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Forums :: Blog World :: Eklund: Could NHL Suppliment Revenues By Upping Outdoor Games?
Author Message
Eklund
Commissioner
Joined: 09.15.2005

Oct 25 @ 1:26 PM ET
Eklund: Could NHL Suppliment Revenues By Upping Outdoor Games?
G - Man
Buffalo Sabres
Joined: 07.13.2020

Oct 25 @ 1:30 PM ET
Makes sense so they probably won't do it.
iknowbest
Seattle Kraken
Location: I believe in unicorns, santa c
Joined: 08.28.2012

Oct 25 @ 1:39 PM ET
Eklund: Could NHL Suppliment Revenues By Upping Outdoor Games?
- Eklund



How will this impact teams playing back to back games?
DEDDIE
Calgary Flames
Location: Calgary
Joined: 01.08.2019

Oct 25 @ 1:53 PM ET
Where there is a will there is a way.
Great idea!
KGBflyers10
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: United States, PA
Joined: 10.28.2007

Oct 25 @ 1:54 PM ET
didn't the Flyers and Pens both complain about the ice during the Stadium Series game in Feb. 2019?

If that's the case, how are northern city teams going to be able to play an outdoor game in the middle of march or april?
3rd GM's the charm
Columbus Blue Jackets
Location: Look, it's a situation where thats a great question, OH
Joined: 07.01.2020

Oct 25 @ 1:57 PM ET
Are you on (frank)ing crack?
Kevin R
Calgary Flames
Location: E5 = It aint gonna happen.
Joined: 02.10.2010

Oct 25 @ 2:02 PM ET
Where there is a will there is a way.
Great idea!

- DEDDIE

Probably a better idea & key to moving forward is the rapid testing. Calgary International airport is the only Int. airport in Canada that is about to pilot rapid testing (24 hours) in hopes of eliminating the 14 day quarantine. Im sure all NHL eyes will be seeing how this goes down as that could be a game changer for their scheduling. I saw on Global news that some Harvard researchers have a rapid test that produces results in 15 minutes & is 90% accurate. I think this is the key to moving forward to getting back to semi normal.
Mashadar
Location: Let the creamy goaltending season begin!
Joined: 08.31.2014

Oct 25 @ 3:42 PM ET
Eklund: Could NHL Suppliment Revenues By Upping Outdoor Games?
- Eklund



Outdoor games are trash.
ForeverFlyer16
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Lou Nolan for Flyers Hall of Fame , NJ
Joined: 11.03.2006

Oct 25 @ 3:57 PM ET
Eklund: Could NHL Suppliment Revenues By Upping Outdoor Games?
- Eklund


One concern would be killing the Golden Goose; as the NHL stages more and more Outdoor Games, the novelty reduces more and more. Another concern is if Fans would be willing to attend games in such conditions... especially in the northern cities... and, even more so when you're talking many games over a week's span. Also, I believe teams couldn't count on STHers to commit to so many games at premium prices, in unknown weather conditions... so they're looking at walkup/call-in last minute sales... with people knowing they can watch the games on TV, and there will always be another game coming if they want to attend... And then there will be the concern of promoting Winter Classis and Stadium Series in the future, post Covid... which already has to be facing the watering down over the years... Again, why kill the Golden Goose that has amazingly been good to them when rotated around many Venues? How many Flyers-Penguins Outdoor events will even those Dan's be willing to support?

Covid has seriously damaged sports in general, and definitely the NHL in particular already, with residual effects such as Cap restraints and such... a plan must be developed... I just don't see Outdoor Games as a valid option... especially if the US/Canadian Economies go south... and then there's the concern of Minor Leagues going under permanently... Yada Yada Yada.
James-TFS
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location: St George, ON
Joined: 07.24.2017

Oct 25 @ 4:45 PM ET
I actually think outdoor games are a fantastic idea. I don’t know what the system/setup would have to be to make it financially feasible but having people in the seats is WAY better than empty arenas. Nobody is going to care that there are 6-8 outdoor games per team, fans will just be happy to be able to attend NHL games again. I’m a Leafs fan that lives just outside Toronto and I would happily pay whatever they ask to watch a Leafs game in a snowstorm in the middle of January.
ForeverFlyer16
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Lou Nolan for Flyers Hall of Fame , NJ
Joined: 11.03.2006

Oct 25 @ 5:04 PM ET
I actually think outdoor games are a fantastic idea. I don’t know what the system/setup would have to be to make it financially feasible but having people in the seats is WAY better than empty arenas. Nobody is going to care that there are 6-8 outdoor games per team, fans will just be happy to be able to attend NHL games again. I’m a Leafs fan that lives just outside Toronto and I would happily pay whatever they ask to watch a Leafs game in a snowstorm in the middle of January.
- James-TFS


Have you ever attended and outdoor game?... speaking from experience I can attest to the view bring atrocious...It was fun for the experience, but for serious hockey fans, the novelty would wear of quickly. Keep in mind that usually the rare experience is in the midst of attending regular indoor games on a regular basis... not as your main hockey fix. This being the new Norm, even on a limited basis, is not something I'd really enjoy... I'd much rather have hockey on TV with great views than at a frigid stadium with zero sight of a puck over entire game. Problem is sustaining the NHL with such limited Revenue... and I honestly don't see these games as sustainable for the NHL going forward.
BringNYIhome
New York Islanders
Location: Smithtown , NY
Joined: 04.10.2016

Oct 25 @ 5:33 PM ET
Maybe they could try “inter-sports play”
Landsbergfan
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Gävle, Sweden
Joined: 07.15.2014

Oct 25 @ 5:51 PM ET
Yea! 82 outdoor games without paying customers!
PghPens668771
Pittsburgh Penguins
Joined: 11.26.2013

Oct 25 @ 6:06 PM ET
The unpredictably of the weather in eastern North America combined with the great distance the seats are from the ice in US football stadiums make outdoor NHL games subpar.

