In the world of professional sports, it’s no longer acceptable to entertain with just, you know, sports. To put (and keep) butts in seats, franchises need to create things like x-treem dance teamz and the superdog halftime show.

Surprisingly, the KB is a big advocate of such asides. After all, when a rolled-up shirt shot from an air cannon hits an unsuspecting fan in the face, we laugh. When an attractive female and her slovenly male co-worker appear on the kiss cam (company seats = hardcore makeout), we laugh. When fans unite to cheer on scrubs during a blowout, hoping to eclipse the score-five-goals-get-a-free-McChicken plateau, we laugh. Then we cheer. 'Cause we’re hungry.

No surprise, then, that CNBC’s Brian Gainor sparked our interest with his latest article where he unearthed several collaborations between NHL franchises and fast food outlets Dairy Queen, Wendy’s and Taco Bell.

For example, in St. Louis, fans receive a free 12oz DQ Blizzard if the Blues score five goals in a game.

The Blues executed the first "Dairy Queen Blizzard Bonus" promotion this season against the Dallas Stars on October 16th (the Blues won the game 6-2). With the team ahead by five (5) goals, fans began chanting "Blizzard! Blizzard! Blizzard!" throughout the arena. The following day, a multitude of fans flocked to nearby participating Dairy Queen locations to redeem their free Blizzard coupon, with some even heading for their free Blizzard in the early morning hours.

Apparently a lot of health freaks in the Loo, hitting up the DQ at 3am.

Moving along, in Columbus, fans can redeem their ticket stub for a free Wendy’s chili every time the Blue Jackets score three goals. To rev up the crowd, the BJs lead fans in a “chili chant” while featuring a No. 3 jersey with the name “Chili” on the scoreboard. (A real confidence booster for Mark Methot, who actually wears No. 3 for the Jackets yet receives far less applause...every single night).

Meanwhile, in Nashville, each time the Predators score five goals, fans can exchange ticket stubs for a free taco at Taco Bell. “Since the promotion's inception,” Gainor writes, “It has become routine for Predators fans to chant ‘We Want Tac-os’ every time the team is on the verge of scoring its fifth goal.” This is a big experience in Nashville – fans get to eat free and try “ethnic food.” You know, the kind of folks who consider Pizza Hut an Italian restaurant.

Anyway, all this talk of free food has made us hungry. So in keeping with the spirit of swiping other’s team’s marketing initiatives, the KB hopes the Vancouver Canucks follow suit and collaborate with Ricky’s, home of the famous Yukon Big Bite breakfast. Score five goals, get five free chorizo sausage links? Now there’s something we can get on board with.

This is actually the breakfast appetizer. You should see the Big Bite.
(We love Ricky's, don't ever diss the Ricky's Images)