Millionth Arena Visitor Is a Surprised Guest Star

In a shower of confetti, a Chino Hills woman gleefully learned Friday that she was the winner of a bevy of gifts as the 1-millionth visitor to the Anaheim Arena since the city-owned complex opened June 19.

“I never won anything before in my life,” said Teresa Jordan, who had come with her husband, Tom, and children, 7-year-old Christy and 3-year-old Tommy, to see Walt Disney’s World On Ice Presents Beauty and the Beast, a family ice show.

As Jordan passed through the east gate turnstile at 2:40 p.m., arena employees blew horns and threw confetti at her and arena general manager Brad Mayne ran up to announce her good fortune, said John Nicoletti, spokesman for the Arrowhead Pond arena.

Mayne and Anaheim Mayor Tom Daly presented the family with gifts, including free front row seats to Friday’s ice show and their choice of free tickets each month to any event held at the arena during the next year, Nicoletti said.

The family also received stuffed animals depicting characters from Beauty and the Beast, Mighty Ducks T-shirts, hats and duck calls and the chance to have their pictures taken with the stars of the Beauty and the Beast ice show.

Nicoletti said attendance at Arrowhead Pond, the home ice for the Mighty Ducks National Hockey League team, has exceeded projections. “We were surprised we were able to reach this plateau in less than seven months,” he said.