HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Hotstove: Outdoor Games

HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Hotstove: Outdoor Games
- Travis.Yost

this is very exciting, 1 month until Flyers training camp opens

HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Hotstove: Outdoor Games
- Travis.Yost

This is just another way of the league screwing us over. Compared to normal games the outdoor games make a ton of money. The regular season ticket holder will get screwed over as where they normally have glass seats they will now be in near the top of the stadium because that's what their $200 dollar regular seats would be worth. The cheapest I have gotten tickets is $15 each. The tickets at minimum for these games will be $175-$190. Therefore the only people that will be able to afford good seats will be the rich corporate sponsers who would rather play on their phones and iPads than watch good hockey. The only reason why we are having so many outdoor games this year is to make up for some of the losses from the lockout, and when these games make money they will become an annual thing and we will continuely get screwed over. Also I find that having so many outdoor games almost takes away the novelty of it.

HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Hotstove: Outdoor Games
- Travis.Yost

I'm a Sens season ticket holder and I have to admit, I was excited to hear we would have an outdoor game as I've never experienced that UNTIL I found out we were the visiting team! So if we could get one in Ottawa (I don't see why not, it's colder here then Vancouver during January!), i'd be attending for sure!

HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Hotstove: Outdoor Games
- Travis.Yost

They should have just kept it the way it is. One outdoor game annually, and the Heritage Classic every few years. But now the NHL will take entertainment value out of outdoor games. Typical NHL move.

I'm voting yes, but really I'm just kind of indifferent. I think the Winter Classic is a neat spectacle they've added the the NHL calendar. It's a real game, so even if you're not into the pageantry there's still a regular season game at hand. It seems to generate a lot of interest in the sport, people shell out big bucks for tickets, there's really not much to dislike about it.

I don't think there's anything sacred about it, though. There is no blasphemy committed here. I mean, we've had the Heritage Classic in the same year as the Winter Classic a couple times now, and Gary hasn't been smoten yet. Having six outdoor games does kind of steal from the exclusivity of the Winter Classic, but even in light of that I think people will be excited to go see these games. Maybe slightly less excited, like shave off .5% of the excitement factor, but that's acceptable casualties.

So yeah, I'm OK with more outdoor games.

There's no harm in moving some games outside. I've been told there was a time when all NHL games were played outside.

The game in LA should be interesting.

I have very mixed feelings about these events partially because I am one of those who had purchased tickets to the leafs vs wings game the previous season when there was only one winter classic. There has only been one winter classic the previous years with the occasional second which made it a big deal. They attract 75000 to the big house then ask everyone after the lockout if they want to keep there tickets for the next season only to announce later that there will be 5 other outdoor games which takes that major game to a much smaller scale still charging everyone between 200-400 per ticket for what they call average seats. This is almost a slap in the face to Toronto and Detroit fans after they had already cancelled the first game. I understand the NHL had a lockout last year and they are trying to find ways to regain some money they lost that is obvious, but please tell me why Bettman always feels that he can do these things to the fans from southern Ontario and Michigan for example Detroit playing in the west for so long or Toronto having to help support all these teams going under or for not allowing other teams in southern Ontario. All and all as we always do I will still be attending that game and I'm sure that it will be a great experience although now it will not be as big at a national scale since it will be water down and eventually if this keeps up the outdoor game will no longer be a huge attraction

This is just another way of the league screwing us over. Compared to normal games the outdoor games make a ton of money. The regular season ticket holder will get screwed over as where they normally have glass seats they will now be in near the top of the stadium because that's what their $200 dollar regular seats would be worth. The cheapest I have gotten tickets is $15 each. The tickets at minimum for these games will be $175-$190. Therefore the only people that will be able to afford good seats will be the rich corporate sponsers who would rather play on their phones and iPads than watch good hockey. The only reason why we are having so many outdoor games this year is to make up for some of the losses from the lockout, and when these games make money they will become an annual thing and we will continuely get screwed over. Also I find that having so many outdoor games almost takes away the novelty of it.
- RedC21

Hard to believe they sold 70,000 seats to only corporate sponsors in Buffalo If you think you're getting screwed so bad by the league, then stop watching the league and giving them your money.

