No fans

[Urbanskog]

Russia won more medals than any other nation since 2011, so yeah, the team is usually pretty competitive.

Even 5-10% of the Russian fans would give a bump to the attendance.

Were you also as vocal and boycotting the US hockey in 2003?

Russia indeed has an impressive rate of winning 80% of their bronze medal games during the last decade but that's a far cry from actually winning the entire thing. Russian fans making up 10% of the attendance in a tournament in the West of Canada is highly unrealistic and to answer your whataboutism, I was not particularly politically outspoken in elementary school.

 

[JackSlater]

You are correct, but it certainly adds a factor of lower attendance which was my point.
The tournament as a whole diminished its value since a top 4 nation is missing.


They can protest all they want for all I care, I want to watch hockey and not politics.

It's a factor but probably not a big one. I agree that it diminishes the value of the tournament.

 

[ViD]

Russia indeed has an impressive rate of winning 80% of their bronze medal games during the last decade but that's a far cry from actually winning the entire thing. Russian fans making up 10% of the attendance in a tournament in the West of Canada is highly unrealistic and to answer your whataboutism, I was not particularly politically outspoken in elementary school.

Given the low attendance as of now, Russian fans would certainly constitute a 5-10 % bump as it doesn’t require much.
Bronze, silver or gold, Russia is a favorite for medals every year, so, yes, missing a top competing nation is a blow to the tournament.

 

[snipes]

If you truly think that’s not one of the factors, you’re mistaken.

1. Russians living in Canada / US won’t attend, Russians from Russia won’t arrive to Canada to attend
2. More local fans would go to a bigger name games like Canada - Russia or USA - Russia
3. More local fans would go to watch next draft players on team Russia

I tend to agree with you on this to an extent.

Russia is Canada’s biggest hockey rival and it doesn’t feel right without them here. I said the same thing about the Hlinka in the Hlinka thread. After Canada the team I always watched the closest was Russia.

I’m of the view that we need more dialogue in the world right now, not less, and hockey was always a form of diplomacy between Russia and Canada. There was a level of mutual respect as the hockey superpowers and the hockey played between Canada and Russia is as good as it gets.

There’s a number of Russian posters who don’t come by anymore who I grew to actually enjoy sharing our thoughts and views about the sport with. Didn’t always agree on many points, but I appreciated the same love and passion for hockey along with their knowledge about up and coming Russian players.

We have (or at least had) a unique bond through hockey. I understand there is a lot going on in the world, but I hope to see a return to that in the not so distant future.

 

[Jumptheshark]

observation from the cheap seats here in the UK

in 9 days the Cardiff Devils of the british elite league have their first exhibition game. Their arena seats just over 3k.. they have sold just over 2k for the coming X game it looks like. So any game in JRS where under 2k attend? Will draw less then an exhibition game in the British elite league. Here in the UK we are having our hottest weather in 80 years

 

[Urbanskog]

Given the low attendance as of now, Russian fans would certainly constitute a 5-10 % bump as it doesn’t require much.
Bronze, silver or gold, Russia is a favorite for medals every year, so, yes, missing a top competing nation is a blow to the tournament.

What makes you think that Russian fans would be somehow more willing to pay high ticket prices for summer afternoon games than fans of other teams?

 

[Mathieukferland]

What makes you think that Russian fans would be somehow more willing to pay high ticket prices for summer afternoon games than fans of other teams?

From what I understand, it is expensive to get a VISA to leave Russia, so if they were willing to pay for a Canadian visa, they would probably be willing to overpay on tickets

 

[ViD]

What makes you think that Russian fans would be somehow more willing to pay high ticket prices for summer afternoon games than fans of other teams?

Hockey is a popular sport for the Russians, the team with Michkov has a potential, Russians living in the NA don’t have a lot of other sports to watch at the time.

I am not saying it would be a record breaking crowd, but a good number of people would attend

From what I understand, it is expensive to get a VISA to leave Russia, so if they were willing to pay for a Canadian visa, they would probably be willing to overpay on tickets

At this point, it’s nearly impossible for a Russian from Russia to get to North America.

Getting a visa is pain, you have to fly through a third country.

My observations were more based if the circumstances were prior to this February.

The local Russians would attend though.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

Given the low attendance as of now, Russian fans would certainly constitute a 5-10 % bump as it doesn’t require much.
Bronze, silver or gold, Russia is a favorite for medals every year, so, yes, missing a top competing nation is a blow to the tournament.

Russia is not as important as you think it is in the context of attendance of a WJC in Edmonton.

Nobody truly cares that Russia is not there, tbh. Yes, it sucks, but it is not a factor that drives attendance down a lot.

The tournament being held in the middle of summer and the high ticket prices CONSIDERING that it is the middle of summer AND Hockey Canada is a middle of a big scandal are much bigger factors.

I know it sucks for you as a Russian, but that's about it.

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

Did Ovechkin ever play in Toronto before the NHL?

Yes. I am not sure what the tournament was, but I think he was playing with men. You could tell he was special. If I remember correctly, he may have only been 16.

 

[chaser17]

Just wait till the weekend when we find out Canadians like to go to the lake in the summer and not watch hockey.

