The NHL is in the final planning stages of its much-anticipated series of outdoor stadium games next season with six outdoor contests set to take place in football and baseball stadiums across North America
The series will start with the annual Winter Classic, recently confirmed for Ann Arbor, Mich., on Jan. 1, 2014
the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings set to do battle at Dodger Stadium on Jan. 25
the New York Rangers play two outdoor games at Yankee Stadium -- against the New Jersey Devils on Jan. 26, and New York Islanders on Jan. 29
The Pittsburgh Penguins will take on the Chicago Blackhawks at Soldier Field on March 1.
March 2, the Canadian-based Heritage Classic will return for its third go-round (second as a full-fledged NHL event) with the Vancouver Canucks hosting the Ottawa Senators at B.C. Place.
There are some concerns about diluting what has become the league's signature event.
I really have no desire to sit outside in the winter and watch a hockey game. Plenty of indoor games in Minnesota to chose from. Rumor is Minnesota will play Chicago at Target Field.
People will watch the one on New Year's Day because there's relatively little else to do that day and college football has reduced the number and importance of games that used to be on that day. But other than that, people aren't going to be tuning in their tv's to watch the other ones. There's only so much hours of pregame talk about how "this is how these guys played growing up" a person can take, and it's about once a year.
Agree with 89.
The result will be that more people will realize they have a lousy seat to watch a hockey game while sitting in the cold (except for LA). It won't mean anything special to TV viewers since there are multiple games.
But then again, the NHL needs to push every opportunity button they can reach.
There will be local interest in these games but the national appeal will plummet. Personally, I'd like to see how the NHL pulls off the Ducks-Kings game in LA.
bluehenbillk wrote:There will be local interest in these games but the national appeal will plummet. Personally, I'd like to see how the NHL pulls off the Ducks-Kings game in LA.
Believe it or not, I don't think it will be too hard. My guess is it will be a night game and they will just keep the sun off the rink during the day. I play and coach at an outdoor rink here and the warm temps don't hurt nearly as much as the sun and rain. If you think about it, most arenas where the NHL plays are 60+ degrees inside. I would imagine that the average temp for LA in January is 70?
bluehenbillk wrote:There will be local interest in these games but the national appeal will plummet. Personally, I'd like to see how the NHL pulls off the Ducks-Kings game in LA.
Maybe they'll put the rink under a refrigerated, small glass dome, sort of like real life arcade bubble hockey.
Good point 89 on a night game. Hadn't thought of the obvious.
CAA Flagship wrote:Agree with 89.
The result will be that more people will realize they have a lousy seat to watch a hockey game while sitting in the cold (except for LA). It won't mean anything special to TV viewers since there are multiple games.
The viewing sucks complete ass, but it was one of the best sporting events I've ever attended. Perhaps UD/App NC game only topping it for me.
Would the league freak if a team tried to move ALL their home games outside?
SuperHornet's Athletics Hall of Fame includes Jacksonville State kicker Ashley Martin, the first girl to score in a Division I football game. She kicked 3 PATs in a 2001 game for J-State.
Rumor that the New Years winter classic may be in Minny in a couple years, while all the Minnesota rough and hardy fans are biatching about the cold weather at Twins games this Spring
bluehenbillk wrote:There will be local interest in these games but the national appeal will plummet. Personally, I'd like to see how the NHL pulls off the Ducks-Kings game in LA.
Believe it or not, I don't think it will be too hard. My guess is it will be a night game and they will just keep the sun off the rink during the day. I play and coach at an outdoor rink here and the warm temps don't hurt nearly as much as the sun and rain. If you think about it, most arenas where the NHL plays are 60+ degrees inside. I would imagine that the average temp for LA in January is 70?
Or they could just have Snoop Dogg/Snoop Lion hang out at the rink, doesn't get any cooler than that.
