Estimated $1.5M brought into the WHL from Connor Bedard: CKM Sports Management | 24CA News

Everyone desires a chunk of Connor Bedard.

The Regina Pats star ahead is promoting out arenas throughout western Canada and is bringing in followers from throughout the nation into WHL stadiums.

At a latest autograph signing, Brooklyn Desjarlais was requested why they made the journey to see the Pats.

“Basically, I just wanted to see Connor Bedard,” Desjarlais stated after driving an hour and a half for the autograph signing.

Their uncle drove seven and a half hours from Airdrie, Alta., for a similar factor – to catch a glimpse of one of many subsequent nice gamers.

It comes off the heels of the Pats western highway journey which noticed sellouts at each cease together with the 17,000-seat Saddle dome in Calgary.

1:50Bedard visits inflicting sellouts, boosting junior hockey staff revenues

All these ticket gross sales imply an inflow of cash for the WHL.

Bedard’s worth to the league is someplace within the $1.5-million vary in response to CKM Sports Management agent Cliff Mander.

“It’s making their existing brands pay more attention to what’s possible and it’s opening the eyes of other brands who haven’t looked at the league as a viable outlet,” Mander stated.

In Regina, it’s no secret that Bedard mania is boosting the money movement, with the Regina Pats’ final two dwelling video games promoting out.

“How can you not love the way he plays?” stated Wade Bohn, a Regina Pats fan.

“Regina hasn’t had something like this for so long, if ever.”

With Bedard a shoe-in to go first general within the upcoming NHL draft his model ought to solely proceed to rise. Mander expects his worth to the league to develop earlier than the season is over.

And whereas there could also be loads of stress on Bedard to play nicely in entrance of sell-out arenas, Pats CEO Gord Pritchard feels Bedard is up for the problem.

“He’s an incredible ambassador of the game and he’s great with the kids and he’s very generous with his time,” Pritchard stated.

The Pats have solely 12 dwelling video games left within the common season, and solely time will inform what number of promote out. But each the Pats and the WHL are banking on Bedard persevering with to usher in followers earlier than the top of the season.

1:50Bedard visits Lethbridge, inflicting sellouts and boosting junior hockey staff revenues

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