Hockey Returns to Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City

The Albany Devils will check back into Boardwalk Hall this winter for a series of four regular season hockey games. The series will take place from November through February and is sponsored by the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority and Caesars Atlantic City.

“Our organization is looking forward to bringing some of our top prospects to historic Boardwalk Hall,” said New Jersey Devils President/CEO/General Manager Lou Lamoriello.  “It is a great opportunity for our fans in New Jersey, and a great experience for some of our young players to play in the Garden State.”

All four of the games will be contested on Sundays at 4:00 p.m.  Local hockey fans will be able to enjoy the Albany Devils face off against popular rivals on the following dates:  November 25 vs. Wilkes Barre/Scranton (PA) Penguins; January 13 vs. the Bridgeport (CT) Sound Tigers; January 20 vs. Adirondack (NY) Phantoms, and February 24 vs. Hershey (PA) Bears.

The Albany Devils serve as the top developmental team for the three-time Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils.  Last season, 15 players appeared in games for both the 2012 NHL Eastern Conference Champions and Albany.  The AHL Devils last faced off at Boardwalk Hall for a series of four games from December 2010 through February 2011.

“We’re pleased to welcome the Devils back to Atlantic City,” said Jeff Vasser, president of the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority.  “Boardwalk Hall’s great setting for ice hockey and Atlantic City’s great accommodations and attractions make a terrific combination for hockey fans of all ages.  We’re looking forward to hosting the games and the fans.”

Series and individual game tickets will go on sale on Friday, August 24. Individual pricing is as follows: $26 for the first two rows on the glass, $21 for the lower bowl, and $16 for the upperbowl. Series ticket packages will be $99 for the first two rows on the glass, $79 for the lower bowl, and $59 for the upper bowl. Series tickets can be purchased up until one week before the first game.

Special rates are available for kids 2-12, seniors 65+, military, students, and groups of 10 or more. These discounted rates are priced at $16 for the lower bowl and $11 for the upper bowl. Four packs can also be purchased for $65 and include four tickets in the upper bowl, four hot dogs, and four soft drinks.  Hockey clubs have the opportunity to take part in an exclusive ticket offer. With the purchase of 100 or more tickets for any one game at any price range, your club will receive 90 minutes of free ice time at Boardwalk Hall. Die-hard hockey fans can also reserve the Boardwalk Hall Top Shelf Package which includes tickets to the four Albany Devils games as well as the four ECAC Hockey Men’s Championship games on March 22 and 23.

Tickets can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 800-736-1420 or at www.ticketmaster.com. For information on group sales, hockey club purchases, and the Boardwalk Hall Top Shelf Package please call (609) 348-7023.

“Partnerships and events of this magnitude are what continue to help grow our market and position Atlantic City as the East Coast’s top entertainment destination,” said Don Marrandino, Eastern Division President for Caesars Entertainment.  “The 2012 - 2013 regular season games with the Albany Devils at Historic Boardwalk Hall will shine the National spotlight on Atlantic City, allowing the community to showcase what a diverse entertainment destination we are.  A key tactic in the strategy of revitalizing Atlantic City is offering events such as this at a time when it is most needed.  We as a business community benefit from the thousands of fans who will choose to visit our destination and we look forward to a great series of sporting events with our partners, the New Jersey Devils,” continued Mr. Marrandino.

“During the past few years our fans have expressed interest in seeing more professional hockey games return to Boardwalk Hall”, said Greg Tesone, General Manager for Boardwalk Hall. “The Devils have a great organization and it will be exciting to see some of the best up and coming talent play here in our market.”

Boardwalk Hall enjoys a life-long association with ice hockey dating back to December 28, 1929 when Ottawa faced off against the New York Rangers. The following year saw the debut of the first of Boardwalk Hall’s two home hockey teams, the Atlantic City Seagulls, who played until 1952.  An NHL pre-season game was contested in 1982, and following the $90 million renovation to Boardwalk Hall, the ECHL-affiliated Boardwalk Bullies took to the ice in October 2001 and won the Kelly Cup in 2003.  More recently, Boardwalk Hall hosted the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic and the ECAC Men’s Hockey Championship, and will welcome the 2013 ECAC Championship back on March 22 and 23.

The Boardwalk Hall action will be contested on the Art Dorrington Ice Rink.  Dorrington was the first African American hockey player to sign a NHL contract when he joined the New York Ranger’s organization in the 1950’s. Due to a leg injury, he was unable to play in the professional league, but is remembered locally as a member of the Eastern Hockey League’s Atlantic City Seagulls championship team from 1951.  An Atlantic City resident since 1950, Dorrington has been very active in his not-for-profit organization, The Art Dorrington Ice Hockey Foundation.  Founded in 1997, the organization was created as a means to assist the underprivileged youth in Atlantic City by teaching them life skills through the game of hockey. Boardwalk Hall’s rink was dedicated in his honor earlier this year.