 

[OldScool]

From Rob Williams:
Attendance:
Czechia - Slovakia - 430 fans
Latvia - Finland - 376 fans
USA - Germany - 829 fans

 

[Gold Standard]

Russia is not as important as you think it is in the context of attendance of a WJC in Edmonton.

Nobody truly cares that Russia is not there, tbh. Yes, it sucks, but it is not a factor that drives attendance down a lot.

The tournament being held in the middle of summer and the high ticket prices CONSIDERING that it is the middle of summer AND Hockey Canada is a middle of a big scandal are much bigger factors.

I know it sucks for you as a Russian, but that's about it.

Doesn't suck at all that they are not there. Looking forward to the next decade of them not being there.

 

[vippe]

Should strip Canada from hosting any tournaments until Hockey Canada they get their shit together.

Now I bet fans are probably just busy doing summer things, but I do hope there's a good amount of people boycotting the tournament.

 

[Team_Spirit]

Canada Vs Latvia is sold out but I just checked and basically the entire lower bowl is available for Austria Germany - however the cheapest ticket is 98$+ tax so I'm not sure who is going to pay that unless they're Austrian or German lol

These tickets should be sub $20 and free for local minor hockey teams.

$98 for Germany-Austria

 

[Scandale du Jour]

Doesn't suck at all that they are not there. Looking forward to the next decade of them not being there.

From a strictly hockey standpoint, it does suck that they are not there. They are an historical rival to both Canada and the US. The drama of a Canada vs Russia game is compelling.

As a hockey fan, I would prefer them to be there.

 

[Rygu]

the entire lower bowl is available for Austria Germany - however the cheapest ticket is 98$+ tax

 

[RipsADrive]

I'm glad the people in the area aren't being a bunch of suckers "for the love of hockey."

The prices are absurd as are the gametimes. Hockey Canada is tire fire with all their coverups and the on ice quality is considerably worse than most years with a top team missing and many top players sitting out and focusing on next year.

Hopefully this embarrasses the decision makers enough to make this tournament more accessible and stop treating it as a cashcow. (Not a chance, I know.)

 

[Bounces R Way]

Well as mentioned there are a myriad of factors, but I still think the biggest is the ticket prices. A friend and I were thinking of going up this weekend to catch some games but took one look at the packages and were both like haha get f***ed not in this lifetime am I paying that.

Between that and a 2 star hotel being 200 bucks a night and the gas there and back you're looking at $2000 for a couple days of junior hockey where the athletes aren't even getting paid. That's a week at an All Inclusive in Mexico. Pretty easy decision. I mean I realize HC has to refill the rape fund or whatever but still.. my god those prices are just criminal.

 

[Gold Standard]

From a strictly hockey standpoint, it does suck that they are not there. They are an historical rival to both Canada and the US. The drama of a Canada vs Russia game is compelling.

As a hockey fan, I would prefer them to be there.

That's fine. but as somebody who spent a good chunk of his career working in Russia, not having to put up with their antics anymore is a welcomed relief. I repeat. looking forward to the next decade without them. Not distracting from my hockey entertainment. not at all.

 

[usahockey22flyers]

Couple things at play here...

1. Tough spot for Canadians to be in. You obviously want to support these new kids at the WJ's, but maybe you don't want to give money to Hockey Canada. I don't think theres anything wrong with wanting them to win gold, despite the sins of the kids in the past - and the org/cover up. The kids grew up watching this tourny around Christmas, and this might be their only chance to play in it.

2. Ticket prices are insane. $100+ to watch Latvia v Canada? Get out.

3. Maybe Hockey Canada should have been removed from this tournament, and replaced with "Team Canada" or "Athletes from Canada" like what we saw from Russia in the Olympics.

 

[Scandale du Jour]

Well as mentioned there are a myriad of factors, but I still think the biggest is the ticket prices. A friend and I were thinking of going up this weekend to catch some games but took one look at the packages and were both like haha get f***ed not in this lifetime am I paying that.

Between that and a 2 star hotel being 200 bucks a night and the gas there and back you're looking at $2000 for a couple days of junior hockey where the athletes aren't even getting paid. That's a week at an All Inclusive in Mexico. Pretty easy decision. I mean I realize HC has to refill the rape fund or whatever but still.. my god those prices are just criminal.

It does not even cost my 1000$ for 2 season tickets here in Sherbrooke.

I understand it is not the WJC, but still, I got to see a very high level for a very good price.

 

[Uncle Rotter]

That wasn't just the IIHF it was Canada and their protocols. Whoever is in charge - whether its IIHF or Hockey Canada they are failing.

The forfeits, that was all on the IIHF.

 

[Mikeshane]

Those ticket prices are ridiculous for games that aren't 2 top teams playing each other and with inflation people have less money to spend. All the Covid stuff may have turned people off. When this tournament was announced people that normally might have jumped at it may have thought "is this even going to happen and are there going to be a bunch of restrictions, I'll skip this one".

 

[TheBeastCoast]

It does not even cost my 1000$ for 2 season tickets here in Sherbrooke.

I understand it is not the WJC, but still, I got to see a very high level for a very good price.

Yeah for the WJC here in the winter you can get a tournament pass for $1200+ or I could get season tickets to the Mooseheads for a little under $1200. Needless to say I will be watching the Juniors from the comfort of my couch this December.