Puck Daddy - NHL

In a hockey world populated by fuzzy mascots and Dance-Cams and stone-faced parents giving you the stink eye for using coarse language, a night catering to fans 18-and-older is about as cool as having strippers pole-dancing near the concession stands.

Actually, there will be strippers pole-dancing near the concession stands, too.

The ECHL Las Vegas Wranglers have already given the world one outstanding, Veeck-esque promotional night this season: "Gov. Rod Blagojevich Prison Uniform Night," which honored the disgraced Illinois statesman by putting the team in striped prison uniforms and planned to "sell off" seats near the benches.

On Tuesday night, March 24, the Wranglers will have their "Over 18" Night when they host the Alaska Aces. The face-off (9:05 p.m. locally) is 90 minutes later than usual, with an open bar for $20 starting at 7:30 p.m. and two-for-one drinks for fans 21-and-older throughout the game. San Francisco video artist Mike Relm, who recently toured with Blue Man Group and provided remixes for the Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie, will provide live music.

Oh yeah ... and the strippers. The V Theater inside The Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood (what, no "Powered by Reebok?") presents "Stripper-101," its demonstration series on exotic dancing. The team says there will unfortunately be no nudity. Also, the American Storm All-Male Review will have its talent on the concourse as well for the ladies (and some gentlemen). The team says there will fortunately be no nudity.

How did this promotion come about? According to The Kats Report in the Las Vegas Sun, we can thank team president Billy Johnson:

Johnson says the "Over 18 Night" idea was sparked during a spirited conversation with Wranglers majority owner Charles Davenport at McMullan's Irish Pub, which is just a slap shot west of The Orleans Arena and famous for its Wrangler-esque activity.

"It was Charles Davenport's idea, from the bar, and a lot of great ideas start in bars and are written on cocktail napkins," Johnson said during a phone call earlier today. "I once met (former San Francisco Giants general manager) Spec Richardson, who told me that when he made the trade to get Vida Blue from the A's, he wrote it on a cocktail napkin. He actually had the cocktail napkin framed and hanging in his house."

(Incidentally, that's exactly how the Flyers made the Lindros trade.)

It doesn't appear that "Over 18" Night prohibits attendance for fans under 18 -- the Wranglers Web site allowed youth tickets to be added to the cart for the March 24 contest. Which is a shame, really: There should be a hockey-wide edict that for every face-painting, take-a-photo-with-the-mascot-and-Spongebob kids' day, there should be an adults-only night full of pole-dancing, live DJs and two-for-one Crown Royals. Or at least two of the three.

H/T to Puck Buddy Wayne from Tuskegee.

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55 Comments

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  1. Big Rich
    1. Posted by Big Rich Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:40 pm EDT

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    first.. count me in
  2. Chris
    2. Posted by Chris Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

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    I see some Ned Braden posibilities here.
  3. Munkcy
    3. Posted by Munkcy Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:21 pm EDT

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    I can't wait to hear Gary Bettman's explanation of this to his daughter.
  4. GT
    4. Posted by GT Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:14 pm EDT

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    A minor league hockey game with an open bar an hour and a half before the game?! Sounds like a grand idea! The nhl should implement that at the next Rangers, Islanders game.
  5. david p
    5. Posted by david p Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:47 pm EDT

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    i like boobs.
  6. Blackcapricorn
    6. Posted by Blackcapricorn Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:08 pm EDT

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    $20 open bar, strippers, hockey??? Get me to Vegas!
  7. carl_vs_mastershake
    7. Posted by carl_vs_mastershake Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:18 pm EDT

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    I would love to see Spongebob rock the pole. Square pants are hot!
    Seriously what a promotion. I'm so glad to hear in the PC world of promoting to wholesome family goodtimes there is people that understand that not everyone enjoys marginalized manufactured kid friendly, mother approved fun.
  8. habs1rule
    8. Posted by habs1rule Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:15 pm EDT

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    :Viva Las Vegas", and Im telling my boss to pay me in singles next week..Take it all off.......Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!
  9. Duffman
    9. Posted by Duffman Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:00 pm EDT

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    Awesome. The only way that the NHL should relocate/expand to Vegas is if that team upheld this tradition.
  10. Hans Gruber
    10. Posted by Hans Gruber Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    You had me at open bar.
  11. Blackcapricorn
    11. Posted by Blackcapricorn Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:08 pm EDT

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    @carl- I hear you on the family thing. When I go to a sporting event, I want to drink yell and curse and ogle the ice girls. There really should be a drinking section like there is a family section at all these events. Not every thing in this world has to be subordinate to Helen Lovejoy's "Will someone please think of the children?".
  12. J.S.
    12. Posted by J.S. Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:29 pm EDT

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    Relm is awesome. Saw him earlier this year as an opening act. I'm just wondering how he's gonna use him during the game.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDyEwYvqvp8
  13. John S
    13. Posted by John S Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:55 pm EDT

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    Well, this sounds amazing.
  14. Paul91
    14. Posted by Paul91 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:10 pm EDT

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    I feel like this fits right in the "Show Us Your V" promotion from Versus...
  15. Jon H
    15. Posted by Jon H Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

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    Son of a B. I'll be arriving in Vegas 2 days late for this. What a cruel world this is.
  16. Hamilton Tigers
    16. Posted by Hamilton Tigers Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:10 pm EDT

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    Someone please get me tickets and a flight to enjoy this night of the two greatest inventions of man in one event!!!!!!!!!!!!
  17. Matt
    17. Posted by Matt Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:25 pm EDT

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    The Albany River Rats do a "Guys Night Out" promotion, they have a "most tanned fan" contest (read: most exposed woman in the stands) and have the "ice mice" dancers/cheerleaders break from their normal jogging pants and jerseys to a bit more exposed --but still tasteful attire.
    Despite the early and often warning from the organization, people still show up with a horde of youngsters, and then complain .
  18. CharM
    18. Posted by CharM Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:15 pm EDT

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    They're really missing the boat on this by not including the players in the stripping.
  19. simon w
    19. Posted by simon w Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:23 pm EDT

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    Brilliant. Replace bettman with whoever runs the wranglers right now.
  20. puck it dano
    20. Posted by puck it dano Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:00 pm EDT

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    Oh, I love these guys... road trip!
  21. Bart M
    21. Posted by Bart M Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:02 pm EDT

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    we are there just let us know when ohhhh yeaaaa....dailyballbreakers great sports fun with great sports topics updated daily
  22. books
    22. Posted by books Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:22 pm EDT

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    @habsfan...my boss would kill me if I told him to do anything like...who wears the pants at your company? (Major pun intended)
  23. Sean Patrick
    23. Posted by Sean Patrick Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:03 pm EDT

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    The Wranglers may have an edge when it comes to marketing as Vegas is such a vacation destination, but I think with all of their special nights (and jerseys, etc. etc.) they do a great job of generating publicity and interest. Job well done.
  24. jibblescribbits
    24. Posted by jibblescribbits Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:34 pm EDT

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    Mike Commodore is all set to drop the puck
  25. pensbaby71
    25. Posted by pensbaby71 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:08 pm EDT

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    Nice..I wanna go!

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