The Rapid City Rush of the Central Hockey League held a promotion last Friday that you have probably never seen anywhere else. With the way it went down, you will likely never see it again. The team angered a number of fans by holding an intermission event that involved college students chugging beer while completing a number of physical tasks. This resulted in vomit on the ice.
According to the Rapid City Journal, the Rush called the race the “College Olympics.” It was held in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 5,000 fans on a night when college students got two-for-one tickets. During the race, students had to chug four beers, ride on a cooler and spin around on a hockey stick. Here’s another photo from the festivities:
Spectators said one male student vomited on the ice twice and the other puked once. Rush season ticket holder Tom Reagan was disgusted by the event.
“It was almost enough to quit as a four-year season ticket holder of two seats,” Regan said. “The Rush can do better. My wife and I were disappointed as there are many youngsters easily impressed by inappropriate behavior, and many adults that do not want to see promotion of drinking and vomiting at a public venue in the name of entertainment.”
Another fan wondered if the students competing were even old enough to drink and worried about the impression it may have made on his young children (14 and 10 years old) who attended the game with him.
“I was worried about that and the fact that they were representing the two schools,” Kelly M. Crooks said. “I think it gave the wrong impression. I know that a lot of college kids drink. I just think it was the wrong time and the wrong place for that contest.”
Jenna Zanter, Director of Corporate Partnerships for the Rush, seemed pleased with the promotion while it was underway.
Kid puked out on the ice during our College Olympics promotion. Definitely the highlight to this game so far.
— Jenna Zanter (@Jenna_Zanter) January 19, 2013
Other fans took to Twitter to rip the Rush for allowing the event to take place while some were entertained by it. After receiving a number of complaints, Rapid City Rush General Manager Tim Hill issue an apology on behalf of the team.
“It was meant to be fun, but it went completely wrong,” Hill said. “I apologize on behalf the organization. Obviously it was in poor taste. The intermission game was not appropriate, and it’s just something we will never do again.”
Live and learn, I suppose. We’ve seen some ridiculous promotions and giveaways like this and this in our day, but a beer-chugging competition that leads to power puking has to be a first. At the end of the day, it’s all about selling tickets. Any publicity is good publicity.
H/T Puck Daddy
Photo credit: Rapid City Journal
