by Amy, AllHabs.net
ALL HABS HOCKEY MAGAZINE ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH MCLEAN’S PUB
January 27, 2011
www.allhabs.net / www.mcleanspub.com
PRESS RELEASE
MONTREAL, QC — Montreal is home to some of the most passionate fans in hockey. On any given game night, pubs all over the city are jam-packed with people looking for good food, cold drinks, fun atmosphere, and of course a Habs win. But that’s not enough. What fans really need is a place they can call their “home” for hockey news and entertainment, whether they’re downtown or perusing a trusted website for information on their favourite team.
This week, All Habs Hockey Magazine (AllHabs.net) and McLean’s Pub (McLeansPub.com) announced a new partnership created to further enhance a growing hockey community of their fans, readers and patrons. By building on a foundation of dedicated supporters, both online and in person, this partnership promises to give hockey fans in Montreal something to truly cheer about.
“Sure we’re sports writers, but more importantly we’re hockey fans. We live and die with the team, enduring the ups and downs together. We know what fans want to experience.”, says Rick Stephens, Editor-in-Chief of All Habs Hockey Magazine. “We’re all about creating a personal fan experience, engaging Habs enthusiasts in a unique way. It’s like a growing family — the folks at McLean’s see it exactly the same way. Together, we will continue to build our hockey community to make long-lasting connections both online and in person.”
That translates into even bigger and better fan events called Habs Tweetups, an initiative started by the All Habs Network almost three years ago. Using its dominant position in social media and as a strong, recognized brand in hockey media outlets, Habs Tweetups became a vehicle to allow fans to meet in person and develop long-lasting friendships – a step that Rick claims is a natural progression for friends who meet and chat online.
“Passionate sports fans not only want to follow every move of their team, they want to talk about it with other informed fans – and that’s the case in both good times and bad. Coming to one of our events for the first time is very exciting but we recognize that it can also be a little daunting. We go the extra mile to personally welcome everyone, introduce them to the others, and make them feel like they are part of the family.”
Popularity for Habs Tweetups quickly grew and these days fans can find them in more than ten different cities in North America – from Montreal to Vancouver to New York City and beyond.
Stuart Ashton, General Manager of McLean’s Pub in Montreal, first learned about Habs Tweetups about a year and a half ago through the All Habs Hockey Magazine. “All Habs has been my source for unbiased and well-informed hockey news for quite some time now. I love my Canadiens and sometimes that hurts, but I can always find out what I need to know on the All Habs website!”
He soon approached Rick to host events at his two restaurants, McLean’s Pub and its former sister pub O’Hara’s. “McLean’s is the ideal place – we are large, loud and full of passion on game days. It makes for an amazing environment to watch hockey.”
Stuart believed his venue would be the perfect place for a Habs Tweetup and adds, “Working with Jay Farrar, who manages for us at night, we assured that the All Habs crew would be well taken care of. Each event has been a success and we look forward to making the next even better than the last!”
The All Habs group has since hosted numerous events at McLean’s Pub, from Habs/Leafs rivalry game viewing parties to a “red carpet” tribute party during the NHL Awards and a pre-season celebration of the 24th Stanley Cup win. According to Rick, they’ve all been memorable.
“McLean’s has excellent food, is only a stone’s throw from the Bell Centre, and offers a great atmosphere for watching sports of any kind,” he says, “but what really sets them apart is their attentive staff. The folks at McLean’s are experts at making you feel at home. They make it a point to learn your name, remember your favourite drink, and ensure that you’ll want to come back again. Whether hosting an event or catching a game after work, it’s the place I want to be.”
It’s a philosophy of customer service and building genuine relationships which is shared by both entities. According to Stuart, the McLean family motto, “Virtue is our honour”, holds true twenty years after original owner Ian McLean purchased the pub. McLean passed away in 2000, but Stuart and his team work to uphold those values today. “We build long-term relationships with our partners, our suppliers, our staff, and our clientele.”
Rick agrees with that ideal and says the core of All Habs is all about community:
“Our mission is to build a world-wide network of Montreal Canadiens fans who are informed, engaged, entertained, and connected. We try things that other people claim can’t be done, and through committed staff and valued partners we have found success.” — Rick Stephens
The first step in the new partnership will be the addition of a monthly All Habs Night at McLean’s complete with reserved seating to watch a Habs game, a special menu, trivia and prizes and so much more. The events will give fans an opportunity to meet other people who share the same interests but will also include all bar and restaurant patrons to further provide that family feeling.
“It would be tough to match the dedication of the staff at McLean’s and the crew at All Habs,” Rick states. “We’ve been building this relationship for a year and a half. We’re committed for the long-term.” Stuart happily adds, “All Habs is our partner from now on and we plan on growing together. I cannot wait for our next event!”
Stuart and Rick have already begun sharing even more ideas that will soon become fan favourites. Watch for the launch of new initiatives in the near future!
——————–
AllHabs.net is the premiere source for information, news, analysis, and reviews about the Montreal Canadiens.
If you’d like more information about upcoming All Habs fan events at McLean’s, be sure to follow @All_Habs and @habstweetup on Twitter and log on to HabsTweetup.com for updates and reviews. The next Habs Tweetup is February 11th in Toronto – RSVP and details can be found by clicking HERE.
To learn more about McLean’s Pub, log onto McLeansPub.com to check out their menu and upcoming events. You can also follow them on Twitter at @mcleanspub and can find Stuart at @stuart_ashton.