USA hosting 2018 WJC

[Firewagon]

Question: given that the IIHF has awarded the tournament to the USA, which body decides on the host city: IIHF or USAHockey?

If its the IIHF, I wonder if they will announce the winner at the annual meeting they always hold with the men's world championship in April/May.

If its USAHockey, have they said when it will be decided?

 

[Rob]

Question: given that the IIHF has awarded the tournament to the USA, which body decides on the host city: IIHF or USAHockey?

If its the IIHF, I wonder if they will announce the winner at the annual meeting they always hold with the men's world championship in April/May.

If its USAHockey, have they said when it will be decided?

It is definitely USA Hockey.

Not sure when the final decision will be made though.

 

[ChiGuySez]

Denver would be good. Lots of winter activities besides the games. Altitude might be a killer though. Buffalo, Pittsburgh and other similar cities have little to offer. Sorry but they're armpits.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

Denver would be good. Lots of winter activities besides the games. Altitude might be a killer though. Buffalo, Pittsburgh and other similar cities have little to offer. Sorry but they're armpits.

It isn't the 60s anymore, Pittsburgh is the furthest thing from an "armpit". The best things about Denver are 30 miles away.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Denver would be good. Lots of winter activities besides the games. Altitude might be a killer though. Buffalo, Pittsburgh and other similar cities have little to offer. Sorry but they're armpits.

NY's "armpit" has plenty to offer, like the best facilities for hosting the tournament.

 

[Paxon]

Denver would be good. Lots of winter activities besides the games. Altitude might be a killer though. Buffalo, Pittsburgh and other similar cities have little to offer. Sorry but they're armpits.

Do you envision everyone going to the WJC deciding they'd like to go skiing? Sounds like a real draw. Literally any city has plenty to do with whatever free time people attending these events would actually have.

 

[dwanmaster*]

NY's "armpit" has plenty to offer, like the best facilities for hosting the tournament.

Xcel Energy center and Mariucci arena >>>>>> Harborcenter

 

[Sansbacon]

It's not gonna happen in Buffalo. I know people in Buffalo. A lot of them support the Canadian National Team.

Hahaha, this is hilarious.

I've lived in the NYC metro area for 4+ years now and most people couldn't care less about hockey here. In fact, I just had a conversation the other day with someone FROM here who had no idea the Islanders even existed.

The sad part is, what I just said is true. Can't say the same about your statement.

Anyway, as for the topic at hand, Buffalo would be a great place to host it again. However, if we don't get it then I think Pittsburgh would actually be a fantastic location.

 

[Paxon]

Hahaha, this is hilarious.

I've lived in the NYC metro area for 4+ years now and most people couldn't care less about hockey here. In fact, I just had a conversation the other day with someone FROM here who had no idea the Islanders even existed.

The sad part is, what I just said is true. Can't say the same about your statement.

Anyway, as for the topic at hand, Buffalo would be a great place to host it again. However, if we don't get it then I think Pittsburgh would actually be a fantastic location.

I agree that Pittsburgh would be good.

 

[Donnie D]

Yes, Tampa has a frozen four and it was fantastic. As far as a second arena, Orlando (Amway) would be a logic choice about an hour away.

There seems to be this thought that hockey doesn't draw in Florida. No, it hasn't drawn in Miami - but it does draw in Tampa.

http://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendance/att_graph.php?tmi=8385

 

[Paxon]

Yes, Tampa has a frozen four and it was fantastic. As far as a second arena, Orlando (Amway) would be a logic choice about an hour away.

There seems to be this thought that hockey doesn't draw in Florida. No, it hasn't drawn in Miami - but it does draw in Tampa.

http://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendance/att_graph.php?tmi=8385

Miami just isn't a great sports town and has been pretty brutal with NHL attendance (no offense to any Panthers fans), while Tampa's done well. Everything about Tampa under current ownership and management is first class. Do you think they'd draw for a tournament like the WJC, though? The tournament is just not that big of a deal outside of Canada among general sports or even general hockey fans.

 

[Sam Spade]

Congrats to them. Buffalo would be my choice to host.

Me too.

As the other poster said everything is within walking or free rail ride away.

Only time you would even need a car is for site seeing.

If Buffalo gets it I am booking rooms now.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Florida would be an interesting experiment but I fear that games featuring teams that aren't Canada/USA wouldn't sell nearly as well in they would in a more traditional hockey market. It sucks watching a great game between say, Finland and Sweden on TV and seeing the arena half empty.

