Winter Classic 2010- Doubling up?

by hawksfan21 on Jun 19, 2009 10:17 AM CDT Comment 12 comments

According to a story posted on espn.com, there's a possibility that there will be 2 Winter Classic games played on Jan 1st, 2010. The story can be found here- http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=4270968 I think that this is a great idea, except for the timing. I attended the Winter Classic in Chicago and thoroughly enjoyed it. When I spoke to friends about it, many hadn't watched because they are bigger football fans and spent the day watching bowl games. I understand we don't need to make everyone a hockey fan, but wouldn't the sport get more exposure if it wasn't trying to compete with so many other events? It seems like bad marketing to try and expand your product in an already saturated market. Why not do the Winter Classic the weekend before the SuperBowl? There are no college or NFL football games to compete with, maybe an NBA game but that'd be about it. The Winter Classic is certainly a made-for-TV event, and it needs to be able to reach the largest audience possible for the NHL to best capitalize on it.

This item was created by a member of this blog's community and is not necessarily endorsed by From The Rink.

0 recs | Comment 12 comments | Add comment

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Jan 1

I like the Winter Classic on Jan 1. College football moved most of their major bowl games to after New Years, and people are recovering not just from new Years Eve, but the holidays in general. I think most people just want to sit on their couch and watch TV New Years day.

There’s really not a lot going on in the sports world that day anymore, and the Winter Classic has been a hit the last 2 New Years day. I see no reason to change it

The 2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Slumpbusters

by Jibblescribbits on Jun 19, 2009 10:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I understand if they want to get Canadian teams in the mix, but the problem with that is they also want the American TV ratings that come from two American teams.

This appears to be their solution to that, but it’s the wrong one.

I agree with Jibble though – Jan 1st is the perfect day for them to do it. But Gary Bettman, do something good for once. Don’t ruin the Winter Classic by oversaturating the event itself.

by Afino on Jun 19, 2009 11:46 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree with Jibble though – Jan 1st is the perfect day for them to do it. But Gary Bettman, do something good for once. Don’t ruin the Winter Classic by oversaturating the event itself.

agree. I think the event should be in Canada, with 2 Canadian teams, once every three years. It will keep the event fresh in the states and be a nice perk for Canadian fans (which do make the NHL a lot of money).

Of course NBC will never allow this

The 2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Slumpbusters

by Jibblescribbits on Jun 19, 2009 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

absolutely agree, keep this event special and rare, don’t ruin it with multiple games.

by thedoctor on Jun 19, 2009 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The benefit of Vancouver being a team on the west coast is that the start times of the two games should allow them to run right into one another. It might be fun to see a second game right after the first. But at the same time, moving it to the weekend before the SuperBowl, you could have a game on Saturday and a game on Sunday

by hawksfan21 on Jun 19, 2009 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The problem with that is that the media would have to make two trips to cover both games.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jun 19, 2009 2:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And that’s another huge factor that needs to be considered, especially if you’re going to have a second game that day.

Odds are the Canadian media (rightly) would cover “their” game more heavily than the “American” game for obvious reasons if it came down to that. It would turn into something that no one wants – that the Winter Classic in America just turns into a passing interest (especially in Canada), another ho-hum event like the All-Star game.

by Afino on Jun 19, 2009 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Frankly, I already find it to be a ho-hum event, and the second game would be here in Calgary. I’d go as an STH, but if I didn’t have seasons tickets, I wouldnt go out of my way to attend it.

by Resolute on Jun 19, 2009 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Space the 2 games apart a few weeks

How about 1 game on Jan. 1st and a 2nd game the week before the Superbowl?

by JazzyBBP on Jun 20, 2009 12:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I personally think that’s an even worse idea.

Not to mention the NFL has the Pro Bowl next year in that week before. Not like anyone watches that anyways.

by Afino on Jun 20, 2009 9:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sounds pretty neat...

..but they should be at separate times so I can watch both!

He shoots, HE SCORES!!

by LetsGoHawks32 on Jul 8, 2009 1:50 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

they should leave it as is, I like the idea of getting canadian teams involved every 3rd year, Canadian fans deserve an event like that….maybe Montreal vs Toronto at the Big O in Montreal…bettman is an idiot and nbc has too much control, we all saw it in the playoffs….but the NHL needs american fans

by wingsfanforlife on Jul 21, 2009 4:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs