The Anaheim Ducks hosted its first-ever “Irvine Night” on Oct. 29, 2019 at the Honda Center in Anaheim to celebrate the people, progress and amenities within the city. The themed hockey game was part of the Ducks’ matchup against the Winnipeg Jets.
A large number of residents within the City of Irvine flocked to the 17,174-seat arena to watch the game, including hundreds of Great Park Neighborhoods residents who rendezvoused at a pregame gathering and took the Metrolink train between Irvine and Anaheim.
All fans attending the game received discounts on tickets and merchandise, and a Ducks pennant upon entry into the Honda Center, courtesy of the game’s presenting sponsor FivePoint.
Prior to the game, the Irvine Police Honor Guard presented the colors, and city leaders were recognized on the ice alongside Anaheim Ducks CEO Michael Schulman. A video showcasing Irvine landmarks -- including the FivePoint Arena at Great Park Ice located within the Orange County Great Park -- also played on digital video screens above the ice.
The event was a success, thanks in part to the Ducks. The team won 7-4 in an exciting and high-scoring match, and in so doing matched its second-best home start to a season in the team’s history.
The event further solidifies the relationship between FivePoint, the Ducks, and the City of Irvine, most prominently represented by Great Park Ice and FivePoint Arena in the Orange County Great Park. Built as a 280,000-square-foot community center, Great Park Ice features four rinks, including three designed to NHL standards—one in the 2,500-seat FivePoint Arena—and a fourth to Olympic standards that serves as a training facility for the U.S. Figure Skating team. Financing for the $110-million project came from the Irvine Ice Foundation—created by Ducks owners Susan and Henry Samueli.