cancer. All fans who wear pink to that game will save $3 off the regular ticket price.
The Mallards and KWQC-TV6 will bring back the team’s traditional bobblehead giveaway on the final night of the season. The first 1,000 fans through the doors for the Mallards’ Saturday, April 9 regular season finale against the Cincinnati Cyclones will receive Darren McMillan bobblehead dolls in honor of the club’s long serving captain.
Bobblehead Night is the culmination of a season-long series of promotions that will be punctuated by the chance to enjoy big savings for Wednesday night games and join the Mallards on the ice after Sunday games. Fans can purchase four tickets to each of the Mallards’ five Wednesday tilts for just $40. Each of those Wednesday home games will face off at 6:35 p.m. Fans can hit the ice for Skate With the Mallards presented by B100 after all seven of the Mallards’ Sunday dates at the iWireless Center. Sunday home games will start at the family-friendly time of 4:05 p.m.
Young fans will also be the focus when the Mallards partner with Harris Pizza for Anti-Bullying Night at the Mallards’ second home game of the campaign. Area elementary school students who have signed the SCORE anti-bullying pledge will receive free tickets to the Mallards’ Saturday, October 24 game against Tulsa.
The Quad Cities this summer were named the Sports Business Journal’s number one minor league market in the nation. The Mallards will cap off their home-opening weekend by joining with the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau to thank the fans of the Quad Cities- without whom this achievement would not have been possible- by offering 50 percent off all tickets to the Mallards’, Sunday, October 25, game against Wichita.
When “Movember” arrives the Mallards will join the campaign for men’s health. To mark the occasion, the first 1,000 fans through the doors for the Mallards’ Friday, November 6 meeting with Wichita will receive free (fake) mustaches.
Veterans’ Day will bring the Mallards’ annual Military Appreciation Night. The Mallards will wear special edition VFW jerseys during their Wednesday, November 11 game between the Mallards and Alaska Aces. All current and former military personnel and their families can purchase tickets to that contest for just $5. The Mallards will continue to don their VFW sweaters during warm-ups prior to home games until auctioning off those jerseys to benefit VFW Post 1303 in Rock Island at their March 25 game against the Evansville IceMen.
The Mallards’ efforts in the community continue when the Flock takes on the Fort Wayne Komets on Sunday, November 15. Fans attending that game will have the chance to shed some hair for a good cause. Great Clips will be on hand to provide free haircuts for fans who donate their shorn locks to the Wigs for Kids program.
The November 15 game will also feature a Teddy Bear Toss- just one of a series of holiday-themed promotions that will hit the iWireless Center this season. Fans are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped stuffed animal to that tilt and throw it on to the ice after the Mallards’ first goal. Teddy bears will be donated to area children in need just in time for the holidays. Stuffed animals will also be available at the Mallards Pro Shop the day of the game.
One week later, the Mallards will partner with the United States Marine Corps for a Toys for Tots drive. Fans who bring a new unwrapped toy to the Mallards’ Sunday, November 22 scrap with the Indy Fuel will receive a voucher good for a ticket to a future game.
After hitting the ice on both Friday, November 27 and Saturday, November 28, the Flock will cap off a busy Thanksgiving weekend with Friends and Family Day on Sunday, November 29. Mallards fans are encouraged to bring family and friends who may be visiting for the holiday to the Mallards’ tussle with Indy and receive $3 off tickets for that game.
Further holiday fun will be had when fans attending the Mallards’ Saturday, December 26 game against the Indy Fuel take part in a bad gift exchange and guaranteed-win Christmas scratch card giveaway. Fans who bring their worst still-packaged Christmas gift to that game can exchange those deeply disappointing presents for another fan’s misfit gift or a voucher good for a ticket to a future game or a Mallards souvenir. In addition, the first 1,500 fans arriving the night after Christmas are sure to have their spirits lifted when they receive their no-lose scratch cards, each and every one of which will reveal the recipient to be a prize winner.
The Mallards and KWQC-TV6 will help prepare fans for the onset of winter with a Friday, December 18 Mallards knit cap giveaway. The first 1,000 spectators to arrive for the Mallards’ clash with the Wheeling Nailers will receive free caps.
One night later, the Mallards and will team with the YMCA for the first of two replica youth jersey giveaways this season. The first 1,000 fans ages 12 and under to enter the building for the Mallards’ Saturday, December 19, battle with Wheeling will receive replica Mallards jerseys courtesy of the Y. On Sunday, March 20, the Mallards will team with WQAD News 8 for another youth jersey giveaway. Once again the first 1,000 youngsters through the doors when the Mallards collide with Indy will receive Mallards jerseys.
The Mallards will close out 2015 by honoring academic achievement on Disc Replay Report Card Night. Elementary, middle and high school students can earn a free ticket to the Mallards’ Wednesday, December 30 game against Evansville by bringing their report cards to the iWireless Center box office and showing an “A” or “excellent” or “exemplary” grade. Students will also receive a discount coupon from Disc Replay.
Rivalry Weekend will return when the Mallards’ storied rivalry with Fort Wayne heats up once again when the two clubs go head-to-head on Friday, January 8 and Sunday, January 10. Friday night, the first 1,000 fans will receive special Rivalry Weekend t-shirts.
When Kalamazoo visits on Friday, January 15, the Mallards will do their best to snap fans out of their winter funk with Beach Party Night.
Warm feelings will abound when the Mallards host a Wedding on Ice presented by Doland Jewelers on Friday, February 5. One lucky couple will be chosen by 97X’s Dwyer & Michaels to exchange vows during the first intermission of the Mallards’ game against the Rapid City Rush.
On Friday, February 19, the Mallards will show even more love- for the greatest decade of them all. It will be 80’s Night when the Mallards welcome not only the Cyclones to the iWireless Center but also fans who wear their acid washed jeans and skinny ties (and perhaps use just a little too much hair spray) and, of course, demonstrate they are business-in-front-and-party-in-the-back types by sporting mullets.
Saturday, February 27 will be John Deere Community Night. Courtesy of John Deere, fans will be able to purchase discounted tickets to the Mallards game against Rapid City for just while supplies last. February 27 will double as a celebration of everyone’s favorite diminutive, incompetent and often incomprehensible lovers of evil: Minion Night.
When the Mallards come up against Indy on Sunday, April 3, the Flock will offer a thank you those who have supported the team all season long with Fan Appreciation Day.
April 3 is also Rock Island Community Night, the fifth and final evening saluting the communities that make up the Quad Cities. East Moline Community Night will lead off on Friday, November 20, followed by Davenport on Saturday, December 19, Moline on Sunday, January 10, and Bettendorf on Saturday, February 20.
Mallards 2015-16 season tickets are now available. Season ticket holders enjoy significant savings of the walk-up ticket price and receive a host of exclusive benefits. For more season ticket information, fans can contact the Mallards at 309-277-1364 or info@myqcmallards.com. Single game ticket sales open Thursday. Single game seats will be available at the iWireless Center box office, TicketMaster.com or by calling 309-277-1364.
