Friedman- Players hate going to cold weather cities for ASG, NHL possibly reducing the eligible host cities

[Melrose Munch]

nexthing the players are going to complain about the arenas being too cold.

I guess the kids and fans in cold climates don't deserve to see them live?

Everyone plays each other once a year. You have a TV. There are options.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

nexthing the players are going to complain about the arenas being too cold.

I guess the kids and fans in cold climates don't deserve to see them live?

Lol what? The NHL schedule is made so you can see every team once at home, the ASG is not that serious man.

 

[LeafsNation75]

I mean this kinda makes sense because if these guys weren't going to the ASG, they'd be in the same vacation spot with great weather. But it also doesn't make sense that they picked Toronto for next year, lol.

Last month on January 11 there was an article from the Toronto Star reporting the Leafs would be selected as hosts for next years All Star Game. So, this was before any report from Elliotte Friedman saying the players only want it to be warm weather cities.

Toronto Maple Leafs closing in on hosting 2024 NHL All-Star Game: source

According to a source from Star contributing columnist Nick Kypreos, Toronto is closing in on hosting the annual event at Scotiabank Arena for the first time since 2000.

www.thestar.com

 

[LeafsNation75]

It’s not a terrible example if it’s going to end up being in a ~5 year rotation.

Anyway, sub in LA Tampa, Vegas, or even Dallas, and the point still stands. People flock south in the winter for obvious reasons. Why would hockey players, coaches, fans be any different?

Chances are this was a fluke, but it was just a few days ago in Dallas when they had severe cold weather and icy roads.

DFW ice storm updates: Tracking power outages, road conditions and everything else

We're tracking the latest updates, from the forecast to power outages to road conditions, throughout the week.

www.wfaa.com

 

[rojac]

They could partially limit it, keep NYC and Toronto type cities that have tons to do, but exclude Winnipeg, Edmonton etc as much as possible


I doubt the NHL would literally 100% block of cold cities but I could see them make an effort to at least make a disproportionate number of them in warmer/less frozen cities

The actual list of cities that Friedman gave in the radio hit also included Totonto, Montreal, New York, and Chicago and it really sounded like he was pulling the major cities out of his butt as he listed.

He also never really stated that the NHL is looking at doing this (or that the players only want to play in warm cities). He says that this is something he thinks we'll see. But he never says anything like "From my talks with team executives" or similar.

Personally, I think Friedman is just trying to push this Big City/Warm City limited ASG locale list so that he gets a work trip to somewhere warm almost every winter.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

 

[LeafsNation75]

The actual list of cities that Friedman gave in the radio hit also included Totonto, Montreal, New York, and Chicago and it really sounded like he was pulling the major cities out of his butt as he listed.

He also never really stated that the NHL is looking at doing this (or that the players only want to play in warm cities). He says that this is something he thinks we'll see. But he never says anything like "From my talks with team executives" or similar.

Personally, I think Friedman is just trying to push this Big City/Warm City limited ASG locale list so that he gets a work trip to somewhere warm almost every winter.

It's funny how we never hear any of this talk from NBA players about having their All Star Game in warm weather cities.

Last year their All Star Game was played in Cleveland. This year it's in Salt Lake City, and next year it's in Indianapolis. Those aren't warm weather cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Miami where they have teams.

 

[rojac]

It's funny how we never hear any of this talk from NBA players about having their All Star Game in warm weather cities.

Last year their All Star Game was played in Cleveland. This year it's in Salt Lake City, and next year it's in Indianapolis. Those aren't warm weather cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Miami where they have teams.

Once again, some all-stars who came to a warm weather ASG were asked by the NHL what could help get more players to agree to come to ASGs. One of those responses was effectively that they were enjoying the warm weather of the current ASG. Despite what the thread title and the OP says, Friedman never said that the players only wanted to play ASGs in warm weather locales.

 

[cbcwpg]

The reason the players want family friendly or fun or warm cities is so they can plan all the things they want to be doing outside like golfing or sitting on a beach when they are not actually at the stupid game and events.

they don’t want to be there at all, but if they have to , they want to be in a place they can have fun and treat it like time off.

 

[drw02]

It's really embarrassing for the NHL brand in some of these warm weather cities when they're holding a signature event in a half filled stadium with a mostly quiet, disengaged crowd. All star game ain't attracting any new fans anyway so mine as well save themselves the embarrassment and keep it in places they know won't have a problem packing the arena

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

It's funny how we never hear any of this talk from NBA players about having their All Star Game in warm weather cities.

Last year their All Star Game was played in Cleveland. This year it's in Salt Lake City, and next year it's in Indianapolis. Those aren't warm weather cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Miami where they have teams.

Yeah you're right, their guys just complain about how much of an annoyance the actual game is lol.

