COVID-19 impact

Pro hockey team says goodbye to San Antonio after COVID-19 puts season on ice

The American Hockey League has ended its season.

Professional sports, including the NHL, NBA, and MLB, remain at a standstill due to COVID-19, but one league is throwing in the proverbial towel. The American Hockey League, the governing body for 31 professional hockey teams, has canceled the remainder of its current season.

“After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions," said the league's CEO, David Andrews, in a May 11 release.

The league suspended all play on March 12 as the novel coronavirus pandemic began sweeping across the country. It serves as the developmental league for the NHL.

"The AHL continues to place paramount importance on the health and safety of our players, officials, staff and fans and all of their families," Andrews continued, "and we all look forward to returning to our arenas in 2020-21.”

This, of course, means the end of the Rampage in San Antonio As the season ends, so too does the Rampage's time in the Alamo City. Beginning with the 2020-21 season, the franchise is being relocated to Las Vegas where it will be an affiliate of the NHL's Golden Knights.

A few hours after the AHL announced its decision, former and current Rampage stars posted a message to San Antonio, thanking fans. "I just wanted to let you know how sad and disappointed I was to learn there'd be no hockey team in San Antonio next year 'cause the best fans in the AHL are there," said former center Rocco Grimaldi.

The AHL also has the Cedar Park-based Texas Stars, which feeds into the Dallas Stars.

Along with the remaining games, the season's abrupt end also means the cancellation of the league's playoffs and championship. According to Andrews, the standings of March 12 remain the official tally and will be used as "the basis for determining league awards for the 2019-20 season."

The NHL has yet to cancel the remainder of its 2019-20 season.

sports

Spurs Snacks

Pluckers scores Spurs partnership with first arena stand and free wings

Pluckers Wing Bar/Instagram

Pluckers is opening a new Frost Bank Center concession stand and offering a fun home game deal.

A match made in sports snacks heaven has been announced. The San Antonio Spurs are teaming up Pluckers Wing Bar, a Central Texas go-to for chicken wings that was founded in Austin. The partnership includes arrival of Pluckers' first concession stand at Frost Bank Center, plus a chance to redeem free wings after some games. It is expected to open in January 2025.

According to a press release, the new stand will be located at Section 222 on the Balcony Level. It will be open for all home games and arena events.

Pluckers is known for its sports bar atmosphere and wide selection of flavors, which includes classics like Buffalo sauce with multiple heat levels and variations on barbecue sauce, or more left-field combinations like maple chipotle and Dr Pepper. It already has five locations in San Antonio, and 13 between Austin and San Antonio.

Those locations will come in handy for a promotion starting December 19, preceding the Frost Bank Center location's opening. The new partnership includes a “5 Assists, 5 Free Wings” promotion, which will set fans at the arena up with digital vouchers during all regular season home games, starting with the Thursday game against the Atlanta Hawks.

The Spurs will have to record five or more assists within the 2nd quarter — then all fans in attendance will get five free wings from Pluckers. Vouchers can be redeemed at any Pluckers in the San Antonio area, excluding the one in the arena.

“We have been eager to partner with the Spurs since we opened our first San Antonio area location in 2018,” said Pluckers owner David Paul in the release. “We’re very excited to bring Pluckers food to the Frost Bank Center and give Spurs fans a chance to receive our famous five free wing coupon.”

Pluckers has run similar promotions in other Texas cities for years, so hopefully San Antonio fans are entering into a long-term relationship with free chicken wings.

“We take pride in partnering with a locally grown brand like Pluckers that has shown remarkable reach throughout our state,” said chief commercial officer at Spurs Sports & Entertainment Frank Miceli. “We appreciate this opportunity to support a business that is beloved by our Austin and San Antonio community and look forward to seeing the fans engage with this exciting new promotion and culinary offering.”

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