New Jersey Devils Promotional Schedule Released

The season is upon us.  If you're a season ticket holder, like me, you may have already got your tickets by now.  If not, then individual tickets will go on sale this Wednesday according to the official Devils website. The box office prices that first came out in March when season ticket offers were first presented appear to have stayed the same.  I've went through each section to note the difference - be it savings or an increase - from the 2008-09 prices to the 2009-10 prices back then.  It's still holds true so I recommend checking that out.  The short version is that unless you're in the upper balcony on the sides, you're likely to spend less on tickets this season - but not nearly as much as those of us with season ticket prices.

I just got a letter from the organization - sent to all season ticket holders, I imagine - revealing their promotional schedule for home games this season.   There are a total of 14 dates on the list, representing 34% of all Devils home games.  Some are charitable, such as Toys for Tots and the annual Coat Drive.   Others are traditional give-aways like a baseball cap, youth hockey jersey, or a puck.  And a few honor the past, such as the already-revealed throwback jerseys to be worn on March 17 as well as games that honor the 3 Stanley Cup championship teams.   The latter is particularly inspired given that those teams will be honored as the Devils host the opponents that they beat in the Stanley Cup Final in their respective years.

Most of the promotions - 9 to be exact - before 2010.  I figure that is to try and boost attendance early in the season. This fits in with owner Jeff Vanderbeek's theory that attendance picks up from late December onwards, so we'll see if it has an impact or not.  For the Devils' sake, I hope it does.

The only headscratcher I see here is the first one for Championship Plaza Ribbon Cutting outside of the Rock; and that's only because it's at 2 PM.  The season opener against Philadelphia is at 7 PM, so I openly wonder what one can do for the three and a half hours before the Rock opens up.  Party at the plaza? Explore Newark?  Ideas, anyone?