I have very mixed feelings about these events partially because I am one of those who had purchased tickets to the leafs vs wings game the previous season when there was only one winter classic. There has only been one winter classic the previous years with the occasional second which made it a big deal. They attract 75000 to the big house then ask everyone after the lockout if they want to keep there tickets for the next season only to announce later that there will be 5 other outdoor games which takes that major game to a much smaller scale still charging everyone between 200-400 per ticket for what they call average seats. This is almost a slap in the face to Toronto and Detroit fans after they had already cancelled the first game. I understand the NHL had a lockout last year and they are trying to find ways to regain some money they lost that is obvious, but please tell me why Bettman always feels that he can do these things to the fans from southern Ontario and Michigan for example Detroit playing in the west for so long or Toronto having to help support all these teams going under or for not allowing other teams in southern Ontario. All and all as we always do I will still be attending that game and I'm sure that it will be a great experience although now it will not be as big at a national scale since it will be water down and eventually if this keeps up the outdoor game will no longer be a huge attraction
- Ferrera07

Completely untrue, teamsin the NHL have a zero debt balance. The leafs are not one of them. They are the franchise that has the the highest networth but they far from support the struggling teams the NHL currently has.

http://www.forbes.com/nhl...t:4_direction:asc_search:

Completely untrue, teamsin the NHL have a zero debt balance. The leafs are not one of them. They are the franchise that has the the highest networth but they far from support the struggling teams the NHL currently has.

http://www.forbes.com/nhl...t:4_direction:asc_search:
- tomburton99

Good link.

Debt/Value isn't that relevant to your point though. Some businesses choose to carry debt because they can use leverage to increase their return on investment.

The important figure in the link you provided is Operating Income - which more or less equates to profitability. At $81.9M, the Leafs organization are the biggest earners. Phoenix loses $20.6M....so the rich teams (Tor, NYR, Mon) end up subsidizing the unprofitable teams.

Phoenix loses $20.6M....so the rich teams (Tor, NYR, Mon) end up subsidizing the unprofitable teams.
- magmoo

just like they want it, after all the voted in the new teams and owned some of them

HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Hotstove: Outdoor Games
- Travis.Yost

Considering how many of these outdoor games used to take place in the East, it's nice that the fans in the West will get a chance to experience their teams in the glorious outdoors. The Rags are the only team playing multiple games outdoors so I don't see the argument of outdoor games losing their "magic" for the average hockey fan.

The only grievance I have is why on Earth are they delaying the one in BC Place till March? Do they understand Southern BC's weather? By that time of year it's not uncommon to have 15 degree weather. Even if BC Place can artificially cool itself to the ideal temperature, it won't feel the same if it's Spring weather outside.

Also, why the Sens Vs. the Nucks? There's like, no rivalry there whatsoever!

Personally, I won't pay any attention to any outdoor game that isn't part of 24/7. That documentary really makes the winter classic for me. Love the behind the scenes stuff. Other than that, they are just other games to me. The novelty has completely worn off for me. Unless they start to play on ponds, rivers, or canals, it's just the same old money grab thing to try and hook new fans. I'm already a fan. Don't need a game outside that is lesser quality hockey to hook me.

I've been to two. It's cold, the view stinks, and you end up standing the whole time. It's cool to go down there and all, but paying an absurd amount of $$ for the event is not worth it. As a fan, watching on TV, I'd prefer just 1 game a year, otherwise it simply dilutes it.
But, whatever makes the NHL more $$ I guess.

I think more outdoor games could be a smart move if handled properly. As long as they drop back down to 2 games next year. Think about the positives:

The NHL has a major impact in January, leading up to the Olympics. This is how you get people interested in hockey.

In a year the super bowl is in NYC metro area, the rangers, devils, and isles all get top billing the weekend before when there is no football.

The "California Ice" can get tested at a time when a total failure wouldn't be a catastrophe for the reputation of an outdoor game.

The Canadians get a game so they can't complain.

To top it off, the Classic gets rebooted in front of 110000 fans in what might be the most beautiful venue to date. (Detroit gets a home game without actually having to play in Detroit)

The negatives:

Die hard fans won't pay attention

The sheik of an outdoor game is diluted

The NHL knows die hards will always be back(we've proven that 2 times in less than a decade), and one year of six games won't in and of itself dilute the product. If they go back to two games next year, its a no brainer from the NHL's perspective.