Poor attendance

[Rob]

Vancouver will put both Montreal and Toronto to shame.

 

[PanniniClaus]

Would love to see this tourney get back East

 

[patnyrnyg]

YOU yourself don't need a story, you're posting on a hockey forum website. You, and everyone on here, is enthusiastic enough about the sport to want to go to see these players. Put yourself in the position of a casual hockey fan and ask yourself this question: what is my incentive to go to see Latvia vs Slovakia (as an example) if I've never heard of the players, i know that it's unlikely anyone on the ice will be a meaningful player in the NHL (the only league this fan follows on a regular basis) and it is going to cost me $50 per ticket to get in the building?

Now, take that same fan and imagine what their interest level could be is there was a real effort to explain the context of Latvia vs Slovakia. For example, the organizing committee tells the story of the connection between Latvia and Ted Nolan + Bob Hartley. Or that Petr Bondra's son is playing for Latvia. Or that Montreal favourite Jaro Halak holds the tournament record for shutouts and there's a possibility you could see the next great diamond in the rough. None of these narratives have been told. It's just "hey here's some pretty high quality hockey between two countries you have no attachment to, come pay through your teeth to watch them play round robin!"

None of those things are making me watch Latvia-Slovakia. Only way I am watching that game is to see the Slovak goalie, Adam Huska who is a Rangers prospect. Otherwise, if Huska is not playing, only watching the game in the background while I do something else. The Bondra angle might give the game some juice in Slovakia. This is not the WWF. If you need "angles" and storylines, then they might as well shut the tourney down. These casual fans you speak of probably do not even remember Petr Bondra, Ted Nolan, and might remember Halak.

 

[Fenway]

I was a volunteer at the 1996 World Juniors in Boston and it was an epic disaster attendance wise. The organizers decided not to use the then FleetCenter (TD Garden) and instead use college rinks around Boston.

The local media ignored the tournament and the Boston Globe didn't even staff the final game.

 

[Rich247]

Iihf this year wjc is the worst run tournament I have ever seen. As a parent of a player or in my case a grandparent of a player we are provided two tickets In the third to last row for a game that was half empty. The players who are providing all the entertainment for us are given two tickets what a shame on you. Even four would have been an not enough. Would like to know where all the money is going because I'm sure it is lining Some officials pocket. You wander why attendance is so low it's because they want nhl playoff ticket prices. Really disappointed with the iihf they should be ashamed of the exhibition there putting on for us that love hockey.

 

[patnyrnyg]

Iihf this year wjc is the worst run tournament I have ever seen. As a parent of a player or in my case a grandparent of a player we are provided two tickets In the third to last row for a game that was half empty. The players who are providing all the entertainment for us are given two tickets what a shame on you. Even four would have been an not enough. Would like to know where all the money is going because I'm sure it is lining Some officials pocket. You wander why attendance is so low it's because they want nhl playoff ticket prices. Really disappointed with the iihf they should be ashamed of the exhibition there putting on for us that love hockey.

Wow, that is ridiculous. I could understand if they limited player tickets for US-Canada or Canada-Russia.

 

[jeangauthier]

Pubs are doing great and tv ratings are good in Montreal........not sure what all the hoopla is about......I`m retired and can sit at home and watch all the games as the snow and ice pile up.......and keep my coin out of the greedy hands of the organizers........

 

[jeangauthier]

And I`m going to one of the semi final games next Wednesday with the Hurley`s Pub group............for free!!!!!!

 

[OilerPensfan97]

I am not missing anything. I was simply asking about the whole "Montreal is not a HOCKEY CITY, it is only a HABS CITY".

However, to your point. Ever think Hockey Canada tried this as an experiment? Maybe the idea that bringing the premiere junior hockey tournament to Montreal might help spur an interest in junior hockey? People are on this forum constantly talking about the NHL and the Olympics. The argument I read over and over again is, "Here is a chance to 'grow the game'. Introduce the game with the world best players to millions of potential new fans. Off the top of my head, doesn't more than 50% of Canada's population live in either the GTA or Montreal and it's surrounding suburbs?

