TIGERS have forged a deal with another of the city's top sporting clubs, Sheffield Steelers - and boss Damien Bates says it's great news for the Owlerton club.

As the countdown to the new season continues, the Tigers and Steelers today announce the partnership which will see ice hockey season ticket holders given cut-price admission to speedway meetings.

Said Damien: "We've struck a great rapport with the Steelers Commercial Manager Mike O'Connor over the last few years; he's become a regular on our terraces and loves speedway.

"Sheffield Window Centre boss Ian Hunter also sponsors both clubs and the link has been a natural progression, which will give us a great deal of credibility, significantly raise our profile and will hopefully boost our crowds.

"The Steelers have been great and very welcoming towards the move. Mike has become a regular and is here most weeks while the club owner Tony Smith is also a fan and it's a massive plus for us to be involved with them."

To launch the partnership, the Tigers will be special guests at the FlyDSA Arena next week when the ice hockey play-off chasers take on old foes Cardiff Devils. The 2019 racejackets will be presented to the Tigers on the ice, while there will be a special display on the Arena concourse when the riders will chat to ice fans, sign autographs and hand out leaflets.

Mike O'Connor is delighted with the link.

Says Mike: "I started to go to the speedway a few summers ago with Ian Hunter and loved it!

"It’s a great family sport for the summer and the races are run one after another. It's great value for money, especially with the deal for our season ticket holders. I'm confident I will see many of our fans there."

Picture: JOINING FORCES...Tigers co-promoter Damien Bates and Sheffield Steelers' Commercial Manager Mike O'Connor at the FlyDSA Arena.