Well I guess Toronto and Montreal are out of this too...

Tampa Bay did quite well with the college tournaments they have hosted. We will see, honestly surprised Detroit didn't throw their hat into the ring. Will have the new building at this point and can use the Joe Louis if it hasn't been knocked down, but if not Plymouth, Yost, Windsor or the Palace are all suitable venues.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Really hope it goes to Pittsburgh. I'll be there for sure if it goes there.

 

[Hipcheck13]

If they are so concerned about Canadian attendance (It will be high no matter where it is held in the US.) Then they can do what they did in Canada this year, and have two city's host. Depending on how the groups fill out have the US or Canada play in Pittsburgh the other in Buffalo. And since it would be so terrible to have a lot of Canadians in attendance have the US vs CAN game in Pittsburgh.

But the entire idea of not picking a city because team Canada fans would show up is absolutely disgraceful. Even in Florida I bet the Canadian's would be in higher numbers the only difference would be there would be hardly anyone attending yet Canadian fans would still make up the majority of the crowds.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

Yes, Tampa has a frozen four and it was fantastic. As far as a second arena, Orlando (Amway) would be a logic choice about an hour away.

There seems to be this thought that hockey doesn't draw in Florida. No, it hasn't drawn in Miami - but it does draw in Tampa.

http://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendance/att_graph.php?tmi=8385

A WJC absolutely would draw well in Tampa. It's the perfect excuse for a lot of northern folk to take a nice winter vacation and the local market is strong.

If they are so concerned about Canadian attendance (It will be high no matter where it is held in the US.) Then they can do what they did in Canada this year, and have two city's host. Depending on how the groups fill out have the US or Canada play in Pittsburgh the other in Buffalo. And since it would be so terrible to have a lot of Canadians in attendance have the US vs CAN game in Pittsburgh.

But the entire idea of not picking a city because team Canada fans would show up is absolutely disgraceful. Even in Florida I bet the Canadian's would be in higher numbers the only difference would be there would be hardly anyone attending yet Canadian fans would still make up the majority of the crowds.

I don't think the extra 3 hours of driving would deter too many Canadian fans, but I'd be down with a split Pittsburgh/Buffalo bid...though both markets could do it well enough on their own anyway.

Really the only way to prevent this event from having a ton of Canadians in attendance while holding it in the US you'd need to put it in a place like...I dunno, Kansas?

 

[startainfection*]

ive been wanting to visit Pittsburgh actually

 

[Hipcheck13]

I don't think the extra 3 hours of driving would deter too many Canadian fans, but I'd be down with a split Pittsburgh/Buffalo bid...though both markets could do it well enough on their own anyway.

Really the only way to prevent this event from having a ton of Canadians in attendance while holding it in the US you'd need to put it in a place like...I dunno, Kansas?

That is the point I was trying to make, no matter where it's held Canadian fans will show up. If you put it in a market that might not draw big numbers anyway you still are at risk of having a pro Canadian crowd.

It's really imposable to limit the size of Canadian fans in attendance as long as it is held in the US, you can only host it in a strong hockey market and hope for the best Because driving or flying across the border into the US not going to deter as many like crossing the ocean would.

To be honest even if it was being held in Europe there would be a large Canadian presence, just look back at sochi last year and other tournaments.

 

[Machinehead]

Hahaha, this is hilarious.

I've lived in the NYC metro area for 4+ years now and most people couldn't care less about hockey here. In fact, I just had a conversation the other day with someone FROM here who had no idea the Islanders even existed.

The sad part is, what I just said is true. Can't say the same about your statement.

Anyway, as for the topic at hand, Buffalo would be a great place to host it again. However, if we don't get it then I think Pittsburgh would actually be a fantastic location.

So I know a couple of people and you know one guy. None of that means anything.

All I know is the last time the WJC was in Buffalo, USA vs Canada, the place was 90% Canada fans. I don't want that. I don't care if it's not Buffalonians, or people coming down. Again, that's not the point.

 

[GangGreen]

As mentioned, I think you'll see a ton of Canadians wherever it's held in the US. Because unlike the idiots at Hockey Canada, the US organizers probably wouldn't gouge the fans for tickets. I'd rather go to Tampa for a week over Christmas and be warm than freeze my arse off here, probably all for the same price.
And for the poster who mentioned half empty arenas in Toronto and Montreal, that was never the case in Toronto. And in Montreal, it was due to ridiculous ticket prices and packages. This tournament has achieved a mythical status in Canada. Most fans I think would rather have it in the mid-range cities that actually support junior hockey, but this tourney has outgrown that.

