CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS – The Corpus Christi IceRays celebrate and honor military and first responders in the greater Corpus Christi community with the 8th annual Stars & Stripes Night, presented by Whataburger and First Title Company, on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 7:11 p.m. at the American Bank Center.
“This is a date that we circle every season, and this year is no different,” said IceRays general manager Pat Dunn. “We, as an organization, take great pride in celebrating the contributions and sacrifices of our military and first responders. Luckily, we were able to time it close to Veteran’s Day to continue the thanks for what these great men and women do for us. Jeff Altman and his team from Whataburger and Brent Chesney from First Title Company have been with us from the beginning, and they’re a large reason why this event has been so successful and popular in Corpus Christi. We can’t thank them enough.”
The event began during the 2008-09 season in large part due to Brent Chesney, CEO of First Title Company, and Dunn teaming up with a desire to honor those that protect the Coastal Bend community and beyond. Along with Whataburger, all three organizations have teamed together to organize and support the theme night and its message. Since the event’s inception, it is one of the most popular games to date with an average of over 5,000 fans over the last seven seasons. Last year, the IceRays set a junior franchise attendance record with 6,965 fans at Stars & Stripes Night on Feb. 7, 2015.
“On behalf of all of our Family Members at Whataburger, I know we are so grateful for the sacrifices military and first responders have made for our country,” said Whataburger Director of Operations George Gonzales. “Whataburger is so thankful to have the opportunity to join forces with the IceRays and First Title Company year after year to show our appreciation for these men and women.”
“First Title Company is proud to be the title sponsor and founder of this great Stars and Stripes event,” said Chesney. “Being able to provide this night of fun for our first responders, veterans and their families to thank them for all they do is very important to First Title Company. We thank them and salute them.”
The IceRays will be distributing free ticket vouchers to all first responders, law enforcement officials, and military members around the area as a show of thanks for their constant protection and service to Corpus Christi, Nueces County, surrounding counties and cities, and the United States of America. Leading up to the opening faceoff, the Veterans Band of Corpus Christi, led by director Ram Chavez, will perform a tribute to all branches of the United States military leading into the National Anthem. The band, founded in 1986, has performed in thousands of events in their history including the inauguration of President George H. W. Bush in 1989. They will also provide in-game entertainment throughout the night.
During the home stand, the IceRays will wear special stars and stripes uniforms and proudly wear red, white and blue to show the team’s continued military support. Those jerseys will be available to the public in the Eddie Jackson, New York Life Post-Game Jersey Auction immediately following the game. Jersey design and information will be released in the week leading up to the game.
Stars & Stripes Night is also a Corpus Christi Caller-Times Family 4-Pack Night. Fans can purchase four tickets and receive four hot dogs and four sodas for just $46 by using the promo code “CALLER.” For more information on the evening’s proceedings, contact the IceRays Front Office at 361-814-PUCK.
About Whataburger
Whataburger has focused on its fresh, made-to-order burgers and friendly customer service since 1950 when Harmon Dobson opened the first Whataburger as a small roadside burger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas. Dobson gave his restaurant a name he hoped to hear customers say every time they took a bite of his made-to-order burgers: “What a burger!” Within the first week, people lined up around the block for his 25 cent, 100 percent beef burgers served on five-inch buns. Today, the company is headquartered in San Antonio with more than 770 locations in 10 states with sales of more than $1 billion annually. Visit www.whataburger.com for more information on the company or become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/whataburger.
About First Title Company
First Title Company is a locally owned company that has served the Coastal Bend for over 50 years. The company has had different names (CC Title, First American Title) but through out has always been consistent in providing the best customer service in the industry. With faces of experience that provide more experience than any other title company in the Coastal Bend, First Title Company appreciates and works hard for your business. For more information, visit www.firsttitlecompany.com or check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/First.Title.Company.
The IceRays pick up play in their first meeting of the year against the Odessa Jackalopes on Friday, Nov. 13 at 7:05 p.m. from the Ector County Coliseum. The IceRays return home on Thursday, Nov. 19 to open the season series with the Lone Star Brahmas at 10:45 a.m. from the American Bank Center. Contact the IceRays Front Office at 361-814-PUCK or go to www.goicerays.com for details on season tickets along with pricing and seating. In addition, stay connected with the IceRays on Facebook (/CorpusChristiIceRays), Twitter (@goicerays), YouTube (IceRays TV), Instagram (CorpusChristiIceRays), Vine (@goicerays), and Periscope (@goicerays).
