The NHL - Marketing Idiocy and the Commissioner who ruined a good thing

[L K]

The NHL is supposedly planning SIX outdoor games for next year:

Toronto @ Detroit
then:
? Ducks vs. Kings at Dodger Stadium, Jan. 25
? Devils vs. Rangers at Yankee Stadium, Jan. 26
? Islanders vs. Rangers at Yankee Stadium, Jan 29
? Penguins at Blackhawks, Soldier Field, March 1
? Senators at Canucks, BC Place, March 2

Way to go NHL......

 

[Kin]

Just you wait until Stanley Cup 2.

 

[Sucker Punch]

Figures.  Take something cool and run it into the ground.

Remember the excitement you used to get when a ref signalled for a penalty shot?

 

[Redleaf]

The NHL is supposedly planning SIX outdoor games for next year:

Toronto @ Detroit
then:
? Ducks vs. Kings at Dodger Stadium, Jan. 25
? Devils vs. Rangers at Yankee Stadium, Jan. 26
? Islanders vs. Rangers at Yankee Stadium, Jan 29
? Penguins at Blackhawks, Soldier Field, March 1
? Senators at Canucks, BC Place, March 2

Way to go NHL......

Yeah. It kind of dilutes the winter classic game this year when our Leafs finally get some spotlight time. I like the fact the league is trying to appease fans with more exciting outdoor games, but they could just as quickly kill the excitement of it by having too many in the same season.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

My big issue is the Rangers double Yankee stadium games, geez.

Apparently though the winter classic is still going to be the event and the rest won't receive the same buildup.

Nothing is set in stone though and j wouldn't be surprised if they rethink this after the backlash.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Figures.  Take something cool and run it into the ground.

It's simple math.  If one game is awesome and special, six games are six times as awesome and special.

I personally look forward to the Late January Classic, The Second Late January Classic, The Third Late January Classic, later followed by March Insanity, not to be confused with March Madness.  Oh, and the Sochi Olympics fall in the middle.  So, it'll be special hockey games pretty much constantly for months, which will be really, really, really special, all the time.

 

[dappleganger]

All I have to say is WTF?

 

[hockeyfan1]

The only two games I'd be interested in besides the Leafs/Red Wings Classic, are the Ducks/Kings & the Isles/Rangers (that New York rivalry!).

The NHL could have had just one of these (Ducks/Kings @ Dodgers Stadium) only, and save the next ones for the ensuing seasons.

Otherwise stick to the main one. That, ultimately, makes the most sense.

 

[Kessel Run]

Overkill. Takes away from the significance. What's the point other than a cash grab?

 

[Mack674]

Am I the only one that thought how the F do you successfully have an outdoor NHL game at Dodgers Stadium? In Los Angeles. In southern California.

I know technology has come a long way these days but... really ?

 

[TheMightyOdin]

Is this the longest thread title in TMLfans history?

It is ridiculous and the Rangers doing it twice is really over the top. Not so special or classic.

I think at most they should have two games a year. One featuring teams from the eastern conference and the other teams from the west.

 

[LittleHockeyFan]

Am I the only one that thought how the F do you successfully have an outdoor NHL game at Dodgers Stadium? In Los Angeles. In southern California.

I know technology has come a long way these days but... really ?

nope, I'm with you here. Makes absolutely no freaking sense to have a WINTER game outside in a place where there is no winter. DUH??...

 

[Guru Tugginmypuddah]

Am I the only one that thought how the F do you successfully have an outdoor NHL game at Dodgers Stadium? In Los Angeles. In southern California.

I know technology has come a long way these days but... really ?

nope, I'm with you here. Makes absolutely no freaking sense to have a WINTER game outside in a place where there is no winter. DUH??...

I'd rather go to the game in California, in my shorts.  Sounds kind of cool actually, outdoor hockey game with palm trees swaying in the background.

