Quad City Storm

What Quad City Storm does

Quad City Storm is a privately owned professional minor league ice hockey team competing in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL), founded in 2018 and headquartered at Vibrant Arena at The MARK in Moline, Illinois. The team plays a 29-game home schedule plus playoffs, serving the Quad Cities metropolitan area spanning the Iowa-Illinois border (Moline, East Moline, Rock Island, Davenport, Bettendorf). It is owned and operated by the Dawson family — John and Missy Dawson — who became the longest-tenured ownership group in Quad City hockey history during the 2024-2025 season. The organization employs between 1 and 10 staff and operates a small front office covering hockey operations, ticket sales, marketing, partnerships, and community programming.

The core product is live SPHL hockey entertainment, supported by a portfolio of revenue-generating offerings: single-game and season ticket memberships sold through Ticketmaster and the Vibrant Arena box office; themed promotional game nights (Opening Night, Hockey Fights Cancer, Military Night, Union Night, Education Day, etc.) that drive attendance and sponsorship activation; corporate partnerships with anchor sponsors including UnityPoint Health-Trinity (Official Hospital), John Deere, Nestle Purina, IHMVCU, and IAM Union; merchandise sold through a Shopify team store and at arena concessions; specialty jersey auctions benefiting local charities; and concessions / arena revenue share. Distribution combines direct-to-consumer channels (Ticketmaster, box office, front-office sales, SMS text club, email newsletters) with B2B channels (FloHockey streaming, sponsorship activation). The team reported 275,000+ cumulative fans hosted from 2018 through early 2023, set a franchise-record attendance of 8,181 in February 2025, and has cumulatively donated over $400,000 to Quad City nonprofits.

The business model is a diversified live-entertainment revenue stack: ticketing (transaction-based across single-game, season memberships, group, and youth-hockey packages), recurring corporate partnerships (anchor sponsors plus 60+ display partners), merchandise (transaction-based), concessions share with Vibrant Arena, and charitable jersey auctions. The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven — themed game nights, Education Day school programs, and partnerships with QCHA, John Deere, and IAM Union drive ticket demand, while social media (20,000+ Facebook followers), an SMS text club, and email newsletters sustain fan engagement. Pricing is multi-tiered, ranging from $10 student rush tickets to $99 framily packs and BOGO offers for partner employees; season ticket memberships are sold annually by the front office.

Name

Quad City Storm

Legal name

Quad City Storm

Website

https://quadcitystorm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Quad City Storm is a privately owned SPHL minor league ice hockey team founded in 2018, playing 29 home games per season at Vibrant Arena in Moline, Illinois. It serves the Quad Cities community with live hockey entertainment, themed game nights, merchandise, and corporate partnerships under the Dawson family's ownership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Moline

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from single game tickets (via Ticketmaster and Vibrant Arena box office), season ticket memberships, group tickets, and special ticket packages including framily packs and promotional offers.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsorships with local and national businesses including naming rights partners, official hospital (UnityPoint Health-Trinity), official sponsors across various categories, and in-game branding/promotional opportunities.
3. Merchandise and Team Store: Revenue from merchandise sales including jerseys, hats, replica pucks, specialty items, and memorabilia through the team store (online Shopify platform) and arena concessions.
4. Jersey and Specialty Auctions: Post-game auctions of specialty jerseys (Hockey Fights Cancer, Military Night, promotional event jerseys) raising funds for charitable causes and generating incremental revenue.
5. Concessions and Arena Revenue Share: Revenue sharing from Vibrant Arena concessions and in-arena spending during home games, including food, beverages, and merchandise sold at the venue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Quad City Storm is a professional minor league ice hockey team competing in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL), based in Moline, Illinois. The organization provides live professional hockey games and related game-day entertainment to fans in the Quad Cities region. Complementary offerings include ticketed admissions, group/suite experiences, season memberships, and branded team merchandise.

Product overview

Quad City Storm is a professional minor-league hockey team competing in the SPHL. The organization offers a portfolio of products and services centered around live hockey entertainment, including single game tickets, season ticket memberships, and private event spaces (party areas and suites). Supporting offerings include a team merchandise store, fan engagement programs such as the Radars Kids Club and Storm Dog Club, the Storm 50/50 raffle fundraising program, and a text messaging service for promotional updates. The team plays home games at Vibrant Arena at The MARK in Moline, Illinois.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Storm Team Store: Official merchandise store for Quad City Storm branded apparel and collectibles
• Radars Kids Club
• Storm Dog Club
• QC Storm Booster Club

Products and services

• Professional Hockey Game Admissions Live ticketed admission to SPHL regular-season and playoff hockey games played at the team's home venue in Moline, Illinois, sold to individual fans and families.
• Season Ticket Memberships Season-long ticket packages providing access to the team's full home schedule at a discounted per-game rate, targeted at dedicated local fans.
• Group and Suite Hospitality Experiences Group ticket blocks and suite-level hospitality packages offered to local businesses, organizations, and large parties for game-day entertainment and client hosting.
• Team Branded Merchandise Team-logo apparel and branded merchandise (including jerseys and related gear) sold to fans, available through team retail channels.
• Corporate Sponsorship Packages Sponsorship and partnership packages sold to local and regional businesses, providing brand visibility, signage, and activation tied to home games and team assets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Franchise record attendance of 8,181 fans set at February 2025 Union Night game
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting, major and minor.

