MOLINE, Ill. — With September only days away, the Quad City Storm have released their promotional schedule for their sophomore season. The Storm have themes for all 28 matches that will be played at the TaxSlayer Center this season. The team has eight jersey auctions planned, some new themes, and some nights that worked well last year are returning. 
While last season there were five Big Games — games targeted for large crowds — for the Storm, this year there will be seven. One of the season ticket packages which the Storm offer are for only the Big Games. These games are packed with fun for fans and as a means to give back to the community through the Storm’s fundraising efforts for various charities. With a total of just under $163,000 given back to the community by the Storm last season, the amount is sure to be ever larger with two more Big Games.

Jersey Auctions

The jersey auctions the Storm have held in the past have been a great draw for fans, generating a lot of donations for local charities. The chance to own game-worn specialty jerseys, and write the cost off on their taxes as a charitable donation, always brings lots of attendance.  
The first of eight jersey auctions this season will be an online exclusive, when the Storm wear special Halloween-themed jerseys for the October 26 game against the Huntsville Havoc. Two weeks later will be the next auction, when the Storm don military appreciation jerseys on Salute to Our Military Night.
The Storm held a military appreciation night last year as well. Fans were able to paint the names of those who had served on the ice before that game. That tradition will continue this year, as fans will be able to paint names on the TaxSlayer Center ice on November 5th ahead of the November 9 game. 
There will be two nights this season dedicated to the superior brand of tractor, the first on November 22 and the latter on April 4 to close out the season. November 22 will be a John Deere “Green Out” Night, meaning fans are requested to wear green to the game. The season finale will be another Birdies for Charity Night, in partnership with John Deere and WQAD. 
Family Fun Night will be on December 27, with the last jersey auction of the calendar year. Cartoon jerseys, design to be announced later, will be worn by the Storm that night. No auction will occur in January, but the painting of names of those who battled cancer will be on January 28, with Hockey Fights Cancer Night on February 1st. A specialty jersey bearing ribbons with names of cancer fighters and survivors will be worn that night before being auctioned off. 
In a new promotion, the SPHL has teamed with Mossy Oak for specialty jerseys. The Storm are tagged to wear Mossy Oak camouflage jerseys on February 21 and auctioned off post-game — if fans can find them, that is. March 27 will be Salute to Labor and Our Country Night, the last of the Big Games. 

Returning Favorites

Many of the jersey auction themes are the same as last year, including staples like Hockey Fights Cancer and Military Appreciation. Some of the themes are expanded this year, however, such as Trick-or-Treating with the Storm post-game now having a jersey to go with or Hawaiian shirt night becoming Margaritaville Night. 
Last year’s 80’s Night has this year also become a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice, on the date itself. One can only hope that the Storm will record a commercial for this night featuring coach Dave Pszenyczny giving Herb Brooks’ famous pre-game speech.  

New Themes

While the Storm are keeping some of last year’s themes alive and well, they are also introducing some new themes for home games. The only constants in life are death and taxes, anyways.
January 24th will be Mystery Night, presented by Palmer Chiropractic Clinics. Will it be a birthday party for your favorite SinBin writer (also known as me)? Will it be a murder mystery night with the likes of Hercule Poirot or Sherlock Holmes? It’s a mystery!
Speaking of birthdays, Radar – the Storm mascot – will have his first birthday on December 20. He will be having a party at the game that night, with one dollar tickets for kids 12 years and younger with the purchase of an adult ticket at regular price. The first 1000 kids under 12 will receive a plush Radar keychain that night.
November 30 will be Pride Night with the Storm presented by The Project, with money raised for the Iowa & Illinois Safe Schools Alliance. LGBTQ+ fans should wear their Pride gear that night. I look forward to seeing if Pride Tape will be used by one or both teams that night. 
Some of the aforementioned jersey auctions are new themes for the Storm, as well, such as the Mossy Oak night. 

Special Days

The Storm are changing some of the concession specials this season, as all Friday games will feature two-dollar beer and hot dogs until puck drop. There will be three games where the discounted beer and hot dogs will be sold all night, however: November 29th, December 31st, and March 27th. 97X will be sponsoring the all-night promotions, just as they had for the past several years. 
Each of the three Sunday games will be Pucks and Paws Day, with dog tickets selling for only five dollars. After the game, kids and dogs will be allowed to walk on the ice, a departure from the post-game skates of years prior. 
For Trick-or-Treating and Radar’s Birthday, kids will be able to get in for $1 with the purchase of an adult ticket.
With 28 home games and 28 themes, the Storm have quite the season planned. Stay tuned in to @SinBinStorm on Twitter for the latest news both before and during the jam-packed season.