What Waterloo Black Hawks does

The Waterloo Black Hawks are a Tier I junior hockey franchise in the United States Hockey League (USHL), founded in 1962 and based in Waterloo, Iowa. The team plays a 60+ game regular season from late September through late April at Young Arena, a city-owned 2,921-seat facility (often drawing up to 3,500 with standing room) on Commercial Street overlooking the Cedar River. The organization serves two principal customer groups: college-bound junior hockey players ages 16-20 seeking elite on-ice development with NCAA eligibility preserved, and the approximately 130,000 residents of the Cedar Valley (Waterloo, Cedar Falls, and surrounding communities) who attend games and engage with community programs such as Culver's Kid Captain. The team has produced 66+ NHL Draft picks since 2003, including first-rounders Brock Boeser (Vancouver), Joe Pavelski (San Jose/Dallas), and Sam Rinzel (Chicago), with eight Olympians and two medalists in franchise history.

The business operates six identifiable revenue streams: ticket sales (individual, season, group) through a proprietary Igniter Tickets-powered platform; premium venue experiences including the Lincoln Savings Bank and SingleSpeed Brewing Luxury Suites ($800/night, 20 tickets plus 20 beverages), the Budweiser Hospitality Suite ($100 facility fee plus $20/ticket for 40-100 people), the Coors Light Cold Zone lounge, and Kingpin Social group seating; sponsorships and advertising from corporate partners such as Dupaco Community Credit Union, Coors Light, Lincoln Savings Bank, Budweiser, and SingleSpeed Brewing; merchandise sales through Party Town Outfitters at Young Arena and an online square.site storefront; broadcast and streaming rights via 1650 The Fan/KCNZ radio and an exclusive FloSports streaming deal; and ticketing/hospitality package pricing ranging from single-game admission to multi-year suite contracts with payment-plan options for season tickets.

Underlying technology is operational rather than platform-based: a video analysis system provides game-by-game, shift-by-shift breakdowns for individual and team development; an internal scouting database tracks shots, ice time, and other statistics drawn from third-party outlets like The Red Line Report and Future Considerations to support NHL Draft evaluation; the organization uses chartered coach buses equipped with DirecTV, wi-fi, and sleeper seats for travel; and a state-of-the-art four-sided video board installed in 2013 supports in-arena content. The team is privately held with no disclosed parent company, ticker, or funding rounds; Joe Greene serves as President & COO, Kevin Gibson as General Manager (hired 2025), and Brett Olson as Head Coach (named May 2026).

Name

Waterloo Black Hawks

Legal name

Waterloo Black Hawks

Website

https://waterlooblackhawks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Waterloo Black Hawks are a USHL Tier I junior hockey franchise founded in 1962 in Waterloo, Iowa, developing college- and NHL-bound players ages 16-20 while entertaining the Cedar Valley community through 60+ home games annually at Young Arena.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Junior Hockey Entertainment

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Winter Sports Teams/Clubs (Ski, Snowboard, Bobsleigh, etc.) (MPAKABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Team Sports Matches (Club & National) (MPAGAMAB), Winter Sports & Snow Training Schools (Ski, Snowboard, Ice Sports) (MPAKAJAI)

Keywords

• Junior hockey league
• Sports entertainment
• Ticket sales
• Corporate sponsorships
• Team merchandise

Headquarters

HQ city

Waterloo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Direct ticket sales for individual games, season tickets, and group seating through their proprietary ticketing platform (tickets.waterlooblackhawks.com) powered by Igniter Tickets.
2. Premium Venue Experiences: Revenue from luxury suite rentals (Single Speed and Lincoln Savings Bank suites), Budweiser Hospitality Suite, Coors Light Cold Zone lounge, and Kingpin Social group seating packages.
3. Sponsorships and Advertising: Corporate partnerships with sponsors including Coors Light, Budweiser, Lincoln Savings Bank, SingleSpeed Brewing, Dupaco Community Credit Union, and local businesses for arena naming rights, suite sponsorships, and advertising.
4. Merchandise Sales: Team store (Party Town Outfitters) sells hats, shirts, replica jerseys, and other merchandise at Young Arena and through online square.site storefront.
5. Broadcasting Rights: Live streaming video through FloSports platform and radio broadcast rights with 1650 The Fan/KCNZ.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Waterloo Black Hawks operate a USHL Tier I junior hockey franchise that sells live game attendance and related entertainment experiences through season tickets, single-game tickets, luxury suite rentals, premium hospitality lounges, group seating, and team merchandise. Ancillary services include live game streaming via FloSports, radio broadcast through 1650 The Fan/KCNZ, and a Coors Light Cold Zone hospitality lounge at Young Arena. The organization also delivers player development programs (on-ice coaching, strength and conditioning, video analysis, and billet housing) for elite junior hockey players ages 16-20.