 

[Donnie D]

As mentioned, I think you'll see a ton of Canadians wherever it's held in the US. Because unlike the idiots at Hockey Canada, the US organizers probably wouldn't gouge the fans for tickets. I'd rather go to Tampa for a week over Christmas and be warm than freeze my arse off here, probably all for the same price.
And for the poster who mentioned half empty arenas in Toronto and Montreal, that was never the case in Toronto. And in Montreal, it was due to ridiculous ticket prices and packages. This tournament has achieved a mythical status in Canada. Most fans I think would rather have it in the mid-range cities that actually support junior hockey, but this tourney has outgrown that.

I agree that there would be a large number of Canadian fans coming down if it was held in Tampa for the Canadian games and I'm sure there are people who plan a vacation to watch the entire tournament - similar to what we saw for the frozen four. There are people who have been attending that tournament for dozens of years.

Given that the ticket sales problem is always going to be the European games, if I'm running the tournament, I'm bringing it to Tampa. If you are going to market the tournament to Europeans to come to America to watch those games, it's a damn easier sell to get folks from Finland and Sweden to come to Tampa and Orlando than it is to Buffalo or Pitt.

 

[AmericanDream]

Chicago needs to step up and do this...

The UC and All State Arena would work wonderfully...

Hockey is at an all-time high popularity wise right now and with the way Bowman drafts half the damn USA team will be Blackhawk property...and the fans with the right marketing which McDonough is great at they will come out in droves.

 

[Cirris]

So I know a couple of people and you know one guy. None of that means anything.

All I know is the last time the WJC was in Buffalo, USA vs Canada, the place was 90% Canada fans. I don't want that. I don't care if it's not Buffalonians, or people coming down. Again, that's not the point.

yeah, I kind of agree. I'd rather Buffalo host the Frozen Four. WJC is almost all Canadians coming down and swarming the place.

 

[Zippy316]

I feel like some non-border US city needs to step up and do this.

It's kind of embarrassing how the games in cities like Buffalo are Canada dominated. It's obvious Canadians will flock to the tournament wherever it is, but an American home game should be an American home game.

I still don't get why the New York/New Jersey area never steps up for a bid. Between the Isles, Rangers, and Devils arenas (and the Nassau Colisseum if it's still there), I'm sure you can manage some kind of schedule that won't hurt the road teams too much.

I guess the only concern is whether it will "get lost" in the NYC market, but I feel like if it hits, it would be absolutely huge for the WJC.

Maybe even something like Philadelphia and Newark. Something in the New England area would probably work too, surprised that's never been attempted. The Denver area would be nice too between the Pepsi Center and one of the collegiate rinks.

 

[Yakushev72]

Can someone explain to me what the problem is with Canadians showing up to the games?? People act like the Canadians coming into Buffalo to see a hockey game is criminal. The objective is to get people at these games, who cares what country they are from. I think people forgot that these are teenagers playing, not professionals. Most people could give two craps about this tourney.

I disagree with you and Rene Faisel of the IIHF that the objective is "to get people at the games." The objective should be fair competition, in light of the fact that it is recognized as a world championship. The fact that when the tournament is held in the USA, it is invariably held in a city that is on the border with Canada (e.g., Detroit, Buffalo, Grand Forks) to make it easy for Canadian fans to stream across the border en masse to fill up arenas and, at the same time, fill the coffers of the IIHF and Canadian media companies.

Even though Buffalo is technically part of the United States, there were virtually no American fans in the stadium back in 2011 when the photo above was taken. So for Canada, when the WJC is held in the USA, its just another home series for Canada. You could see how much Canada benefitted competitively from having a house full of rabid, frenzied fans in 2015 pushing them the entire tournament. Canada should have its turn to host, but it shouldn't have a disproportionate advantage in hosting the vast majority of WJC's year after year. Whether hosts sell out or have rabid fans is irrelevant. In fact, the Americans are no better in that regard than any European participant - their attendance rate is very low and their fans sit in silent vigil during games.

The US should test the IIHF by proposing to hold the WJC in Dallas. There are enough high quality rinks, and Canadians would at least have to travel a little bit to get there. Canadians would still outnumber Americans at the games, but at least they'd have to work harder to do it.