The Tucson Roadrunners have checked quite a few items off of the to-do list. The location, team name, front office, full roster are all taken care of.
Still, with about one month before the team arrives in Tucson for physicals and the first skate, there is a lot to be done.
The Tucson Convention Center awaits ice sheets and boards, which will be built near the end of the month.
Director of Media Relations and the team's play-by-play announcer Tom Callahan has been in this position before. The Roadrunners are the third franchise he has helped launch.
"This doesn't happen very often, to start something fresh, and be able to put your stamp on it is a pretty unique experience," Callahan says, "imagining, messaging, getting us out there, you're going to see that Roadrunner logo and that phone number everywhere."
Callahan works to promote the logo that will be front and center on the sweaters, which are ordered by Head Equipment Manager Eric Bechtol.
"Sticks skates, you know all the little things you need when you start a new team. I'm going through thinking, oh man! I need helmet decals, things like that because it's not something you have left over from the previous year," Bechtol says.
Alex Kinkopf is the team's Web and Social Media manager, who has to build the Roadrunners' social following from zero.
"It's exiting, it gives us a chance to use the imagination and be creative with how we connect with the fans, sell tickets, share video highlights," the former Los Angeles Kings social media team member says.
The Tucson Roadrunners have checked quite a few items off of the to-do list. The location, team name, front office, full roster are all taken care of.
Still, with about one month before the team arrives in Tucson for physicals and the first skate, there is a lot to be done.
The Tucson Convention Center awaits ice sheets and boards, which will be built near the end of the month.
Director of Media Relations and the team's play-by-play announcer Tom Callahan has been in this position before. The Roadrunners are the third franchise he has helped launch.
"This doesn't happen very often, to start something fresh, and be able to put your stamp on it is a pretty unique experience," Callahan says, "imagining, messaging, getting us out there, you're going to see that Roadrunner logo and that phone number everywhere."
Callahan works to promote the logo that will be front and center on the sweaters, which are ordered by Head Equipment Manager Eric Bechtol.
"Sticks skates, you know all the little things you need when you start a new team. I'm going through thinking, oh man! I need helmet decals, things like that because it's not something you have left over from the previous year," Bechtol says.
Alex Kinkopf is the team's Web and Social Media manager, who has to build the Roadrunners' social following from zero.
"It's exiting, it gives us a chance to use the imagination and be creative with how we connect with the fans, sell tickets, share video highlights," the former Los Angeles Kings social media team member says.
