Springfield Jr. Blues
The Springfield Jr. Blues is a privately held NAHL Tier II junior ice hockey franchise founded in 1993, based at the 2,100-seat Nelson Center in Springfield, Illinois. It serves junior hockey prospects aged 16-20 seeking NCAA and professional advancement, plus local fans, corporate sponsors, and billet families, monetizing through ticket sales, sponsorship packages, development camps, and concessions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersSpringfield
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Springfield Jr. Blues does
The Springfield Jr. Blues is a Tier II junior ice hockey organization competing in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) and operating out of the 2,100-seat Nelson Center in Springfield, Illinois. Founded in 1993 by John D. O'Laughlin and Al Jennings, the team is the longest-tenured franchise in the NAHL and won back-to-back Robertson Cup Championships in 1996 and 1997. The organization has processed nearly 1,000 players through its program over 30 years, producing over 400 NCAA-committed players and approximately 200 professional hockey alumni, including 145+ who played professionally in the USA or Europe.
The primary customer is the junior hockey prospect aged 16-20 seeking NCAA and professional advancement, recruited via tryouts, main camps, futures camps, and a prospect database covering 2003-2012 birth years. Secondary customers include local Springfield families attending games, corporate sponsors purchasing signage and activation rights, billet families housing players, and the broader Central Illinois community engaged through programs such as Classroom of the Game (nearly 800 students across 50 classrooms) and Youth Sports Team of the Game. The team is privately held, independently owned with no disclosed parent company or institutional investors, and operates with a lean staff of approximately 8 employees supplemented by regional scouts in St. Louis, Minnesota, Michigan, and the East Coast.
Revenue is generated across four streams: ticket sales (single-game adults $10-$12, children $6-$8), corporate sponsorship packages (rink signage, player patches, media, game-night sponsorships), player development camps and tryouts at $450 per registrant, and arena concessions and merchandise. Distribution is omnichannel, combining on-site sales at The Nelson Center, online ticketing through Igniter Tickets, exclusive global streaming via HockeyTV across all major connected-TV platforms, and direct group/birthday package sales. Marketing runs through the official website, social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram), email, and NAHL league cross-promotion. Technology integration is limited to third-party SaaS (HockeyTech for stats, Igniter Tickets for ticketing, HockeyTV for streaming) with no proprietary technology stack or AI/ML capabilities.
Springfield Jr. Blues firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Springfield Jr. Blues
- Legal name
- Springfield Jr. Blues
- Website
- https://jrblues.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Springfield Jr. Blues is a privately held NAHL Tier II junior ice hockey franchise founded in 1993, based at the 2,100-seat Nelson Center in Springfield, Illinois. It serves junior hockey prospects aged 16-20 seeking NCAA and professional advancement, plus local fans, corporate sponsors, and billet families, monetizing through ticket sales, sponsorship packages, development camps, and concessions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Springfield Jr. Blues industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Junior Ice Hockey / Sports Entertainment
- NAICS
- Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Winter Sports Teams/Clubs (Ski, Snowboard, Bobsleigh, etc.) (MPAKABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Ice Hockey Leagues (MPAKAAAE), Youth & Junior Tournament Organizers (MPAKADAL)
Keywords
Where Springfield Jr. Blues is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Springfield
Offices1 record
Markets served
Springfield Jr. Blues business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue from single game tickets (adults $10-$12, children $6-$8), season ticket packages, group tickets, and birthday party packages at The Nelson Center arena.
- Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship packages including rink signage (dasher boards, wall banners, ice logos), player sponsorship (jersey patches, helmet decals, warm-up jerseys), media advertising (website, tickets, pocket schedules), and game night sponsorships. The team offers custom partnership packages to fit various budgets.
- Player Camps and Tryouts: Revenue from main camp registrations ($450 for 1 practice and 4 game guarantee) and futures camps ($450 for 1 practice and 3 games) for youth hockey prospects.
- Concessions and Merchandise: Food, beverage, and merchandise sales at The Nelson Center including hot dogs, nachos, pizza, pulled pork, and branded merchandise.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single Game Tickets - Adult Advance |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single Game Tickets - Adult Walk-up |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single Game Tickets - Child (12 and under) Advance |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single Game Tickets - Child (12 and under) Walk-up |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Main Camp Registration (2026) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Futures Camp Registration |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Birthday Party Package |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Springfield Jr. Blues product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Springfield Jr. Blues operates a junior ice hockey franchise that competes in the North American Hockey League (NAHL), hosting home games and selling game-day tickets to fans. The organization also offers youth hockey development programming, including camps and clinics, and secures corporate sponsorships from local businesses to support team operations.
Product overview
The Springfield Jr. Blues is a junior hockey organization competing in the North American Hockey League (NAHL), operating as a single unified team at the Nelson Center in Springfield, Illinois. The organization offers game tickets as its core product, supplemented by special event packages including Gilly's Birthday Packages and Group Tickets, player development programs such as the 2026 Main Camp, Jr. Blues Futures Camp, and Prospects Program, community engagement initiatives like the Classroom of the Game and Youth Sports Team of the Game programs, and sponsorship opportunities for businesses. The team has been in operation since 1993 and is the longest-tenured franchise in the NAHL.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- NAHL Home Game Tickets Game-day admission tickets to Springfield Jr. Blues home games in the North American Hockey League (NAHL), sold to local hockey fans and families for live junior hockey entertainment.
