NHL Winter Classic

[HiltonMagic]

In Texas? Jerry Jones wants it. :yes:

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says Cowboys Stadium would like to host Olympic swimming, NHL hockey - ESPN Dallas

 

[TarHeelHawk]

In Texas? Jerry Jones wants it. :yes:

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says Cowboys Stadium would like to host Olympic swimming, NHL hockey - ESPN Dallas

No.

 

[sodakjoe]

For the love of all that is holy, please no.

It would be nice if a couple of the Canadian teams were a little better right now. It would be great to see a Maple Leafs/Canadiens matchup.

 

[TarHeelHawk]

But where would you have it? I think it would be cool if they did it in a football stadium again, some place like Ohio Stadium or Beaver Stadium. Having it at Wrigley and Fenway was neat, but that has a chance to get stale really quick.

 

[Tornado man]

You go Jerry! There is such a bias in the NHL towards the Original Six - Detroit, Chicago, NY, Boston, Montreal, and Toronto - that it makes it sick. It also holds back real growth of the NHL.

 

[TarHeelHawk]

You go Jerry! There is such a bias in the NHL towards the Original Six - Detroit, Chicago, NY, Boston, Montreal, and Toronto - that it makes it sick. It also holds back real growth of the NHL.

You cannot be serious; if anything the NHL has experienced too much expansion.

 

[Tornado man]

You cannot be serious; if anything the NHL has experienced too much expansion.

How has expansion hurt the NHL? I don't follow.

 

[dmg89]

Is there actually a big enough hockey following in Dallas for the NHL to consider this?

 

[TarHeelHawk]

How has expansion hurt the NHL? I don't follow.

Having teams in markets where there isn't a following isn't the best thing in the world. Phoenix is on the edge of bankruptcy, and nobody goes to see the Florida or Atlanta. The only "warm weather" climates that hockey has really taken off in are Nashville and Los Angeles. Carolina gets good crowds, but they're not going to be in the playoffs this year.

There isn't a bias in the NHL towards the Original Six when it comes to the Winter Classic. The Flyers aren't an Original 6 team, and neither are Pittsburgh or Buffalo or Edmonton.

 

[d4nim4l]

But where would you have it? I think it would be cool if they did it in a football stadium again, some place like Ohio Stadium or Beaver Stadium. Having it at Wrigley and Fenway was neat, but that has a chance to get stale really quick.

Target Field or TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis (Wild), Coors Field or Mile High in Denver (Avalanche), Comerica Park in Detroit (Red Wings), Lincoln Financial Field or the Phillies' stadium (Flyers), New Yankee Stadium (Rangers).

The popular rumor for 2011 is Washington DC but I am not sold on that being the case yet.

 

[Tornado man]

Having teams in markets where there isn't a following isn't the best thing in the world. Phoenix is on the edge of bankruptcy, and nobody goes to see the Florida or Atlanta.

If teams and markets are judged on their "following," then the Chicago Blackhawks maybe shouldn't have stayed in the league. Up until the last two years, they've consistently finished near the bottom in NHL attendance. As recently as three years ago, they averaged 8500 empty seats a game. Only when the Blackhawks started winning, did attendance pick up.
So maybe if those southern teams gave the fans a winner, fans would come. As long as they're losing, fans stay away - just like in one of those "sacred" Original Six - Chicago.