PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Playing off their last giveaway of the 2006-2007 season, a kitchen sink, Phantoms Director of Public Relations Mike Thornton brainstormed the idea of giving one lucky fan the chance to win a refrigerator autographed by the entire 2007-2008 Flyers (NHL) and Phantoms (AHL) Opening Night roster.  Along with the possibility of winning the refrigerator, the first 10,000 hockey fans received a free 2007-2008 schedule magnet courtesy of Toyota.  The refrigerator was donated by a local Home Depot, as was the kitchen sink a year ago, during Fan Appreciation Night.  Phantoms executive Brian Smith summed up the giveaway night stating, “People just smack them (magnet schedules) on the fridge and they sit there all year and use them to see when the next game is.  So we were just trying to tie something in to spice up the giveaway, and we thought, well, if we gave away a sink, we can give away a refrigerator.”  
 
MEDIA:  The promotion was advertised on the Phantoms website (www.phantomshockey.com), through the use of e-mail blasts and local television news broadcasts.
 
PARTNERS: The Phantoms received the refrigerator as a donation from a local Home Depot and the magnet schedules were provided by Toyota.  The special refrigerator is an Americana 15.6 cubic-foot, top freezer model.  It features everything from up-front temperature controls to a NeverClean Condenser and color-matched recessed handles. 

   
RESULTS: The buzz generated by the promotion had many excited fans jazzed about the chance to win a brand new refrigerator.  It also had the crowd in full attention as they anxiously awaited the on-ice drawing of the winner during the second intermission of the Phantoms home opener versus the Norfolk Admirals.  The proud winner of the Americana refrigerator was Peggy Murtha of Turnersville, New Jersey.

Peggy Murtha (right), was the lucky winner of a Americana refrigerator

 
LOOKING AHEAD: First it was a sink for Fan Appreciation Night, and then it was a refrigerator for Magnet Schedule Night on Opening Night.  The next home appliance-themed giveaway has yet to be determined, but the Phantoms are sure to keep things interesting for their fans.  As long as another home appliance relates to the night’s theme, this type of ‘appliance promotional giveaway’ will certainly be continued at the Wachovia Complex, home of the Philadelphia Phantoms.