Here in Pittsburgh there is a narrow window from about mid-January to about mid-February where one can generally expect the weather to cooperate but even then there are no guarantees. The 2010 WC was a disaster (I think it was around 50 deg F and raining - horrible conditions for ice) and the more recent game against the Flyers was better but not great. Of course, that game was in March instead of late January.
Mashadar
Location: Let the creamy goaltending season begin!
Joined: 08.31.2014

Oct 25 @ 6:08 PM ET
The unpredictably of the weather in eastern North America combined with the great distance the seats are from the ice in US football stadiums make outdoor NHL games subpar.

Here in Pittsburgh there is a narrow window from about mid-January to about mid-February where one can generally expect the weather to cooperate but even then there are no guarantees. The 2010 WC was a disaster (I think it was around 50 deg F and raining - horrible conditions for ice) and the more recent game against the Flyers was better but not great. Of course, that game was in March instead of late January.

- PghPens668771


Keeps the covid in the stands.
Douchetacular
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Your sister's panties...
Joined: 03.10.2016

Oct 25 @ 6:13 PM ET
Not a bad idea from a revenue standpoint, but outdoors games are junk; bad ice, bad camera angles, unpredictable weather and horrible viewing experience for fans attending (once you get past the initial amazement of the large setup, you realize that these games are bad).
a1xfreakx13
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location: Oshawa, ON
Joined: 02.24.2016

Oct 25 @ 6:17 PM ET
instead of having empty seats why not do even say 5-8k fans per game and just distance them..even just 5 k would be better then 0 fans..
Tommycasino
Philadelphia Flyers
Joined: 10.30.2018

Oct 25 @ 6:23 PM ET
Personally I attended an outdoor game as it was a unique experience. I would never do it again. As mentioned, the weather is unpredictable and the actual game is horrible from sitting a mile away from the ice, to freezing temperatures and cost... It would not fly in Canada 🇨🇦! The cost of the game is expensive as it is, the outdoor games are twice as expensive. As you would have to account for social distancing so you could probably Make it work for 1 game for each team.

What was I thinking, that would never fly! Even right now we are closing businesses and not allowing gatherings of # of people. That type of gathering would never even be allowed to happen! It is not even a consideration. Crazy
DEDDIE
Calgary Flames
Location: Calgary
Joined: 01.08.2019

Oct 25 @ 7:29 PM ET
I actually think outdoor games are a fantastic idea. I don’t know what the system/setup would have to be to make it financially feasible but having people in the seats is WAY better than empty arenas. Nobody is going to care that there are 6-8 outdoor games per team, fans will just be happy to be able to attend NHL games again. I’m a Leafs fan that lives just outside Toronto and I would happily pay whatever they ask to watch a Leafs game in a snowstorm in the middle of January.
- James-TFS

100% and if they set up the stadiums to host multiple games (10-15) the math will make sense.
MisterBrown
Toronto Maple Leafs
Joined: 08.10.2020

Oct 25 @ 7:36 PM ET
I think the key is to grow some balls and follow Sweden's model. Get back to normal. This thing takes out less than 0.0004% people...
spazzbot
Location: Maple Zombie
Joined: 02.14.2013

Oct 25 @ 7:38 PM ET
The real question is, most casual fans have been lost already.
Who is going to go?

The playoffs had worst ratings ever. And everybody was at home watching tv....
DEDDIE
Calgary Flames
Location: Calgary
Joined: 01.08.2019

Oct 25 @ 7:43 PM ET
The real question is, most casual fans have been lost already.
Who is going to go?

The playoffs had worst ratings ever. And everybody was at home watching tv....

- spazzbot

Do you live in Miami? I am a Flames season ticket holder and if its done right I will go to every game!
Douchetacular
Pittsburgh Penguins
Location: Your sister's panties...
Joined: 03.10.2016

Oct 25 @ 9:47 PM ET
The playoffs had worst ratings ever. And everybody was at home watching tv....

A lot of people watch from the Northern US and Canada and most "fans" aren't accustomed to watching summer hockey... especially when their teams are eliminated. Some major markets had their teams eliminated early, so that doesn't help either. Not to mention those who had written off these playoffs.
Heywood Jablome
Joined: 06.26.2020

Oct 25 @ 11:00 PM ET
I think the key is to grow some balls and follow Sweden's model. Get back to normal. This thing takes out less than 0.0004% people...
- MisterBrown

Ya, good plan, 10 million people in Sweden.
bruceflyers
Joined: 06.16.2012

Oct 26 @ 5:00 AM ET
It’s a great idea...think about how many more Ranger fans could now see Jack Johnson LIVE!!

WOW...total game changer!!!
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