Or they might of thought, "Why not try holding the tournament in the country's 2 largest cities?" The idea that Canadians would travel to the cities, make it a vacation? I can drive to Montreal in 5 1/2-6 hours. If the US had played any games in Montreal, the wife and I were thinking of making the drive.

I see your point, but the problem is that they already tried this, and it didn't work. Why make the same mistake again? Might as well give new places opportunities or go back to the successful venues.

Bottom line is, this ship has sailed.

 

[Ari91]

I see your point, but the problem is that they already tried this, and it didn't work. Why make the same mistake again? Might as well give new places opportunities or go back to the successful venues.

Bottom line is, this ship has sailed.

The complete numbers won't be known until the very end but based on 2015 with Toronto/Montreal, it was the third highest attendance in the tournament history. That's not factoring how variables such as ticket prices, concessions, parking, etc. stand up when you look from city to city (Ottawa had the highest attendance total followed by Calgary/Edmonton). There seems to be a lot of doom and gloom in here that is trying to highlight Toronto and Montreal as not caring enough or not loving hockey or whatever the case may be, but it seems pretty harsh to think that it takes anything away from either city because WJC doesn't trump all in Toronto and Montreal when ticket prices are high, concession, parking, holiday season, and especially in Toronto's case, they've been spending A LOT of money on sporting events with the success of the Jays, Raptors, Toronto FC, Grey Cup and the regular attendance success of the Leafs.

How many in this thread really want to have zero consideration for the fact that they're expecting a lot out of people who are regular working Joes that have bills to pay, a family to support and mouths to feed? So you think the prairies and out west will support the event at the same related costs that is expected from a Torontonian or Montrealer? Sure, try it and see how it works out and then come back and talk about it. All the complaints about the empty seats and Hockey Canada is already at 80% of their 21M goal for the tournament without factoring in the high profile games that have yet to be played (Canada vs USA and all of the medal round games).

What do organizers value more? Everyday sell out crowds and grossing $15M or some empty seats and bringing in $21M? This entire tournament is for the greed of reaching into people's wallets but so much of the conversation is directed toward two cities not showing enough hockey love.

 

[jeangauthier]

I see your point, but the problem is that they already tried this, and it didn't work. Why make the same mistake again? Might as well give new places opportunities or go back to the successful venues.

Bottom line is, this ship has sailed.

I concur...........how about the Europeans start doing their share........or small town Canada.......when all the games are televised it`s much to easy to sit at home and swill with friends for a fraction of the cost......but sadly corporate greed is here to stay ....le sigh

I have cousins in NYC and the games are not even on tv and not even a blip on sport networks except for the occasional USA score......you can only imagine what it`s like in the other 49 states

 

[garnetpalmetto]

I concur...........how about the Europeans start doing their share........or small town Canada.......when all the games are televised it`s much to easy to sit at home and swill with friends for a fraction of the cost......but sadly corporate greed is here to stay ....le sigh

I have cousins in NYC and the games are not even on tv and not even a blip on sport networks except for the occasional USA score......you can only imagine what it`s like in the other 49 states

They're on the NHL Network. I was able to watch USA-Latvia and Czech Republic-Finland when I was visiting my mother-in-law in fairly rural North Carolina on Monday because she has Dish Network and gets the NHL Netowrk Looking at the schedule both of today's games are being broadcast today. To say they're not even on TV is false.

 

[jeangauthier]

They're on the NHL Network. I was able to watch USA-Latvia and Czech Republic-Finland when I was visiting my mother-in-law on Monday. Looking at the schedule both of today's games are being broadcast today. To say they're not even on TV is false.

Not everyone will pay to get the NHL package.......

 

[golfortennis]

I am not missing anything. I was simply asking about the whole "Montreal is not a HOCKEY CITY, it is only a HABS CITY".

