San Diego’s newest professional sports franchise unknowingly made national news last week as it continues to prepare for its home opener Oct. 10 at the Valley View Casino Center (VVCC).
The sweaters of the San Diego Gulls hockey team were a well-kept secret before the team planned to unveil them in early September, but the hush-hush home sweater was shown in a promotional video posted on July 28 for a new NHL 16 video game being produced by EA Sports.
A Gulls goaltender is depicted on the video in a close-up seen by hockey fans worldwide. The three-minute video, with more than153,000 views as of last weekend, can be seen on YouTube. The sweater showed a white body with black shoulders and bottom band, turquoise and red armbands and a turquoise line from the armbands down the front.
The team received a compliment when EA Sports tweeted, “They looked so good we HAD to get them into the video! #OurBad.”
Team staff members reported the early peek caused a tremendous spike in Gulls followers on Twitter, Facebook and social media sites, providing valuable publicity.
Gulls officials said they still plan to release the design at an upcoming VIP event and in several digital locations in early September as they go on sale to fans who have already begun clamoring to purchase them at the team’s online store (www.gullsgear.com). Mini Ticket Plan
The Gulls are now accepting deposits for a Mini Plan 20 that allows fans to select the same seats for any 20 games in the 2015-16 season. All 34 home games (of 68 total) are available, including opening night. 
In addition, Mini Plan 20 holders will receive playoff priority seating for the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs.
Available seats are priced from $16.99 to $49.99 per game. 
The full 68-game season schedule will be released this month. The Gulls ticket office can be reached at (619) 359-4730 or [email protected]. Ice Girls auditions
The Gulls are also forming an Ice Girls group that will engage with fans, assist with on-ice maintenance during games, assist with on-ice and in-arena promotions and serve as team representatives at community events.
Members will be provided skates and paid an hourly amount by the Gulls.
Candidates must be at least 18 years old, possess a high school diploma or equivalent, have an athletic appearance with no tattoos visible while in uniform, a flexible schedule, be comfortable in front of large crowds and be passionate about sports, hockey and the Gulls.
To audition, an application, emergency contact form and waiver must be completed and brought to the event, set for Saturday, Aug. 15 beginning at 3 p.m. at the San Diego Ice Arena, 11048 Ice Skate Place in Mira Mesa. 
Required forms and information are located at sandiegogulls.com. Radio Broadcasts
All Gulls games, both home and away and including playoffs, will be available on local radio under terms of a multi-year agreement reached with Broadcast Company of the Americas.
Fans can tune to Mighty 1090-AM or ESPN 1700-AM to hear game action along with a 15-minute pre- and post-game show.  The broadcasts will also be streamed live at www.mighty1090.com and the team website (www.sandiegogulls.com).
Hockey programming will also be a regular part of the Mighty 1090’s Coach John Kentera Show, as he features Gulls updates airing Mondays through Fridays from 6 to 9 p.m. Also, weekly and monthly interviews with players, coaches and management will be heard on the Dan Sileo Show M-F from 6-9 a.m., the Darren Smith Show Mondays through Fridays from noon-3 p.m. and the Scott and BR Show Mondays through Fridays from 3 to 6 p.m.
Semi-monthly interviews will be aired on the 105.7 Max-FM Mornings with Murphy and Kim Show.
“Mighty 1090’s signal reaches deep into Orange County and Los Angeles,” noted Ari Segal, Gulls president of business operations. “This partnership further promotes professional hockey throughout Southern California and reinforces the connection between the Gulls and Anaheim Ducks and our fans.”
The Gulls’ radio play-by-play voice will be named at a later date. Arena Improvements
The Gulls are partnering with VVCC officials to enhance the game day environment inside the arena, first opened in October of 1966.
Fans will see a new, state-of-the-art LED scoreboard and hear an updated sound system along with new NHL-standard dasher boards, curved glass and netting and new concession stand selections featuring local restaurant concepts and vendors.
Behind the scenes, player locker and training rooms are also being renovated.
The scoreboard alone will be a huge upgrade.
It will feature new screens on all four sides that are 12 feet tall and 22 feet wide, more than 3.5 times larger than on the existing board. The team and VVCC have partnered with Daktronics to manufacture and install the new display which will be operated from a new video control suite.
Below the scoreboard will be a new LED doughnut display. 
“We are thrilled to continue working with the Valley View Casino Center to deliver a dynamic experience to our great fans,” said Segal.
VVCC General Manager Ernie Hahn is also excited about the changes.
“We are committed to providing a first-class experience for all fans that walk through our doors. While our building provides amazing sight lines from each and every seat, the new scoreboard will only enhance the experience for all fans,” Hahn said.
The team has also announced partnerships with Rockin’ Baja Lobster, Pacific Premier Bank, Pacific Records, Gigtown and the Military Ticket Program.  
Early this year, the Ducks bought their former top affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, and moved them to San Diego to facilitate player movement between the teams. Owners Henry and Susan Samueli praised San Diego’s hockey history at a February Hockey Fest event that stunned them when more than 8,000 fans swarmed the VVCC. They noted San Diego was their clear first choice for the Ducks’ affiliation.
The Gulls will play in the newly-created Pacific Division of the league’s Western Conference. The will be joined by the Bakersfield Condors, Ontario Reign, San Antonio Rampage, San Jose Barracudas, Stockton Heat and Texas Stars.