SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Springfield Thunderbirds may be aiming for their third consecutive postseason berth by the end of the week, but success on the ice was just as important for Western Massachusetts.
What you need to know
- Saturday’s final game of the Thunderbirds’ season will bring the team to 14 games.th Mass Mutual Center and sold out for 20 consecutive daysth Capacity crowds during 36 games at Thunderdome this year
- Juguitos Healthy Grab & Go, a juice shop across the street from Mass Mutual Center, has benefited greatly from the Thunderbirds.
- Juguitos opened three years ago and offers multiple drink options, including smoothies and protein shakes
- With Saturday’s sellout, the Thunderbirds will finish the season with a record average attendance of 6,321 fans, an increase from last year. This gives him a containment rate of 93.1%, which ranks him as the second highest in the American Hockey League.
The team will be down to 14 players for Saturday’s final game of the season.th Mass Mutual Center and sold out for 20 consecutive daysth Thunderdome hosted 36 games this year to sold-out crowds.
“You have to try to create demand for tickets, and when we came in there was very little demand for tickets,” Thunderbirds President Nathan Costa said. “So we decided to focus on building a fan base through the group and focus on big nights like ‘Nights in the Pink in the Rink.’ The really great nights that we do are; It’s a partnership with the community.”
Pedro Arroyo is the owner and manager of Juguitos Healthy Grab & Go, a juice shop across the street from the arena.
Arroyo said the team’s success is great for the business.
“They have allowed us to grow quickly,” Arroyo said. “We grew at a very fast pace, faster than we expected. That’s why we were able to move quickly from there and get here.”
Arroyo opened Juguitos three years ago and offers multiple drink options, including smoothies and protein shakes.
He said the large crowds at hockey games also help with employment.
“Usually we close around 5 or 6 o’clock, but we stay open after that when we have events. And we can provide opportunities for others because we need help,” Arroyo said. he said. “To meet the demand, we were able to provide jobs to others.”
With Saturday’s sellout, the Thunderbirds will finish the season with a record average attendance of 6,321 fans, an increase from last year.
This results in a 93.1% occupancy rate, the second-highest in the American Hockey League.
Costa said it took nearly 10 years to make this happen.
“We’re focused on growing our staff and doing it the right way,” Costa said. “We knew if we did it, it would be successful here, because people are looking for something to do and want to come out and come downtown and celebrate Springfield. . So I think they really rallied around us with that.”