However, to your point. Ever think Hockey Canada tried this as an experiment? Maybe the idea that bringing the premiere junior hockey tournament to Montreal might help spur an interest in junior hockey? People are on this forum constantly talking about the NHL and the Olympics. The argument I read over and over again is, "Here is a chance to 'grow the game'. Introduce the game with the world best players to millions of potential new fans. Off the top of my head, doesn't more than 50% of Canada's population live in either the GTA or Montreal and it's surrounding suburbs?

Or they might of thought, "Why not try holding the tournament in the country's 2 largest cities?" The idea that Canadians would travel to the cities, make it a vacation? I can drive to Montreal in 5 1/2-6 hours. If the US had played any games in Montreal, the wife and I were thinking of making the drive.

An experiment. (Leaves room to laugh. Returns 5 minutes later.)

Hockey Canada has 3 thoughts when it comes to this tournament: 1)Money, 2) uhm, actually, there is only one thought. If you think there are any factors other than dollar signs driving their decision making, then I have ocean front property in Arizona to sell you.

This is the same organization that banned kids from the "Red Circle" hockey program in London from skating between periods of the under 17 event a few seasons ago. "Insurance" they claimed, since this group is not affiliated with HC. Of course it wasn't very long that the word "outlaw" was also being used to describe Red Circle.

The biggest difference between HC and FIFA is the scale, not the methods in which they go about their business. Maybe less corrupt at the top, but don't kid yourself that something other than money is their first, last and most prominent focus.

 

[Pouchkine]

Exactly.

 

[Pouchkine]

That's why I'm proud of Toronto and Montreal to have twice said NO to those idiots at Hockey Canada.

 

[patnyrnyg]

I concur...........how about the Europeans start doing their share........or small town Canada.......when all the games are televised it`s much to easy to sit at home and swill with friends for a fraction of the cost......but sadly corporate greed is here to stay ....le sigh

I have cousins in NYC and the games are not even on tv and not even a blip on sport networks except for the occasional USA score......you can only imagine what it`s like in the other 49 states

I am in NYC, and games are on here. I have not watched every game, but have watched most. NHL Network.

 

[patnyrnyg]

Not everyone will pay to get the NHL package.......

That is a different story. For an extra $10/month I get a sports pack that includes the NHL Network, NFL Network, Redzone, NBA network, MLB network, NBCS, and a whole bunch of other sports channels. Tell your cousins to stop being cheap.

 

[patnyrnyg]

An experiment. (Leaves room to laugh. Returns 5 minutes later.)

Hockey Canada has 3 thoughts when it comes to this tournament: 1)Money, 2) uhm, actually, there is only one thought. If you think there are any factors other than dollar signs driving their decision making, then I have ocean front property in Arizona to sell you.

This is the same organization that banned kids from the "Red Circle" hockey program in London from skating between periods of the under 17 event a few seasons ago. "Insurance" they claimed, since this group is not affiliated with HC. Of course it wasn't very long that the word "outlaw" was also being used to describe Red Circle.

The biggest difference between HC and FIFA is the scale, not the methods in which they go about their business. Maybe less corrupt at the top, but don't kid yourself that something other than money is their first, last and most prominent focus.

I know that, but the point is if they can get this tournament to be a big deal in Montreal and Toronto, then wouldn't that be where they can turn the highest profit?

 

[Pouchkine]

You people think the idiots at Hockey Canada will put the big money back in youth hockey? Think Again...

 

[Iamtheliquor*]

Just not an entertaining tournament anymore.

 

[Pouchkine]

And a bad format with too many meaningless games.

 

[LeafFever]

As Toronto resident, I hate how they think they can charge so much more in this city for events. The Bills were sunk in Toronto by ridiculous prices.

 

[jedisports]

Move it to Minnesota where the high school state tournament is sold out constantly and is the biggest state hockey tournament in the world. Minnesota would embrace this tournament, guaranteed. Minnesotans love hockey at every level.

 

[Pouchkine]

Probably 18 000 empty seats again in Montreal.