The new Seattle NHL Franchise has picked Alaska Airlines as one of the professional hockey team’s founding Partners, as well as the official airline of the team, the companies announced today.
Under the sponsorship agreement between the SeaTac-based airline and the National Hockey League expansion team, the new Seattle Center arena’s main door and lobby area will be named the Alaska Airlines Atrium, featuring a giant Alaska sign and colors.
The arena atrium is part of the $950 million venue’s south side, and will serve as the main entrance for the facility.
BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU), Boston’s largest airline and the Official Airline of the Boston Bruins, today revealed a brand new livery dedicated to Boston’s professional hockey team and six-time Stanley Cup winner. The Airbus A320 aircraft, aptly named “Bear Force One,” was unveiled at an event this morning at Boston Logan International Airport, where JetBlue and Bruins executives were joined by Bruins’ mascot, Blades the Bruin, to surprise and delight customers. “Bear Force One” officially took flight this afternoon, transporting excited Bruins fans to Raleigh, N.C. for Game 3 of the NHL’s Eastern Conference Finals.
“Bear Force One” is JetBlue’s first livery dedicated to a team in the NHL and its third livery dedicated to a Boston professional sports team. The new paint scheme features a large-scale version of the Bruins’ iconic spoked-B logo on the tailfin, a nod to the often used reference to Boston as “the hub of the universe.” The logo’s central ‘B’ encircled by spokes mirrors the central role that Boston has played in JetBlue’s network from the very beginning. Next to the boarding door, customers will be greeted with a “Boston’s Team Since 1924” wordmark, denoting the Bruins’ long legacy and tradition in its home city. The new livery serves as a symbol of JetBlue’s commitment to the Boston Bruins and the team’s avid fans throughout Boston and the New England region.
“We couldn’t think of a better time to celebrate our six-year partnership with the Boston Bruins,” said Marty St. George, Chief Commercial Officer, JetBlue. “As the team continues on in the Eastern Conference Finals, this new livery will make it easier for Bruins fans to show off their black and gold fanfare, and cheer on their team not only during the playoffs but year-round as it flies across JetBlue’s network of 100+ destinations.”
“For the past six years, the Bruins and JetBlue have had a very strong relationship,” said Cam Neely, President, Boston Bruins. “JetBlue has been a great partner and it’s fantastic to see one of their aircraft representing the Black and Gold as it travels around the country.”
JetBlue in Boston
JetBlue is the leading carrier in Boston in number of flights, customers carried and nonstop destinations served. The airline is proud to support the teams its customers and 3,800+ Boston-based crewmembers are most passionate about. JetBlue is the official airline sponsor for the city’s four major sports teams including the Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins and New England Patriots. JetBlue has also been the Official Airline of TD Garden and Presenting Sponsor of the entrance experience since 2010.
ABOUT JETBLUE
JetBlue is New York’s Hometown Airline®, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles (Long Beach), Orlando, and San Juan. JetBlue carries more than 42 million customers a year to 100+ cities in the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America with an average of more than 1,000 daily flights. For more information please visit http://jetblue.com.
Gordie Howe, hockey’s ironman, passes away at age 88. Howe, known as Mr. Hockey, was the greatest goal scorer in hockey history until Wayne Gretzky eventually passed his record. Gordie Howe played in his first NHL game on October 16, 1946 for the Detroit Red Wings. The right winger would score a goal in that first game at the age of 18. Wearing the number 17 during his rookie season, he would switch to number 9 the following year, and wear that number for the rest of his career. He would go on to lead the Detroit Red Wings to four Stanley Cup championships during the 1950’s.
During those dominating years, Gordie was part of one of the greatest lines in NHL history. The Production Line teamed Howe with “Terrible” Ted Lindsay and Sid Abel. He would go on to lead the league in scoring six times. He also won the Hart Trophy as the Most Valuable Player in the league six times as well. He would appear in his 23rd NHL All-Star Game at Joe Louis Arena less than two months before his 52nd birthday in 1980. Gordie actually still holds several of the Detroit Red Wings franchise records with 786 goals, 1,809 points, and 1,687 games played.
After retiring from Detroit in 1971, he took a job with the Red Wings front office. However, in 1973 he came out of retirement to join the newly formed World Hockey Association. The Houston Aeros of the WHA had signed Gordie’s sons mark and Marty. The Howe’s would go on to led the Aeros to back to back championships. With Houston folding prior to the start of the WHA’s last season, the Howe trio were traded to the New England Whalers. The newly named Hartford Whalers would be one of four teams to join the NHL following the WHA’s final season in 1979. Gordie would play for the Hartford Whalers for their first NHL season before retiring again in 1980.
Gordie Howe suffers stroke
Gordie Howe had a stroke two years ago. He had been suffering from symptoms of dementia for the two years prior to the stroke. Due to this declining health, Howe had been spending his time living alternately with his four children. He was staying with his daughter Cathy in Lubbock, Texas when he suffered his stroke in 2014. Mr. Howe went to Mexico to undergo stem cell treatment, one of two he would receive. Despite these therapies, Gordie’s health would continue to decline. He passed away just outside of Toledo in the town of Sylvania, Ohio, on June 10, 2016 at 88 years of age.
A Gordie Howe tribute video can be viewed at this link: Mr. Hockey