Ready for the return of Toledo Hockey? So are we! And the Toledo Walleye have a lot to celebrate. The organization is celebrating its 10^th anniversary of ECHL hockey in downtown Toledo’s Huntington Center. There are plenty of celebrations planned to appeal to families, friends and fans of all ages. You don't have to be a Toledo native or a die-hard Walleye fan to see there's a lot to love about hockey season Toledo.

Opening Night

The Walleye Home Opener is a big deal here in Toledo, and we roll out the red carpet for our fans. Hensville entertainment district is hosting the Toledo Walleye Opening Night Tailgate Party on October 27. Hop on over to Holy Toledo! Tavern, Fleetwood's Tap Room and Hensville Park for live entertainment, great food, drink specials, and activities throughout the day. Speaking of hops, Opening Night Brewfest is the perfect way to start the season for beer enthusiasts. Local and regional favorites like Maumee Bay Brewing Co., Platform Brewing Co. and Columbus Brewing Company will showcase samples of their holiday-themed beer. Brewfest includes your game ticket and a buffet, so don’t wait to get your tickets; this event sells out every year! 

Great Night Out

The wide appeal of attending a Toledo Walleye game is that you don’t have to be a die-hard Walleye fan – or even hockey fan - to have a great time. There is an unspoken energy from the fans giving it a concert-like feel that sets the mood for a good time. Who knows? You may become an instant fan, so make sure to check out the merchandise at The Swamp Shop to pick up some swag. And after the game, there are plenty of downtown hot spots for food, drink and live music to keep the party going well into the night.

Check out The Blarney Irish Pub with live music every Thursday-Saturday (locals recommend checking out Tóraígh An Sonas, the first Saturday of each month for traditional Irish music). A few more choices for live local music include Ye Olde Cock ‘n Bull with a great selection of rare and seasonal beers, Table Forty4, a fan favorite with great specials and Ye Olde Durty Bird, downtown Toledo’s “Gastropub” with heated outdoor seating, just to name a few. The best part is that they are all part of DORA, Toledo’s Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area, allowing guests to grab their drink of choice in a special to-go-cup and hit the streets. Plan which spots you'll hit before or after the game by checking out our Nightlife page.

A Walleye game is perfect for a guys’ or girls’ night out, family get-togethers or a class reunion. And with the nightlife line-up after the game, there’s plenty of reasons to make it an overnight occasion. Stay at the stylish, new Renaissance Toledo Downtown Hotel and check out their awesome roof top bar, The Heights, before hopping on the complimentary shuttle to the game. Or stay at the Park Inn by Radisson, Toledo’s official hotel to the Toledo Walleye that is conveniently connected to the Huntington Center. Make sure to check for special Walleye hotel rates before booking your room.

Fun for the Whole Family

Hockey and families are synonymous, and that’s why the Toledo Walleye plan so many cool activities for the kiddos. Back by popular demand, Marvel Super Hero Nights happening Friday, Nov. 2 and Saturday, Nov. 3. Toledo faces off against the Idaho Steelheads for both games with the Walleye players sporting specialty Black Panther jerseys while fans enjoy movie clips, sound bites, music and contests throughout the games! 

Teddy Bear Toss on December 1 encourages fans to bring a teddy bear to toss on the ice after the Walleye score their first goal. All teddy bears collected will be donated to local children’s charities just in time for the holidays! And Wizard Weekend, Friday, Dec. 7 and Saturday, Dec. 8, is all about a night of magic and fun for families with magicians on hand, wand stores, photo opportunities and a Wizard Party! Check toledowalleye.com for other cool events including a Postgame Party with the Players, Postgame Open Skate and Scout Sleepovers. 

To take your child’s Walleye hockey experience to new heights, book a memorable Fan Experience for a special birthday celebration, or just because. The most popular is the Fanboni Experience where kids hop on a modified Zamboni – room for up to 15 - for a cruise around the Huntington Center ice.  “Game On” Kid of the Game is a chance for your child to officiate the start of the game by yelling “Game On” right before the puck drop. The package includes game tickets, Walleye hat, gift card and a donation to the Walleye Wishing Well Charitable Fund. Tons of other experiences and packages are available so we suggest you peruse the entire list of awesome Fan Experiences.

2019 All-Star Weekend

For the first time in Toledo hockey history the CCM / ECHL All-Star Weekend will be hosted in the Glass City! The 2019 CCM / ECHL All-Star Weekend, presented by ProMedica, will take place on Friday, January 18 through Monday, January 21, 2019. The highlight event of the All-Star Weekend, the CCM / ECHL All-Star Classic and Skills Competition, takes place on Monday, January 21. The All-Star Classic features a 3-on-3 tournament with four teams competing for the top spot. Toledo Walleye will make up two of the four teams, and face-off against the other two teams featuring players from the Eastern and Western Conference All-Star teams. All four teams will advance to the second round and will be re-seeded based on total score. The top two highest scoring teams after Rounds 1 and 2 will meet in the third round for the final match-up.

All-Star Weekend will also be jam-packed with festivities including: 5th Annual Winter Brewfest, All-Star Fanfest, Winterfest Youth Hockey & High School Hockey Tournaments, All-Star Hall of Fame Luncheon plus additional activities and entertainment in Hensville at Fleetwood's Taproom & Holy Toledo! Tavern all weekend long! Tickets for individual events are available or purchase your All-Star Weekend Package today!

Now that you have the scoop on all the Walleye fan experiences, kids’ activities, nightlife and live music and more - You're ready to have a blast in Toledo all season long!