SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League will hold its annual Marketing Meeting in Rochester, N.Y., this week, with more than 200 representatives from the league and its member clubs gathering for the largest marketing meetings in AHL history.
Team and league front-office personnel are convening at the Hyatt Regency Rochester to discuss best practices and innovative ideas in several areas, including digital media, ticket sales, corporate sales, game operations and merchandising.
Keynote speakers and presenters at the event, which will run July 11-13, will include AHL President and CEO David Andrews; distinguished sports marketer Dr. William A. Sutton; Tim Marceau, “The Co-Op Coach”; and representatives from Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the Buffalo Sabres, NeuLion, TSE Services and more. In addition, more than 30 merchandise, promotional, ticketing and technology companies will participate in the AHL’s fifth annual Vendor Showcase.
“With Rochester hosting this year’s AHL Marketing Meeting, staff members from throughout the league will have a chance to share ideas, listen to some of our industry’s leading thinkers and strategists, and visit one of the AHL’s most historic cities,” said Andrews. “We’re very grateful to the Amerks organization and the city of Rochester for their hospitality.”
50/50 Central, Scarborough Sports Marketing and SMG are hospitality partners of the 2012 AHL Marketing Meeting, and AMI Graphics will be giving away one set of dashers to a team for the 2012-13 season.
In operation since 1936, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 88 percent of today’s NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and for the 11th year in a row, more than 6 million fans attended AHL games across North America in 2011-12.
