GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins on Thursday announced their 2018-19 promotional schedule, which features a number of giveaways and the return of many popular season-long promotions.

Under first-year head coach Ben Simon, the Griffins will begin the home portion of their 76-game slate on Friday, Oct. 12 against the Hershey Bears with Opening Night presented by Huntington Bank. Promotions for the home opener include a magnet schedule giveaway and $2 beers/hot dogs.

Grand Rapids’ other giveaways include a 2019 calendar (Oct. 20), tumbler (Nov. 3), lunch box (Nov. 17), power bank (Dec. 1), athletic socks (Dec. 15), Bluetooth speaker (Dec. 29), plaid hat (Jan. 12), Rubik’s cube (Jan. 19), two bobbleheads (Jan. 26 and Feb. 9), and the third Griffins comic book (Feb. 9).

Key promotional dates include Hockey Fights Cancer (Nov. 2), the 18th annual School Day Game (Nov. 14 – 11 a.m. start), Princess Night (Nov. 17), Teddy Bear Toss (Nov. 23), Red Kettle Game (Nov. 30), Social Media Night (Dec. 1), Arcade Night (Dec. 15), the 22nd Annual New Year’s Eve Celebration (Dec. 31 – 6 p.m. start), Toy Night (Jan. 19), the Great Skate Winterfest (Jan. 19-20), Y2K Night (Jan. 25), Superhero Night (Feb. 9), Star Wars Night (Feb. 16), the eighth annual Purple Community Game (March 8), ‘90s Night (March 15) and the Jake Engel Memorial Dog Game (March 31).

The popular Friday night beer and hot dog promotion returns in conjunction with College Night presented by Michigan First Credit Union for all 14 Friday home games this season, featuring $2 hot dogs and $2 domestic drafts from 6-8 p.m., while supplies last. Free Ride Friday allows fans to enjoy complimentary fare on the Rapid by showing their ticket to that night’s game. Visit ridetherapid.org for schedule information, routes and maps.

Several other recurring promotions will be featured throughout the Griffins’ schedule, including 10 Winning Wednesdays, five post-game open skates, five Huntington Bank post-game autograph sessions with select Griffins players, and seven post-game jersey auctions. The jersey auctions are set to include Hockey Fights Cancer jerseys (Nov. 2), Red Kettle jerseys (Nov. 30), two fan-designed jerseys (Dec. 29 and Feb. 15), toy-inspired jerseys (Jan. 19), Van Andel Institute purple jerseys (March 8) and the team’s Friday night jerseys (April 12).

All promotions and dates are subject to change. For more information, visit griffinshockey.com or call (800) 2-HOCKEY.

Single-game tickets for all 38 regular season home games at Van Andel Arena will go on sale to the general public on Friday, Sept. 14.

2018-19 PROMOTIONAL SCHEDULE

Oct. 12: Opening Night presented by Huntington Bank
• Magnet schedule giveaway
• $2 beers and $2 hot dogs
• Post-game open skate

Oct. 20: 2019 Calendar Giveaway presented by Fox Motors
•Huntington Bank post-game autograph session
• Friends & Family 4-Pack

Nov. 2: Hockey Fights Cancer presented by Michigan First Credit Union
•Post-game jersey auction
• $2 beers and $2 hot dogs

Nov. 3: Tumbler Giveaway presented by Centennial Securities
•Post-game open skate
• Friends & Family 4-Pack

Nov. 14: 18th Annual School Day Game presented by Rebounderz
•11 a.m. start
• Interactive and educational displays featured on the concourse for elementary through high school students

Nov. 17: Princess Night/Lunch Box Giveaway presented by Chick-Fil-A
•Huntington Bank post-game autograph session
• Friends & Family 4-Pack

Nov. 23: Teddy Bear Toss presented by J&H Family Stores
•$2 beers and $2 hot dogs
• Pepsi Reading Goals redemption date

Nov. 30: Red Kettle Game presented by Salvation Army
•Red Kettle jersey auction post-game
• $2 beers and $2 hot dogs

Dec. 1: Social Media Night/Power Bank Giveaway presented by DTE Energy
• Huntington Bank post-game autograph session
• Friends & Family 4-Pack

Dec. 15: Arcade Night/Athletic Socks Giveaway
•Post-game open skate
• Friends & Family 4-Pack

Dec. 29: Bluetooth Speaker Giveaway presented by Adventure Credit Union
• Friends & Family 4-Pack

Dec. 31: 22nd Annual New Year’s Eve Celebration presented by Farm Bureau Insurance
•6 p.m. start
• Post-game indoor fireworks show

Jan. 12: Plaid Hat Giveaway presented by Comerica Bank
•Huntington Bank post-game autograph session
• Friends & Family 4-Pack

Jan. 19: Toy Night/Rubik’s Cube Giveaway presented by Eikenhout
•Great Skate Winterfest at Rosa Parks Circle (runs through Jan. 20)
• Toy-inspired jersey auction post-game
• Friends & Family 4-Pack

Jan. 25: Y2K Night presented by MedExpress Urgent Care
•$2 beers and $2 hot dogs

Jan. 26: Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Michigan Office Solutions
•Friends & Family 4-Pack

Feb. 9: Superhero Night/Third Annual Comic Book Giveaway/Bobblehead Giveaway presented by Lake Michigan Credit Union
• Post-game open skate
• Friends & Family 4-Pack

Feb. 10
• Pepsi Reading Goals redemption date
• $1 small Pepsi drinks and $1 small ice cream cups from 3-5 p.m.

