Stockton, Calif. – The Stockton Heat, proudly owned by the NHL’s Calgary Flames, announce that the Friday, December 18, 2015 contest between the Bakersfield Condors will be played outdoors at Raley Field in Sacramento, California. 

The game will be part of the Golden State Hockey Rush event put together by the RS Ice Sports & Entertainment group in conjunction with Raley Field and Entercom Communications that goes from November 20 to January 3.  The event includes minor hockey tournaments in conjunction with California Amateur Hockey Association, sledge hockey games, an interactive hockey zone, oversized ice slide for sledding, public skating, a New Year’s Eve Concert and much more. 

“We are very thrilled to be operating in Stockton, and to be part of the first AHL outdoor game in California,” Calgary Flames President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke said. “ The fan response to the new team and league exceeded our expectations this off-season.  With the unique stage of an outdoor game and a big-time rival as an opponent, we need our loyal fan base to provide the team with a tremendous atmosphere at Raley Field.” 

This event marks the first time since December 30, 2013 that an AHL regular season game will be played in the open air and the first time a minor league hockey game will be played west of Detroit, Michigan.  It’s also the third time a Calgary Sports and Entertainment owned team will play outdoors following the Calgary Flames and Calgary Hitmen who both took to the elements in February 2011. 

“This event continues to validate just how much hockey has grown in California,” Heat Team President Dave Piecuch said. “ With eight professional hockey teams calling California home and a growing population of youth hockey players developing across local rinks, we felt that this was a great opportunity to help showcase to the hockey community that the sport is alive and well not only in Stockton but all across the state!” 

Heat season ticket holders will receive a ticket to the outdoor game while mini-plan holders can opt in for the game for an additional fee.  Mini-plan holders also have the option to upgrade their ticket package to a full season and receive the outdoor game at no additional cost. 

Single game tickets for this game start as low as $20 and will be available to the general public through Ticketmaster beginning on Saturday, September 5 through www.raleyfield.com. 

Should there be a rain out on the December 18 game date; a makeup game will be played on December 19. 

Learn more about the game by visiting StocktonHeat.com. 

The inaugural schedule has just been announced!  Don’t miss the great promotions like Opening Night, Hot Pink 1, the Golden State Hockey Rush outdoor game and all the great giveaways by calling 209.373.1500 to order your season tickets now!