- Hockey Camps and Clinics
Quantifiable outcome
- 400+ players advanced to NCAA hockey over 30 years
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Springfield Jr. Blues
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Springfield Jr. Blues technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Springfield Jr. Blues partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Jimmy John'scoreJimmy John's is the sponsor of the Player of the Month Award for the Jr. Blues. Each month, a player who has gone above and beyond on and off the ice is recognized with a special gift courtesy of Jimmy John's. This partnership provides marketing visibility and fan engagement opportunities.
- Underdog SportsminorUnderdog Sports sponsors the Youth Sports Team of the Game program, which recognizes local youth sports teams at Jr. Blues games with free tickets for players and coaches, game recognition, and intermission game participation.
- Igniter TicketscoreIgniter Tickets is the official online ticketing platform for the Springfield Jr. Blues. The partnership enables online ticket sales, season ticket packages, mobile wallet integration, and contactless purchases for all home games.
- HockeyTVcoreHockeyTV is the exclusive streaming partner for all Springfield Jr. Blues games. All 28 home games and road games are broadcast live and on-demand in HD. The partnership enables fans worldwide to watch games on any device.
- USA HockeycoreUSA Hockey is the governing body for youth hockey in the United States. All Jr. Blues players must be registered with USA Hockey. The partnership provides player development pathways and regulatory oversight for the junior hockey program.
- NAHL (North American Hockey League)coreThe NAHL is the Tier II junior hockey league in which the Springfield Jr. Blues compete. As the league's longest tenured franchise, the Jr. Blues participate in league events including the NAHL Showcase and Top Prospects Tournament.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Springfield Jr. Blues competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- North Iowa Bulls: NAHL Tier II franchise operating in a small Midwest market, highly comparable in scale, venue size, and amateur-to-collegiate development focus.
- Lone Star Brahmas: NAHL franchise in a different region but operating under the same NAHL scheduling, streaming, and player-development economics as the Jr. Blues.
- Austin Bruins: NAHL Tier II junior hockey team competing in the Central Division, with comparable roster construction, billet family model, and NCAA pipeline.
- New Jersey Titans: NAHL franchise from which the Jr. Blues recently acquired a defenseman; competing in the same league with identical player-development and ticket economics.
- St. Cloud Norsemen: NAHL franchise operating in a similar mid-sized Midwest market with the same league economics, ticket pricing, and college-development pitch.
- Janesville Jets: NAHL Tier II junior hockey franchise competing in the same Midwest Division as the Springfield Jr. Blues, with similar ticket, sponsorship, and player-development revenue model.
- Aberdeen Wings: NAHL franchise in a comparable small/mid Midwest market, sharing the same league-wide scheduling, streaming, and Showcase economics.
- Bismarck Bobcats: NAHL franchise with similar market size, community engagement programs, and NAHL Showcase exposure to the Jr. Blues.
- Maryland Black Bears: NAHL franchise offering the same tier of junior hockey, NCAA pathway, and community-based ticket/sponsorship business model.
- Minnesota Wilderness: NAHL Tier II junior team; directly comparable in player development mission, billet family reliance, and youth hockey camp structure.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Springfield Jr. Blues social profiles
Digital presenceSpringfield Jr. Blues financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Springfield Jr. Blues leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Springfield Jr. Blues funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Springfield Jr. Blues M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Springfield Jr. Blues
What does Springfield Jr. Blues do?
The Springfield Jr. Blues operates a junior ice hockey franchise that competes in the North American Hockey League (NAHL), hosting home games and selling game-day tickets to fans. The organization also offers youth hockey development programming, including camps and clinics, and secures corporate sponsorships from local businesses to support team operations.
Is Springfield Jr. Blues a public or private company?
Springfield Jr. Blues is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Springfield Jr. Blues founded?
Springfield Jr. Blues was founded in 1993. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Springfield Jr. Blues based?
Springfield Jr. Blues is headquartered in Springfield.
How does Springfield Jr. Blues make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are sponsorship, player Camps and Tryouts and concessions and Merchandise.
Who are Springfield Jr. Blues's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are North Iowa Bulls, Lone Star Brahmas, Austin Bruins, New Jersey Titans, St. Cloud Norsemen, Janesville Jets, Aberdeen Wings, Bismarck Bobcats, Maryland Black Bears and Minnesota Wilderness.
Does Springfield Jr. Blues have an API?
No public API is recorded for Springfield Jr. Blues.
What industry is Springfield Jr. Blues in?
Springfield Jr. Blues's product category is Junior Ice Hockey / Sports Entertainment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKABAI, Winter Sports Teams/Clubs (Ski, Snowboard, Bobsleigh, etc.), with a secondary code of MPAKAAAE, Ice Hockey Leagues. Its NAICS code is 711211 and its SIC code is 7997.