 

[Leviathan899]

They play ICE HOCKEY a cold weather sport, what f***ing bitches

True, but when they see every one of their teammates and their families on a beach in the Cayman Islands or golfing in the Bahamas, I don’t really blame them. 82 game seasons are a grind and you can almost guarantee having the game in Toronto next year, outside of Ontario guys and other Canadians, I doubt you’ll see many top players wanting to attend. Watch for a lot of “injuries” to pop up a week or two before the ASG next season

 

[The Panther]

I'm absolutely shocked that a bunch of privileged, 20-something white guys making $5 million+ a year to play hockey, when given a choice, didn't say they want to spend their four days off each January in Edmonton or Winnipeg.

I mean, no one could have predicted that.

 

[LeafsNation75]

True, but when they see every one of their teammates and their families on a beach in the Cayman Islands or golfing in the Bahamas, I don’t really blame them. 82 game seasons are a grind and you can almost guarantee having the game in Toronto next year, outside of Ontario guys and other Canadians, I doubt you’ll see many top players wanting to attend. Watch for a lot of “injuries” to pop up a week or two before the ASG next season

I was just looking up the rosters from the 2000 All Star Game which was the last time Toronto hosted it. Only three players who were originally selected couldn't play because of injuries. It was Dominik Hasek, Pierre Turgeon, and Peter Forsberg. So, do you really think next year more players will be "injured" instead of having to play the All Star Game in Toronto?

 

[koyvoo]

I'm absolutely shocked that a bunch of privileged, 20-something white guys making $5 million+ a year to play hockey, when given a choice, didn't say they want to spend their four days off each January in Edmonton or Winnipeg.

I mean, no one could have predicted that.

You could’ve just said no one would to spend a four day holiday in those climates, in January/February if there was other options.

Not sure what the parameters you brought gave to do anything.

I mean, based on the way you present it, who exactly are you thinking would choose Alberta over Florida as a holiday destination in mid winter?

 

[Leviathan899]

I was just looking up the rosters from the 2000 All Star Game which was the last time Toronto hosted it. Only three players who were originally selected couldn't play because of injuries. It was Dominik Hasek, Pierre Turgeon, and Peter Forsberg. So, do you really think next year more players will be "injured" instead of having to play the All Star Game in Toronto?

That’s fair, and perhaps you’re right. I do think player sentiment towards the ASG has changed quite drastically since 2000 though. Felt then like it was a much bigger deal than it is now. But that could just be my perception

 

[myperbixhurts]

Luckily they’re going to Toronto next year where it only gets to 10 or 20 degrees Fahrenheit in January and February

 

[I Hart Conor Garland]

It's really embarrassing for the NHL brand in some of these warm weather cities when they're holding a signature event in a half filled stadium with a mostly quiet, disengaged crowd. All star game ain't attracting any new fans anyway so mine as well save themselves the embarrassment and keep it in places they know won't have a problem packing the arena

I’m sorry, but what?

 

[Colezuki]

Is this really a surprise to anyone? Players are selected at random for a marketing/ advertising event. If they are picked and choose to not attend they suffer missed pay, if they do go there treammates go to Mexico. Example Suzuki is in Florida. Xhekaj and a bunch of the habs rookies are in Mexico now imagine it’s in Minnesota/Winnipeg/Calgary. It’s a weird event where if your not picked your on vacation but if you are your losing pay or going to where they tell you imagine that in your personal life.

If the goal is to make all star bigger then I think it’s a goos

 

[rojac]

I’m sorry, but what?

I think it was a typo for "might as well".

 

[tarheelhockey]

That’s fair, and perhaps you’re right. I do think player sentiment towards the ASG has changed quite drastically since 2000 though. Felt then like it was a much bigger deal than it is now. But that could just be my perception

I don’t know about player sentiment, but players didn’t start outright dodging the game until a little after that. It was 2009 before the league put their foot down by suspending Lidstrom and Datsyuk for skipping it.

 

[I Hart Conor Garland]

I think it was a typo for "might as well".

That isn’t a typo. I am wondering how someone thinks “mine as well” is a thing.

 

[rojac]

That isn’t a typo. I am wondering how someone thinks “mine as well” is a thing.

I don’t know about that. That sort of thing happens to me occasionally. I’ll be typing and my mind drifts a little and my fingers end up typing a word that sounds somewhat like what I had intended.

 

[I Hart Conor Garland]

I don’t know about that. That sort of thing happens to me occasionally. I’ll be typing and my mind drifts a little and my fingers end up typing a word that sounds somewhat like what I had intended.

I have seen this one before. I think it may be an epidemic.

 

[ijuka]

Hate going to cold weather cities when playing a winter sport in the winter, ha ha.