Wanderers fans give blood in exchange for ticket voucher to season opener

More than 600 Halifax Wanderers fans have rolled up their sleeves and donated blood for a free kick at seeing the professional soccer team in action.

The Canadian Premier League squad has partnered with Canadian Blood Services in an effort to boost blood donations and put more fans in the seats for the Wanderers' season opener. In exchange for donating between April 2 and 19, Wanderers fans receive a ticket voucher for admission to Saturday's game against Pacific FC at the Wanderers Grounds in Halifax.

The promotion has attracted some Wanderers fans who were already season ticket holders but hadn't previously donated blood. It has also helped turn some longtime donors into first-time fans.

Hosherdar Polad, who donates every three months or so, was among the more than 100 people who made appointments at the blood donation centre on Bayers Road on Tuesday.

"Why not mix football and a great cause together," Polad said, recalling what he thought when he saw the advertisement for the Wanderers' blood drive and joined the team's social media pages. He'll be watching his first Wanderers game on Saturday thanks to the promotion.

The donation centre was thrilled to join forces with the Wanderers because donations are always needed, said Krysta Hanakowski, spokesperson for Canadian Blood Services. She said the team's blood drive has brought in hundreds of first-time donors. 

"It's important to have things like this to help encourage people who have never made a donation before to come on out and make their first one," said Hanakowski.

Wanderers ticket manager Jack Mol, who took his own turn donating blood on Tuesday, came up with the idea for the blood drive.

The Wanderers Grounds can now accommodate more than 7,000 fans with the recent addition of about 1,000 seats. Mol said the team wanted to draw in new fans while also contributing to the community, and setting up a blood drive to get soccer fans involved was one way to fill more seats in the clinic as well.

"We are in the unique position where we have the ability to effect change in our community," he said. "Starting a blood drive was the best way I thought we could connect with people in the city."

Derek Martin, president of Halifax Wanderers FC, has been pleased with the turnout and said he hopes to make the blood drive an annual tradition for the beginning of the season.

"We've got great fans," said Martin, noting the team partners with community organizations throughout the season in a variety of promotions.