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NHL hopes Wrigley game will raise profile

Reuters

Latest comment posted at 6:19 PM EST 28/07/08

Bettman expecting second Winter Classic will be a 'home run for hockey' ...Read the full article

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  1. m Perrin from Calgary, Canada writes: Alas, we'll still have Buttman as commissioner...someone who is willing to cut off his nose to spite his face. I believe it was Tiger Woods who said nobody watches hockey anyways(at least not in the states). Someone needs to explain to this guy that growing the league south of the border will only further dilute the game . Bring back the Jets and give the game back to people who care and will continue to support the NHL in the long term.
  2. Rene L from somewhere, Canada writes: Won't be much of a winter classic if there ain't no ice - what kind of temps can be expected on Jan 1st in Chicago? I am sooooo sick of Gary Bettman that I actually hope this is a bust - sorry Chicago.
  3. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Habs versus Rangers at Yankee Stadium would have been a better match up for a Winter Classic IMHO...

    Hopefully, next year ?

    Except Yankee Stadium might not be available...

    Couldn't the NHL bring in an artificially refridgerated ice surface for this Hawks-Wings game even if it wasn't cold enough ?

    It's a good original 6 match up, nevertheless...

    Have fun with this match up, Bowman pere et fils...

    Cheers
  4. Flames Forever from Canada writes: What Bettman really wants is an outdoor game in one of the southern markets ..say Atlanta...LMAO
  5. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Next year, the Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Dallas Stars at beach volleyball...
  6. Terry Terry from Brantford, Canada writes: I think baseball would be interesting on ice. But seriously --can we cut the crap/gimmicks and just play hockey?
  7. doug burt from writes: game wouldn't need to be revived if he was doing his job....
  8. Mariposa Belle from Leacockland, Canada writes: I was looking at the graphic of where the rink was placed in relation to the seating.

    No one has a good seat - the only reason to be there is to be part of the event - not to appreciate the hockey.

    Putting bums into seats is fine, but hockey could draw more interest if they held an outdoor game on an rink in a farmer's field in Iowa with temporary bleachers and tailgate parties.

    Think of a Canadian author - think 'Field of Dreams' classic.
  9. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Mariposa Belle from Leacockland, Canada:

    Spent a summer in the Iowa/Nebraska area several years back...

    Hockey is about as popular there as golf is in the Miller household...

    Cheers
  10. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Just to give some more perspective on my last post, 3Mariposa...

    The attendance of the AHL Iowa Chops (Yes, as in Pork product)

    2005-2006 : 5,156 fans (average)
    Last season : 3,789 fans (average)

    Cheers
  11. Gary Dare from Portland, Oregon, Canada, writes: Rene L writes, "Won't be much of a winter classic if there ain't no ice - what kind of temps can be expected on Jan 1st in Chicago?" They will have to play on artificial ice since Chicago temps are capable of going above 0C during the day, even around the holidays. I lived in Chicago for a few years around 2000 and on a few Christmas mornings, saw golfers playing through on the Evanston (public) golf course. Temperature-wise, this is risky.

    Millennium Park on Michigan Avenue, downtown, has an artificial outdoor surface to maintain the ice throughout the winter.
  12. Gary Dare from Portland, Oregon, Canada, writes: For those of you not familiar with the lore of the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field, a video of the late Steve Goodman singing "A Dying Cubs Fan's Last Request", linked at the bottom of the page, from a tribute by Dan Paschman of NPR's "Bryant Park Project" (ending its run this week, see yesterday's G&M) who was also an adopted Chicagoan:

    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89232020
  13. Bill Weston from Grand Rapids, MI, United States writes: For the record, according to weather.com the average January temps in Chicago are highs of right around 32F/0C and lows of 18F/-7.7C. As anyone who grew up playing on outdoor rinks knows, those are pretty risky temps when it comes to ensuring quality ice. New York is even warmer with average highs of 36F/2C and lows of 23F/5C. Granted, those are month long averages but it's still a risky proposition.
  14. Sit Blake from Canada writes: What do you numbskulls think? That they pull out a garden hose and hope for the best? Of course they will make artificial ice... they have whack of equipment and cooling systems that they haul around to make it suitable to NHL standards. Here. educate yourselves.
    http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2007/12/27/winter-classic-ice.html
  15. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: For the record... current technology would allow for outdoor ice in Tampa.

    Chicago is colder than Toronto and there will be no problem.

    cheers
  16. Piet F from Canada writes: "New York had been considered favorite "... come on editors... I know this story originated south of the border - but we're Canadian! Where's the 'u' in favourite?
  17. Martin Fedgrass from Canada writes: Butt-man is an idiot

