How can the World Championship improve as an event?

[habsrule4eva3089]

With an amazing, historic tournament that just concluded, it made me wonder, especially with the upcoming FIFA World Cup coming up, how can this tournament improve attendance or reach a new level in terms of fan experience.

And honestly made me think, is it possible one day the World Championships or even medal games can be played outdoors, yes it's warm outside during this time of year, in most places but I mean after Dodger's stadium hosting an event earlier this year in Los Angeles, it does seem possible. Can you imagine the atmosphere, would be really fun.

Apologize if this shouldn't be a thread,

Thoughts everyone?

Click to read more...

 

[Uhmkay]

Host it when the NHL isn't playing.

 

[FanHabtic*]

Play it every four years and schedule it in the summer. Every 2 years there would be a best on best tournament (Olympics / WHC ).

 

[BobDobolina]

Host it when the NHL isn't playing.

This would be, what, July or August? Yeah, that works out great.

 

[ViD]

play it every two years

fedarations should ban their players from Olympic selection if they refuse to play in the WHC without a legit reason

 

[kurt]

It would be incredibly difficult logistically, but I think it would draw WAY more viewers if, instead of a single host city, the top 8 seeds participate in 3 rounds of best-of-7 hockey in a 2-3-2 home/away format where teams travel to each country's respective host city.

 

[teris]

It would be incredibly difficult logistically, but I think it would draw WAY more viewers if, instead of a single host city, the top 8 seeds participate in 3 rounds of best-of-7 hockey in a 2-3-2 home/away format where teams travel to each country's respective host city.

It would make much more sense for the World Cup to evolve into something like this.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

Less often. Different time of year. Shorter.

 

[Den]

Ban Russia from entering with a half-olympic team

 

[dreamingofdrouin*]

Host it when the NHL isn't playing.

this....it will actually mean something if it wasn't made up of rookies and fringe players.....i mean...sometimes they put together some pretty good teams but for the most part...just as irelevant as the IIHF rankings....vanilla ice...and pants on the ground.

 

[xxxx]

This would be, what, July or August? Yeah, that works out great.

Or what about a 60-game NHL season only?

 

[Classicnamesup]

Need to attract the top players. Year after year every nations best stays home while these patchwork teams play (Russia seems to be the exception)

 

[Jussi]

Ban Russia from entering with a half-olympic team

Especially if Ovie, BOBROVSKY! and Malkin are among the players.

 

[Tucker93]

Work something out with the NHL to have it every 4 years with NHL participation. That way we can have a best on best tournament every 2 years, alternating between the Olympics and the WHC. This way we could actually get NHL refs since they won't be busy with the Stanley Cup playoffs.

[mod]

 

[obskyr]

Rebrand it as IIHF EuroHockey and make it biennial (just like Eurobasket). Its historic legacy is relevant mostly to European nations anyway.

 

[BobDobolina]

Or what about a 60-game NHL season only?

I've been strongly in favor of that for a long time as it would improve the product but less games means less money for everybody so that's never going to happen.

 

[VMBM]

Play it every four years and schedule it in the summer. Every 2 years there would be a best on best tournament (Olympics / WHC ).

Of course one can always hope, but there's no chance of this happening. I think there's just enough interest for an annual tournament to keep it profitable - not forgetting the tradition either. Personally, I wish that at least the tournament would not be held during the same year as the Winter Olympics, but maybe even that is not a realistic hope anymore.

 

[Rob]

Have it in September.

Of course I realize that will not happen. So the second best suggestion is to only hold it every couple of years. It seems so watered down now.

 

[Kharkov]

fedarations should ban their players from Olympic selection if they refuse to play in the WHC without a legit reason

No..

 

[Past Considerations]

Short-term top priority should be replacing the usual clowns with actual refs.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Ban Russia from entering with a half-olympic team

Interesting idea...but how about making all players who were included on Olympic rosters ineligible for the WHC in an Olympic year...or at least cap it at 2 or 3 players.

 

[BobDobolina]

Interesting idea...but how about making all players who were included on Olympic rosters ineligible for the WHC in an Olympic year...or at least cap it at 2 or 3 players.

How would this improve the event?

 

[1Gold Standard]

play it every two years

fedarations should ban their players from Olympic selection if they refuse to play in the WHC without a legit reason

players are not instruments of the state to be ordered where and when to suit up....and as much as I would like to see a greater commitment and willingness among the players to participate, imposing sanctions on players for not participating is draconian.

You want to motivate professional athletes? Have the IIHF, tournament sponsors and tournament broadcasters award significant monetary prizes for medals. The IIHF is making is buck, lining their pockets on the backs of free labour. cut off a chunk of that for the players. I wouldn't think any less of any player for accepting an invite to play because at the end of it there may be a hefty financial reward.

 

[Eye of Ra]

give it world cup/canada cup status.

 

[teris]

You want to motivate professional athletes? Have the IIHF, tournament sponsors and tournament broadcasters award significant monetary prizes for medals. The IIHF is making is buck, lining their pockets on the backs of free labour. cut off a chunk of that for the players. I wouldn't think any less of any player for accepting an invite to play because at the end of it there may be a hefty financial reward.

The IIHF governs 28 tournaments, most of which have no chance of making a profit. They need to make their money somehow.