Gulls Drive-Thru Halloween Event Provides Plenty of Halloween Treats
Nov 2, 2020By AJ Manderichio/SanDiegoGulls.com
In a year full of tricks, the San Diego Gulls provided the local community with a special Halloween treat.
The organization welcomed over 500 cars to THE RINKS – Poway Ice for its first-ever Halloween Trick or Treat Drive-Thru Event. The Gulls put together goody bags filled with team items including rally towels, stickers and foam pucks, special Sam Carrick bobbleheads, signed items (for a few lucky fans) and plenty of candy.
Oh my gourd, what a day!
— #GullsFightCancer (@SDGullsAHL) October 31, 2020
Thank you to everyone who trick or treated at our Halloween Drive-Thru Event this afternoon. Stay safe, and have a fang-tastic Halloween! pic.twitter.com/X9PLgWpSTF
Faced with an unprecedented pandemic – one which already postponed the start of the 2020-2021 season – the Gulls sprang into action as the holiday approached. Knowing trick-or-treat activities around the county faced enormous challenges, the team decided to utilize its practice facility to provide a safe, healthy and socially distanced event open to the public.
“We have missed our fans,” President of Business Operations, Matt Savant, explained during the event. “We haven’t been able to connect with them – or people in the community – for several months because of the pandemic. For the first time ever, we’re faced with the situation where, it should be hockey season, but we’re not able to do what we normally do, which is host games and community events.
“It’s a fun way to reconnect. We miss our fans so much, and we’re looking forward to the possibility of playing again in February.”
As the line of cars snaked up and down several side streets, Gulliver and the team’s staff welcomed in vehicles to grab their goody bags. The line never seemed to shrink, forcing the 90-minute event to stretch to over two hours to make sure each car participated in the event.
“We know San Diego loves the Gulls, and the fact that we haven’t been able to play in front of them in seven months, we know they still love us,” Savant said. “It’s not your average response after not seeing people for seven months. It’s really cool, and I’m honored that our fans are turning out in this fashion.”
Gulls’ fan Mike Armstrong knew he needed to attend the event as soon as he saw it announced.
“Obviously, we’re all hungry for Gulls action,” he said. “I need to see Gulliver. He’s out here giving out goody bags. We needed to come down and support the Gulls, let them know we’re still here for them as they’re here for us.”
The event follows the organization and ownership’s’s mandate to create a positive impact in the community. The Gulls follow their National Hockey League club, the Anaheim Ducks, in creating events and seeking partnerships to strengthen its commitment to local programs supporting those who cheer on the team.
“The Gulls showed up in 2015, and we’ve partnered with the schools and local hospitals,” Savant explained. “We’ve really made it a focus to make an impact on kids and families that are having a hard time here in San Diego, just like we’ve done in Anaheim for almost a decade and a half.”