The State of Outdoor Hockey

[voyageur]

As much as this may be an old man ranting at the wind, it befuddles me that the NHL has announced two outdoor games in Florida for next year, and every January 1st there is the Winter Classic, but every year Hockey Day in Canada goes without an outdoor game, in literally the climate made for outdoor hockey. Does Disney now own outdoor hockey? Can anyone explain why there has not been an outdoor game in Montreal, which could likely break attendance records if planned right? There hasn't been a better outdoor hockey game than the original Heritage Classic. Although the one in Regina was top notch. And Buffalo in the snow deserves honorable mention.

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[Panteras]

Same reason NFL bothers playing games in Europe…exposure and the hope to gain new fans.

The real crime with the outdoor games is how much the NHL has bastardized it by having like 15 of them a year. When it was just the winter classic it had meaning and actual prestige. Now I don’t think anyone even bothers unless their team is playing in it.

 

[eojsmada]

Same reason NFL bothers playing games in Europe…exposure and the hope to gain new fans.

The real crime with the outdoor games is how much the NHL has bastardized it by having like 15 of them a year. When it was just the winter classic it had meaning and actual prestige. Now I don’t think anyone even bothers unless their team is playing in it.

This 100%. It's overdone, now, to the point that people are fairly numb to it. Much like the all-star game.

 

[Oilslick941611]

This 100%. It's overdone, now, to the point that people are fairly numb to it. Much like the all-star game.

if youre burnt out on it, its not for you, its for new fans.