With another NHL season being around the corner, the excitement for Flyers hockey is starting to pick up in Philadelphia.
While they will probably be taking a back seat to the Phillies during Red October and to the Eagles during the meat of the NFL season, the Flyers will still have eyes on them with the arrival of KHL prospect/king Matvei Michkov.
Another thing to look forward to besides Michkov this season are the scheduled promotional nights the Flyers are running. Now there are some promotional nights that are here every season that I won’t be getting too in-depth with as we already know how those go (Pride Night, Star Wars Night, Hockey Fights Cancer Night, Military Appreciation Night).
When looking at the promotional schedule this season, there are some super exciting games that fans should circle on their calendars.
Here are the top 5 promotional nights the Flyers are running this season.
HM: Home Opening Night – October 19th vs. Vancouver Canucks
Yes I know this is technically a “promotional night that is here every season that I won’t be getting to in-depth with,” but I HAVE to talk about the best thing the Flyers will be giving away all season: A chance to watch Matvei Michkov play a regular season game at the Wells Fargo Center for the first time in his NHL career! You also get a t-shirt or something at this game too I guess.
MICHKOV!
#5: Ed Snider Legacy Game – January 9th vs. Dallas Stars
This promotional night was ranked #1 last season by me since it was brand new and a sign of a shift in the Flyers organization. This season it fell to 5 only because it’s going to most likely be a yearly theme night that will fall off due to becoming a “promotional night that is here every season that I won’t be getting to in-depth with.”
That being said, the Ed Snider game last season was awesome. The Flyers honored their late owner in the only way he wanted to be honored. The Flyers won a hard-hitting, shit-talking, scrum-filled game that ended with a post-horn brawl after Jonathan Huberdeau started throwing a whiney baby temper tantrum because Nick Seeler is good at hockey. That game made fans across the city and the world feel like they were watching true Flyers hockey again.
Hopefully this promotional night (and maybe even the energy from the Flyers during this game) becomes an annual tradition.
#4: Dollar Food Nights – November 18th & January 13th (Hot Dogs), March 27th (Pretzels), and April 12th (Ice Cream)
The Flyers have stolen the Dollar Dog Night once again from their friends across the street at Citizens Bank Park. Not only are they running a Dollar Pretzel Night again too like they did last season, but the Flyers are also adding a Dollar Ice Cream Night to the rotation this year.
That now makes four different dollar food nights this season. At this rate, we could be seeing a dollar beers game next season (Dan Hilferty I’m looking at you. I know you can make this dream a reality.)
#3: The giveaways we have no idea about yet – March 11th, March 13th
Look, I love a promotional night as much as the next guy, and when the schedule gets released each year it’s fun to see what games have what being promoted at them so you can plan to go to the ones you’re interested in. This year on back-to-back home games late in the season, they’re keeping secrets from us.
In the release the Flyers put out, there are scheduled out giveaways that will be sponsored, but never actually told us what would be given away at these games.
– March 11th is the “PECO Go Green Giveaway.” Maybe they’ll be giving out recycling cans, but I’m going to guess it’s a reusable shopping bag.
– March 13th is the “Coors Light Giveaway.” My guess is a Flyers/Coors Light cooler or koozie (even thought this could/should be a dollar beers game (Dan Hilferty I’m looking at you again. I know you can make this dream a reality.)
Hopefully we figure out what is being given away soon, but as of right now both of these games are still a mystery.
#2: Gritty Night Light – February 22nd vs. Edmonton Oilers
Now this is a double fun game.
Firstly I’ll talk on the hockey side of things. You get to watch Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl play hockey in person. That’s so cool.
Okay, on to the REAL reason you’re coming to this game.
What is the best way to indoctrinate our youth? By exposing them to an important divine figure early in their lives and by having that figure be a major part of the child’s life. Well the Flyers are checking off both boxes here by giving away a Gritty Night Light this season.
Now the only problem with this is what Gritty are they going to be using for this night light? Will it be the silly, goofy, fun Gritty who looks kind of cute and will be your big furry friend? Or will it be the Gritty that threatened the life of the Pittsburgh Penguins on the literal first day he was alive and looks so deep into your soul you start to shrivel up like a raisin?
For the sake of the children, I hope it’s the first one.
#1: Flyers Fanny Pack – October 26th vs. Minnesota Wild
Over the past couple of seasons the Flyers have been pretty good at being in touch about what trends are in when they do their giveaways. Last season they gave away a bucket hat, and believe me, I didn’t see fewer bucket hats being worn around this summer. On the contrary, I actually saw a number of MLB teams were giving away bucket hats this summer as well.
The fanny pack is back everyone, and the Flyers are jumping on the trend. Okay, okay, I know they’re not making a comeback because we missed wearing a giant belt with a massive pocket to hold your stuff. They’re making a comeback because people are starting to use them as a going-out bag/purse. They surprisingly hold a lot, and not only are they easier to carry than a handbag or most other bags, they also are small enough that they can be brought into sporting events.
Overall, the versatility of fanny packs are huge, and for the Flyers to be giving them away is awesome for the entire fanbase.
There are obviously more theme nights than the ones listed here. To find the full list of promotional nights, click here.
