Chill Factor: How a Minor-League Hockey Team Changed a City Forever

I picked this up to know more about the history of ice rinks in Columbus and the Chillers. It's a very good book and I have a better understanding of how the Chll were able to be so successful and step out of the shadow of OSU sports.

This book is a fantastic read! I have really enjoyed it thoroughly. I am not an avid reader, but I finished this in two sittings.David Paitson brought back a lot of great memories and sheds light on a lot of what was going on behind the scenes. There were a lot of things that went wrong or almost went wrong with the Chill, and it is a lot of fun to hear about the experience from Mr Paitson's insider point of view.What they did with the Chill in Columbus was truly unique and impressive from a lot of perspectives, not just the on-ice product. I am grateful for all of the memories (and Fairground Coliseum smells) which this book evoked.I also found myself laughing a lot while reading this book. Sometimes, I laughed because I learned something funny and new. Other times, I laughed because I remember the experience/event/promo so fondly or was reminded of ones I nearly forgot. This was a fantastic trip down memory lane, and I got a bonus when I found a picture of my sister, dad, grandfather, and myself cheering in the stands.

Chill Factor recounts the story of the Columbus Chill an ECHL franchise that called Columbus home from 1991-1999. Now Columbus had already experienced its’ share of professional sports face plants and when the Chill debuted in 1991, they were expected to be just another flash in the pan for a city dominated by Ohio State football. Yet, by employing a team of sports mavericks and more than a little ingenuity and outside the box [diplomatic way of saying crazy] ways of promoting itself, the Chill began to show the world that professional sports was viable in Columbus.It was far from a perfect journey as the team had to deal with arena issues, backlash from conservative types who were put off by the teams’ brash ways, skepticism among long term residents and resistance to a professional sports franchise from Ohio State just to name a few. This book is a terrific read for the sports marketer and the sports fan alike. Fans will gain an appreciation for what goes on inside a sports franchise and find themselves chuckling at all the loony things the Chill did. Sports marketers will hopefully find themselves inspired by the Chill to think outside the box in their situation as well.Without the Chill, the Blue Jackets may not exist.

You don't know that you want to read this book but you do! It is just the kind of story that interests me and draws me into the details of how it all came about. From the beginning, their methods of advertising were so ahead of the times and appropriate to the groups they were targeting. And then all the information about Issue 1….and the building of the Chiller rinks….and how so many (few) saw that Columbus could support a major league team….I could go on and on…..really it was great. Loved the behinds the scenes views. Well written and a fast read. You don't have to be a hockey fan to love it!

A great account of how a minor league team created a buzz and excitement in Columbus oh. To set the stage for an nhl franchise.

Great history about how a front office developed an aggressive marketing campaign to get fans interested in hockey in a lukewarm hockey city! A must read for any front office sports marketing staff! “How to sell seats on a shoestring budget”.

Good book. If you are a minor league hockey fan. This is a must read

Thoroughly enjoyed the book. Great stories with insight into the ultimate goal of an NHL franchise.