 

[Zee]

The NHL is supposedly planning SIX outdoor games for next year:

Toronto @ Detroit
then:
? Ducks vs. Kings at Dodger Stadium, Jan. 25
? Devils vs. Rangers at Yankee Stadium, Jan. 26
? Islanders vs. Rangers at Yankee Stadium, Jan 29
? Penguins at Blackhawks, Soldier Field, March 1
? Senators at Canucks, BC Place, March 2

Way to go NHL......

Dodger stadium?  In LA?  Isn't it warm there?  How's that outdoor game gonna work the players will be in short sleeves?

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

The NHL is supposedly planning SIX outdoor games for next year:

Toronto @ Detroit
then:
? Ducks vs. Kings at Dodger Stadium, Jan. 25
? Devils vs. Rangers at Yankee Stadium, Jan. 26
? Islanders vs. Rangers at Yankee Stadium, Jan 29
? Penguins at Blackhawks, Soldier Field, March 1
? Senators at Canucks, BC Place, March 2

Way to go NHL......

Dodger stadium?  In LA?  Isn't it warm there?  How's that outdoor game gonna work the players will be in short sleeves?

Arenas aren't freezing inside them.  Wikipedia has the average high in January in LA as 68.6 & average low as 49.7.  This link suggests arenas are kept around something like 58 degrees.

 

[cw]

I'm in the minority and think it's got some potential. An annual outdoor game in all the Canadian cities and stronger US hockey markets certainly could be a significant event in those cities. And it might help in the smaller markets to draw some fans. Whether it's one game or a string of them on one day, I doubt it would bother TV ratings - might help them switch over or give more air time to games that aren't a dud.

I guess the proof lays in the doing. It strikes me as something worthy to try.

 

[cw]

The NHL is supposedly planning SIX outdoor games for next year:

Toronto @ Detroit
then:
? Ducks vs. Kings at Dodger Stadium, Jan. 25
? Devils vs. Rangers at Yankee Stadium, Jan. 26
? Islanders vs. Rangers at Yankee Stadium, Jan 29
? Penguins at Blackhawks, Soldier Field, March 1
? Senators at Canucks, BC Place, March 2

Way to go NHL......

Dodger stadium?  In LA?  Isn't it warm there?  How's that outdoor game gonna work the players will be in short sleeves?

Arenas aren't freezing inside them.  Wikipedia has the average high in January in LA as 68.6 & average low as 49.7.  This link suggests arenas are kept around something like 58 degrees.

Beyond the temperature, it's the control of the humidity (condensation on the ice) that makes a fair difference with the indoor rinks that they cannot achieve easily outside.

 

[Zee]

The NHL is supposedly planning SIX outdoor games for next year:

Toronto @ Detroit
then:
? Ducks vs. Kings at Dodger Stadium, Jan. 25
? Devils vs. Rangers at Yankee Stadium, Jan. 26
? Islanders vs. Rangers at Yankee Stadium, Jan 29
? Penguins at Blackhawks, Soldier Field, March 1
? Senators at Canucks, BC Place, March 2

Way to go NHL......

Dodger stadium?  In LA?  Isn't it warm there?  How's that outdoor game gonna work the players will be in short sleeves?

Arenas aren't freezing inside them.  Wikipedia has the average high in January in LA as 68.6 & average low as 49.7.  This link suggests arenas are kept around something like 58 degrees.

Sure, but this is LA, it could also hit 80 during the day in Jan and has in the past.  Factor in the sunshine and humidity and I think you've got the makings of some pretty sloppy ice.

 

[lamajama]

I don't know about you guys but personally that Canucks-Turds game has the makings of an instant classic.

 

[dappleganger]

Am I the only one that thought how the F do you successfully have an outdoor NHL game at Dodgers Stadium? In Los Angeles. In southern California.

I know technology has come a long way these days but... really ?

I've heard in the past that anything under 10?C is fine for an outdoor game, over and they have a problem.

Not sure if the ice making technology has gotten that much better in the past few years.