The Bloomington Bison won two department awards at the 2025-26 ECHL Team Awards Ceremony, becoming one of two teams in the league to win multiple department awards, the team announced Friday.
Among 29 eligible teams, the Bison won ECHL’s Rising Star Growth Award and the Corporate Partnership Team of the Year Award after a season of substantial growth in team support and success.
Following a 60% boost in season ticket memberships and a 12.8% attendance increase, the Bison took home The Rising Star Award. The award recognizes the team that experienced the most improvement in overall support from ticket sales, revenue and other related areas.
The Bison particularly thrived in corporate partnership by selling out all 24 of their season-long corporate suites at Grossinger Motors Arena. The team also witnessed a partnership support increase of 113%.
An uptick of support around the team goes hand in hand with the Bison’s success after clinching their first playoff berth in 2025-26. The Bison improved from 31-35 to 37-30 in its second season, going from a Central Division-worst seventh place to third.
The support the team has received has already brought in “millions of dollars,” per the Bison’s press release.
“Significant support has allowed near-immediate upgrades across many facets of the team’s fabric including facility improvements, expanded philanthropic advocacy and increased access to the sport of hockey,” the release said.
There are just over 100 days until the first puck drop of the franchise's third season.