Feb. 15: Fan-Designed Jersey Auction #2
• Post-game jersey auction
• $2 beers and $2 hot dogs

Feb. 16: Star Wars Night presented by DTE Energy
•Huntington Bank post-game autograph session
• Friends & Family 4-Pack

March 8: Eighth Annual Purple Community Game presented by Van Andel Institute
• Van Andel Institute purple jersey auction post-game
• $2 beers and $2 hot dogs

March 15: ‘90s Night presented by Spectrum Health Stroke Awareness
•$2 beers and $2 hot dogs

March 31: Jake Engel Memorial Dog Game presented by Nestlé Purina
• Post-game open skate
• Pepsi Reading Goals redemption date
•$1 small Pepsi drinks and $1 small ice cream cups from 3-5 p.m.

April 12: Season Finale presented by Huntington Bank
• Friday night jersey auction post-game
• $2 beers and $2 hot dogs

SEASON-LONG PROMOTIONS

$2 Beers and $2 Hot Dogs: Every Friday, enjoy $2 domestic drafts and $2 hot dogs from 6-8 p.m., while supplies last.

Get in the D-ZONE:Presented by Coppercraft Distillery, every Friday night is a Griffins D-Zone night. Avoid the concession lines and get your $2 beers and $2 hot dogs served to you in your seats. Call (616) 774-4585 ext. 2 or visit griffinshockey.com/dzone today to purchase a package of four or more D-Zone tickets for any Friday night game.

Military Nights: Every home game, current members of our military can purchase up to four Upper Level Faceoff tickets for $14 each, four Upper Level Center Ice tickets for $17 each or four Lower Level Faceoff tickets for $20 each with a valid military ID. The offer also extends to veterans who present a VA ID or discharge papers.

College Nights: Presented by Michigan First Credit Union, college students can show their ID at every Friday game to purchase an Upper Level Faceoff ticket for $13 (or $12 in advance at The Zone) or an Upper Level Center Ice ticket for $16 (or $15 in advance at The Zone). Limit one ticket per ID.

Free Ride Friday on The Rapid: Ride the Rapid to and from any Friday game and enjoy a complimentary fare by showing your ticket to that night’s game. Visit ridetherapid.org for schedule information, routes and maps.

Winning Wednesdays: Presented by Farm Bureau Insurance, every time the Griffins win at home on Wednesday, each fan in attendance will receive a free ticket to the next Wednesday game. To redeem a Winning Wednesday ticket, please visit the box office following the Winning Wednesday game, The Zone during normal business hours, or the Van Andel Arena box office prior to the next Wednesday game beginning at 5:30 p.m. Fans who exchange their Winning Wednesday ticket at The Zone on a non-game day will receive 20% off the purchase of one item (excluding jerseys). One discount per person present.

Post-Game Parties at Peppino’s: After every Wednesday game, join Griffins players and staff for the official post-game party at Peppino’s Sports Grille downtown.

Library Nights: For all Wednesday and Sunday games, fans can present their Grand Rapids Public Library card or Kent District Library card at the Van Andel Arena box office on the night of the game or at The Zone anytime during the store’s regular business hours to purchase either an Upper Level Faceoff ticket for $14 (regularly $16 advance and $19 day of game), an Upper Level Center Ice ticket for $17 (regularly $19 advance and $22 day of game) or a Lower Level Faceoff ticket for $20 (regularly $22 advance and $25 day of game). Limit four tickets per card per person, subject to availability.

Friends & Family 4-Packs: Presented by Big E’s Sports Grill and available for all Saturday games, each pack includes four tickets and $12 in concession cash for a great low price. Visit griffinshockey.com/f4p or call (616) 774-4585 ext. 2. Continuing this season, fans may use their concession cash to purchase healthy choice menu options at the stand located outside of section 125, including low-fat yogurt, apples, oranges, granola bars and smoothies.

Sunday is Fun Day: Every Sunday, purchase $1 small Pepsi drinks and $1 small ice cream cups from 3-5 p.m.

Pepsi Reading Goals: Children with Griff’s Reading Goals bookmarks who have completed the required three hours of reading can redeem their bookmark for two free Upper Level tickets to any of the following games: Bookmark #1 – Nov. 23 and 28; Dec. 5 and 19; Bookmark #2 – Feb. 10; March 6 and 31; April 10.

Post-Game Open Skates: Oct. 12, Nov. 3, Dec. 15, Feb. 9, March 31

Huntington Bank Post-Game Autograph Sessions: Oct. 20, Nov. 17, Dec. 1, Jan. 12, Feb. 16

MOS Corner Office: Presented by Michigan Office Solutions, this section, located on the terrace level above section 118, provides the best seats in the house for groups of up to 30 people, with La-Z-Boy chairs and an array of unprecedented amenities. Call (616) 774-4585 ext. 4.

J. Gardella’s Sliders Special: Available on select tickets, take your used Griffins ticket to J. Gardella’s Tavern to buy one slider and get one of equal or lesser price free. Refer to the back of select tickets for details.