• UnityPoint Health - TrinitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 September 2024Five-year partnership extension announced September 27, 2024. UnityPoint Health - Trinity serves as Official Hospital of the Quad City Storm since the team's inaugural 2018-2019 season. Provides team physician Dr. Paul Wang and medical staff for player care. Hosts annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night and Ice Painting event, raising $117,842.70 to date for the Trinity Cancer Center.
• Orthopaedic SpecialistscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial Surgeon of the Quad City Storm. Provides orthopedic medical care for players alongside UnityPoint Health-Trinity team physician.
• Palmer Chiropractic ClinicsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial Chiropractor of the Quad City Storm. Provides chiropractic care and sports medicine services to players.
• Rock Island Optometric CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial Optometric Doctor of the Quad City Storm. Provides vision care services to players.
• Vibrant Arena at The MARKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome arena of the Quad City Storm. Lease extension announced February 2023 through 2025-2026 season. Storm on track to become first ownership group ever to sign a second lease agreement with the arena. Hosted over 275,000 fans since 2018.
• John DeeremajorGTM or Marketing PartnerJohn Deere employees receive two free tickets when presenting their IDs at the box office, plus BOGO offers all season long. John Deere Night is a major promotional event. John Deere employees can combine free tickets and BOGO offers to receive six tickets for the price of two. Birdies for Charity Night presented by John Deere.
• Nestle PurinamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerOpening Night presented by Nestle Purina. Employees receive BOGO ticket offers at Vibrant Arena box office with valid work ID. Merchandise and promotional partner.
• IHMVCU (Illinois Valley Credit Union)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMembers receive BOGO ticket offers at Vibrant Arena box office with valid IHMVCU credit or debit card.
• IAM Union (Locals 1191, 388, 1010, 1728 and District 6)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-presenter of Salute to Military Night annually. IAM Union helps sponsor military appreciation events and jersey auctions benefitting Guide Dogs of America and Tender Loving Canines. Hosts Paint the Ice events.
• Quad City Hockey Association (QCHA)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerStorm announced partnership with QCHA in May 2026. QCHA members receive exclusive ticket package rates through member Cole Griffin. Three package options available: $19 standard, $24 premium, $39 glass seat.
• SPHL JobssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSPHL Jobs is listed as an official partner, providing job board services for Storm and league job opportunities through TeamWorkOnline.
• Chick-fil-A of the Quad CitiessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of Education Day game (third annual in 2025), featuring 10:30 AM puck drop with thousands of elementary school students.
• Mercado on 5thminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeetlejuice Night jersey auction raised money for Mercado on 5th — a community partner benefiting from specialty jersey fundraising.
• Guide Dogs of America / Tender Loving CaninesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharitable beneficiaries of Salute to Military Night jersey auctions. Funds raised from specialty military jersey auctions support these service dog organizations.
• Trinity Health FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host of annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night and Ice Painting event with UnityPoint Health-Trinity. Beneficiary of HFC jersey auction proceeds — $117,842.70 raised to date for the Trinity Cancer Center.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Macon Mayhem: The Macon Mayhem are an SPHL franchise and a directly comparable peer; the Storm traded forward Jake Goldowski's rights to Macon for Savva Smirnov's rights in July 2026, evidencing direct roster and league interaction. They share the same minor-league hockey business model and small-market positioning.
• Peoria Rivermen: The Peoria Rivermen are a fellow SPHL team and the Quad City Storm's primary geographic rival, with the clubs competing annually in the marketed 'ColdWarOn74' series and trading players directly. They operate the same minor-league professional hockey business model targeting Midwestern family audiences.
• Knoxville Ice Bears: The Knoxville Ice Bears are an SPHL team with the same operational profile as the Storm: professional hockey games, themed promotional nights, single-venue arena lease, and ticketed family entertainment business. They are a directly comparable league peer.
• Pensacola Ice Flyers: The Pensacola Ice Flyers are an SPHL team operating under the same league framework as the Storm, with comparable attendance-scale, sponsorship-driven, single-arena economics. They are a directly comparable peer for league performance, attendance benchmarking, and operational comparison.
• Evansville Thunderbolts: The Evansville Thunderbolts are an SPHL franchise competing under the same league structure, salary cap, and minor-league hockey business model as the Quad City Storm. They are a directly comparable peer for league standing, attendance, and sponsorship dynamics.
• Huntsville Havoc: The Huntsville Havoc are an SPHL franchise operating the same league structure, single-venue arena economics, and minor-league hockey entertainment model as the Quad City Storm. Both clubs compete for league-level recognition (All-SPHL honors, Player of the Week awards).
• Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs: The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs compete in the SPHL alongside the Storm, sharing the same league schedule, salary structure, and minor-league entertainment model. The Storm has transacted player rights directly with Roanoke (Parody and Bourgeois trades in 2025-26), making them a directly comparable operating peer.
• Birmingham Bulls: The Birmingham Bulls are an SPHL franchise that operates under the same minor-league professional hockey business model as the Storm, including ticketed home games, corporate sponsorships, and themed promotional nights. They are a directly comparable league peer.
• Fayetteville Marksmen: The Fayetteville Marksmen are an SPHL franchise operating with the same league economics, themed promotional calendar, and family-entertainment arena model as the Storm. They are a directly comparable peer for league benchmarking and operational scaling.

Regional players

• Quad Cities River Bandits: The Quad Cities River Bandits (Minor League Baseball, Midwest League) compete for entertainment dollars and corporate sponsorship budgets in the same Quad Cities market as the Storm, making them the most relevant regional entertainment peer for sponsorship overlap and family-discretionary-spend competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/QuadCityStorm
• Xx.com/quadcitystorm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/quadcitystorm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Quad City Storm