Greyhounds give kids a break

Unveiling a new marketing campaign aimed at families, Soo Greyhounds announced today that they're slashing ticket prices for students and children for the 2004/2005 season.

Walk-up prices for students will be $7, down $4 from the current season, General Manager Dave Torrie and principal shareholder Dr. Lou Lukenda (shown) told reporters.

For children under 12, the price will be $5, again a $4 reduction.

Walk-up prices for adults and seniors will be unchanged at $14 and $11 respectively, the club announced.

With bottles of Aquafina and other Pepsi-Cola Canada Ltd. product strategically placed by Greyounds marketing staff, team executives said that they're trying to make it more affordable for people to watch the Hounds as a family outing.

The club lost money last season and Lukenda wasn't sure the new initiatives would be enough to move things into the black.

But the important thing, Lukenda said, is that the franchise stay in the Sault and that the public get good entertainment for their dollar.

Hoping to sell 2,000 season tickets before the start of next season, the Hounds also announced discounted season tickets for youth.

For example, an early-bird ticket bought under the three year plan will now cost $238 for students and $170 for children.

That compares to $270 and $230 for the current season.

The early-bird deadline is April 3 and Torrie served notice today that the club will no longer stretch those deadlines.

Regular prices will be in effect after May 3 and any seats not renewed by May 17 will be offered for sale to the general public.

Torrie also confirmed that the Hounds have asked the OHL to allow them to play most of their Sunday games at 7 p.m.