By Scott Linesburgh - The Record

VIDEO: (Coming soon) Full replay coverage of the Thunder "Meet and Greet" event
VIDEO: Brad Rowbotham opening comment highlights

STOCKTON - Brad Rowbotham sat in front of a room packed with Stockton Thunder fans and heard suggestions ranging from what players to sign and how to improve the use of instant replay in the arena to providing organ music when the team wears old-time jerseys.

The Thunder owner said he wanted to get to know the fans better after he purchased the team in February, and he received plenty of opinions from more than 250 season-ticket holders during a lively 90-minute question-and-answer session at the Stockton Arena's Kings Room. He was joined on the podium by Thunder president Dan Chapman and coach Matt Thomas.

"It was a fantastic show of support, and it was fun," Rowbotham said. "I think it was important to come out and meet them and answer their questions."

Rowbotham and team officials said they were surprised by the turnout, but Adam Casper of Tracy said he expected to see plenty of his fellow fans.

"It's always good to get a Thunder fix no matter if it's July, March, November, any time of year," Casper said.

Thunder season ticket holder Raymond Mahnke of Stockton addresses the Thunder panel with a question during Wednesday's Meet and Greet event at Stockton Arena. (photo by Sean Blair)

Sean Jackson of Stockton was part of a group wearing "Section 101" shirts, signifying their seats are behind the visiting team's bench. He said he thought much of the interest of the fans was a chance to hear from Rowbotham and discuss the team's success last season, when it went to the ECHL's National Conference finals.

"I've been to these things when there have been 20 or 30 people," Jackson said. "This time there's a new owner, and they want to hear any new ideas."

Rowbotham, a businessman from Red Deer, Alberta, has visited Stockton six times since he took control of the team from Michael Reinsdorf. He has met with fans and business owners, and said he had a meeting with Mayor Ann Johnston on Wednesday to discuss arena issues. Later this month, Pennsylvania-based SMG is expected to finalize a deal with the city to manage the arena, which has been operated by Reinsdorf's International Facilities Group.

The session with the fans was mostly a get-to-know-you affair, but the team did announce that it is close to finalizing a deal for the Edmonton Oilers to return as Stockton's NHL parent franchise for a fifth consecutive season, and that Matt O'Dette would be the full-time assistant coach. He was a player-coach last season.

READ MORE