Product overview

Waterloo Black Hawks is a United States Hockey League (USHL) Tier I junior hockey team based in Waterloo, Iowa. The organization operates as a single-product sports/entertainment entity, offering live junior hockey games at Young Arena as its core product. Supporting offerings include season tickets, single-game tickets, group seating/suite rentals, the Party Town Outfitters team store, the Coors Light Cold Zone hospitality lounge, and the Dupaco Cowbell Cup inter-conference competition. The team also provides player development programs including on-ice training, strength and conditioning, video analysis, and billet housing. No formal SaaS platform, digital product suite, or modular software architecture exists — this is a sports organization, not a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 2026-27 Season Tickets Annual subscription-style ticket package granting admission to all Waterloo Black Hawks regular season home games at Young Arena during the 2026-27 USHL season, with optional payment plan structure. Targeted at individual fans and families in the Cedar Valley region.
• Luxury Suite Rental - Lincoln Savings Bank and SingleSpeed Brewing Suites Premium private suite rental for groups of up to 20 guests at $800 per event, including 20 tickets and 20 beverages (excludes pop/water), with 4K Ultra HD TVs, catering options, dedicated suite attendant, and views of downtown Waterloo. Targeted at corporate clients and group entertainment buyers.
• Budweiser Hospitality Suite

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Dupaco Community Credit UnionflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTitle sponsor of the Dupaco Cowbell Cup, a regional rivalry competition between Waterloo Black Hawks, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, Dubuque Fighting Saints, and Des Moines Buccaneers. Dupaco Community Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned financial cooperative headquartered in Dubuque with more than 175,000 members and assets exceeding $3.5 billion.
• Coors Light (via United Beverage and Silver Eagle Harley Davidson)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoors Light is the title sponsor of the Cold Zone lounge at Young Arena. The partnership includes United Beverage (beverage distributor) and Silver Eagle Harley Davidson of Waterloo. The Black Hawks organization reinvests profits from the Cold Zone back into the facility and fan experience improvements.
• Lincoln Savings BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxury suite sponsor at Young Arena. Named Lincoln Savings Bank and SingleSpeed Brewing Luxury Suites. Offers unique view of the playing surface, special catering options, and dedicated group attendant.
• SingleSpeed BrewingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsor of luxury suites at Young Arena. SingleSpeed Brewing Luxury Suites offer panoramic views of downtown Waterloo and space for musical performances and special events.
• BudweisercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Budweiser Hospitality Suite at Young Arena. Popular group seating option for 40-100 people located at the east end of the arena with ice-level view and dedicated concession window.
• Kingpin Social at the RinkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGroup seating area partnership with Kingpin Social at Maple Lanes (2608 University Avenue, Waterloo). High-top tables with unique view of ice, complimentary beverages for fans 21+, and vouchers redeemable at Kingpin Social.
• Party Town OutfitterscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTeam store operator at Young Arena (northeast corner). Sells hats, shirts, replica jerseys, and books about Waterloo hockey history. Also operates online via square.site. Store relocated in 2015/16 from concession stand format.
• FloSportsflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial streaming partner providing live video coverage of all Black Hawks games. Subscription-based platform available at flohockey.tv and via mobile apps.
• 1650 The Fan / KCNZcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRadio broadcast partner for live game commentary. Stream available at radio.securenetsystems.net. Tim Harwood has provided broadcasting for over 1,000 games since September 2005.
• NHL (League Partner)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe USHL is proud to partner with the NHL. Over 250 USHL players have advanced to sign NHL contracts. The league is designated by USA Hockey as its only Tier I junior league.
• USA HockeyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSA Hockey designated the USHL as its only Tier I league. Players are provided equipment, housing, and instruction from top-flight coaches. USA Hockey also works with the Black Hawks on various programs including the NTDP.
• Waterloo Department of Leisure ServicescoreOthersYoung Arena is a city-owned rink managed by the Waterloo Department of Leisure Services. The facility is also utilized by Waterloo Warriors high school team, Waterloo Jr. Hawks youth hockey program, Cedar Valley Figure Skating Club, and regional youth wrestling tournaments.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sioux Falls Stampede: USHL Western Conference team in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Long-established Tier I junior franchise with comparable operational scale and similar small-city Midwestern market profile to Waterloo.
• Tri-City Storm: USHL Western Conference team operating out of Kearney, Nebraska. Comparable Tier I junior hockey organization competing for the same regional Midwest fan and sponsorship pool as the Black Hawks.
• Omaha Lancers: USHL Western Conference team in Omaha, Nebraska. One of the most decorated franchises in USHL history and a direct comparable on operations, sponsorship revenue model, and NHL pipeline.
• Cedar Rapids RoughRiders: USHL Eastern Conference rival and Dupaco Cowbell Cup participant based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Operates the same model of Tier I junior hockey in a similar Iowa market, sharing sponsorship pools and competing for regional fans and top amateur recruits.
• Des Moines Buccaneers: USHL Western Conference team in Des Moines and Cowbell Cup participant. Competes in the same regional Iowa market positioning as Waterloo and is a direct peer for sponsorship and fan attention.
• Dubuque Fighting Saints: USHL Eastern Conference rival and Cowbell Cup participant in Dubuque, Iowa. Direct competitor on the same regional rivalry circuit, sharing players, scouts, and sponsors in the Iowa tri-city hockey ecosystem.
• Madison Capitols: USHL Eastern Conference expansion-era franchise in Madison, Wisconsin. Comparable Tier I junior team with similar recruiting footprint, college-town demographics, and digital distribution model.
• Lincoln Stars: USHL Western Conference team in Lincoln, Nebraska. Direct peer in similar Midwestern college/military-town market with comparable attendance scale, arena economics, and NCAA/NHL development pipeline.
• Fargo Force: USHL Western Conference team in Fargo, North Dakota. Comparable Tier I junior hockey business model in a small metropolitan market with similar youth-hockey feeder systems and NHL development ambitions.
• Sioux City Musketeers: Western Conference USHL team in Sioux City, Iowa. Direct Tier I junior hockey competitor with very similar small-market Midwest operating dynamics, overlapping scout relationships, and rivalries with Waterloo.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wbhboosterclub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/waterlooblackhawks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Waterloo Black Hawks