New season, more wacky promotions on slate for Las Vegas Wranglers

By Paul Delos Santos

Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013 | 2 a.m.

The Las Vegas Wranglers have promotions down to an exact science; this year should be no different.

The promotions schedule includes four post-game concerts, eight post-game skating sessions with the team, opportunities to meet Marvel superheroes Thor and Spider-Man and, of course, silly, out-of-the-box events.

“We’ve tried to diversify and have two or three events for kids and families, two or three for those who like a good event and two or three for folks who like music,” Wranglers President Billy Johnson said. “We were satisfied with what we got.”

The Wranglers start their season at 7:05 p.m. today against the Utah Grizzlies — all fans attending will receive a schedule magnet.

Some of the team’s older promotions return this season, such as the “World Famous Midnight Game,” which has taken place every year since the Wranglers’ inception, and the fourth annual “Regrettable Tattoo Night” where a lucky fan will have the opportunity to have an awful tattoo changed for free.

“We’re creating a series of mini-brands,” said Johnson, whose goal is to make the promotions synonymous with his team.

The Wranglers are also bringing back their spoof of the NHL’s Winter Classic by hosting the “Indoor Winter Classic 2.”

Last year, the doors in the Orleans Arena were left open and faux snow fell from the ceiling to replicate the NHL’s annual outdoor hockey game, which was canceled because of the NHL labor dispute.

“It was utter silliness, which is the way we like it,” Johnson said. “We’re doing it again because we can see it and turn it into a Midnight Game.”

There are also some new and wacky promotions.

The Wranglers plan on giving away “Hux Pucks,” which are special hockey pucks honoring Adam Huxley, one of the team’s beloved players.

Then on Valentine’s Day, the Wranglers are hosting “Dump Your Ex’s Stuff” night, where fans are encouraged to bring their ex-lover’s items and get rid of them in a highly public manner.

Johnson wasn’t thrilled with getting Feb. 14 on the schedule since promotions haven’t done well when it came to couples.

So for this season, he and his marketing staff opted to target singles.

“Not everyone will be in love that day,” Johnson said.

While the schedule is set for now, don’t put it past Johnson to come up with something midway through the season that takes a dig at something in the news.

“Most of the ones we’re famous for have been an instant reaction to the news cycle,” he said. “So, never say never on the idea of adding more promotions.”

Paul Delos Santos can be reached at 990-2416 or mail to [email protected]. Follow Paul on Twitter at twitter.com/pauliedelos.