If you are new to Vernon within the last few months, you might not even know we have a junior hockey team. If don't follow the Vipers on a regular basis you might not even know training camp starts in a week, with the lack of media coverage over the summer. I know its summer and people are away, travelling and not thinking hockey but you think with a week or two before training camp starts this is the time the Vipers would be getting fans excited for the upcoming season and start marketing. Why not have season tickets on sale now? Start advertising training camp is a week away, and that were two weeks away from the preseason. I talked to a friend over the weekend who goes to about ten or so Viper games a year, had no idea the Vipers opened training camp in a week. He said he has heard nothing about the Vipers all summer and asked what was going on.
Other then one or two small articles in the local newspaper there has been no mention of Viper news since the playoffs ended in March. The Vipers website has also be fairly stale over the summer with very little to no news regarding the team. If your a regular follower of this blog you have read the "BCHL News & Trades" posts on this blog you have probably noticed most of the teams across the league have been very busy announcing player commitments, trades, new coaches and personal changes etc. Most teams have been keeping their fans in the loop, except the Vipers. The Morning Star newspaper had a little blurb just after the playoffs ended with a short list of a few players that might return for this coming season. Other then that, Viper fans are left in the dark when it comes to knowing much about the 2018-19 Vipers and their roster. The team has yet to announce any player commitments or given any news about the upcoming roster/team. I understand its summer but it would be nice to keep the diehard fans updated a little through out the off season. Once or twice a month the local paper could have an article or story on the Vipers new players or plans for the upcoming season. The Vipers could release some player commitments over the summer, keeping the fans informed in someway.
The Vipers have a strong hardcore group of diehard fans that follow the team on a regular basis. It would be nice if the Vipers had a little more media coverage on the team. With the size of Vernon and surrounding area you think the Vipers could attract more then the average 1800-2000 fans a game. One great example of marketing and being involved with the city and their fans is the Penticton Vees. A much smaller town compared to Vernon and the Vees have managed to pack over 3000 fans a night, some nights getting over 3,500. There's no reason why the Vipers couldn't average 2300-2600 fans a night.
How about an update on the Vipers ownership group. After the passing of Duncan Wray his daughter announced in early June her mom, Duncan's wife was the new owner of the team. Since then lots of speculated rumors going around, more lately then before. Are the Wrays keeping the team? Is the team for sale? Has the team been sold? Nobody knows.
I hope within the next week we start to hear some news of player commitments, the Vipers roster, & any new players or news regarding the team.
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