    The best way to raise hockey's profile is stop abandoning Canada where the revenue is assured!
  18. Spiny Norman from Georgetown, ON, Canada writes: I have no doubt that Betty "hopes" that this will raise the profile of the game, but unless he's harbouring an undisclosed cranial trauma, he can't actually believe that it will, can he? In fact he relented, or agreed, or whatever, to pressure from the owners as, evidently, there's been a great deal of sparring over the next outdoor game as it's a big one-time revenue grab for the host franchise. Betts will continue as czar until there are successive losses in revenue, but so far he's been canny enough to make money for the league on a regular basis, and that's evidently the only motivating factor in the "business" of hockey. That he seems steadfast in refusing to acknowledge any near-future expanded Canadian participation is probably speculation on the state of our dollar. Par-ish at the moment but who knows in five years? And if it suddenly plunges back to 65cents, a Winnipeg or Waterloo or QC club would be a huge albatross for the business office, especially as the salary cap continues to inch upward (and expenses will be skyrocketing across the board with fuel, and all things oil-related, costs). To be clear, yes, more Canadian participation AT ONCE, but it's never going to happen. At least not under you-Bettyerlife.
  19. Darth Vader from Mississauga, Canada writes: Another chance for Bettman to provide 'proof' that hockey is popular south of the border. These one-off gimmicks do little to increase a sustained interest in the game in the US.
  20. Mac- GLG from Canada writes: Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: For the record... current technology would allow for outdoor ice in Tampa.

    Scot - I would have to see it to believe it. The ice gets soft indoors out of the sun now.
    Unless they have one giant mother of an ice maker the only place I see ice is in a Mojito!!
  21. Alexander L from Toronto, Canada writes: You can see from Reuters what profile hockey has when the article states that Chicago is one of the NHL's original six teams. The original teams were Canadiens, Wanderers, Ottawa and Toronto. I think the NHL is quite happy for the world to not know that.

    I have to agree about the location of the rink. There will be no good seats. A football stadium works better.
  22. Alexander L from Toronto, Canada writes: Unfortunately, a better place to hold an outdoor game would be just about any city in Canada. Halifax, where hockey originated. Winnipeg, first city outside of Montreal to win the Stanley Cup. Montreal, site of the first organized game in 1875. Ottawa, on the Rideau Canal during Winterlude. Vancouver, first city on the west coast to win the Cup. And the list goes on and on. If only there could be a Canadian Outdoor Classic, but it'll never happen as long as New York controls the game.
  23. Rob Swanson from Canada writes: There is exactly one way to make an American who is unaware of pro hockey a fan.

    Take them to a good game. A quality product on the ice intrigues and amazes the casual American fan, and in my years of travel all over the states, if we can get a bunch of new friends out to the right game, 70% become casual fans and a reasonable 40% become pretty solid fans.

    TV has never sold this game to someone who has not been to a game with a knowledgeable compadre, and never will.

    Gary, make sure the lousy teams are erased, and give the TV rights to every team but the usual suspects (NY R, and perhaps the Red Wings), away for two years. Hope the hard core fans take a friend (hint, giving them two for ones is an option), and pray they see a good game, with speed, offence, and solid body contact.

    Gimmicks are just that; gimmicks, and we all saw what happened to Les Nessman..."As god is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly...!"
  24. Mitchell A from Canada writes: "R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Next year, the Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Dallas Stars at beach volleyball... "

    That would draw a great audience if it were their cheerleaders going at it in Beach Volleyball. I know I'd be watching!! :)
  25. David Gehring from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada writes: It's great to see so many people knock Bettman on the boards again as I also think he's done a terrible job during his tenure. However, investing more money in Canada and less in the US is not a recipe for success and Bettman's choice of Chicago is a very good one in this case. Remember that the focus of the owners is GROWTH, and the growth opportunities in Canada are quite limited at this point. Chicago has a new owner that is revitalizing the city's interest in the team and the Hockey Classic is a great way to build on his momentum, particularly as the Blackhawks intend on playing competitively for the first time in a decade. By the way, Chicago has an Original Six team with a rich hockey history, and I think it will be great for the league in general to have the likes of Hull and Mikita on hand for the festivities. As for growth in Canada, a franchise in Hamilton would not create a lot of new hockey business; it would just take away from the mountains of money that the Maple Leafs are already raking in. And Winnipeg already proved that they can't sustain a viable NHL franchise; if the city was really that committed to the Jets in the 90's they would have thrown more corporate money and luxury box money at the team and sold out every game in that tiny stadium.
  26. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Alexander L from Toronto writes:

    "Halifax, where hockey originated."

    Thanks for mentioning my city in there, Alex...

    As much as I would like to pull a Krusty and run with that idea, I think that the claim here is that a pond in Windsor, Nova Scotia was the site where the first documented written evidence of a ball and stick game being played on ice in Canada took place...

    It was called hurley, however...

    Cheers
  27. Gary Dare from Portland, Oregon, Canada, writes: David Gehring writes, "By the way, Chicago has an Original Six team with a rich hockey history, and I think it will be great for the league in general to have the likes of Hull and Mikita on hand for the festivities." I am impressed with all the things that Rocky Wirtz has done in the last 18 months since taking over from his father's passing. It shows how much was wasted under "Dollar" Bill's 35 year tenure. Chicago is a "lost" market, the Wolves had become the more popular hockey team when I lived there ... in part, because most Hawks fans are over 40 and moved out from the city to the suburbs. But Chicago is also fighting a demographic shift, with the 3rd largest ethnic Mexican population outside of California and Texas (based on metro area, population 8.3 Million, i.e., larger than Quebec).
  28. Wally Grisold from Toronto, Canada writes: the only way for gary bettman to raise the profile of the NHL would be to get a step=ladder for him to stand on.
  29. slapdash dapoint from trawna, Canada writes: R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: As much as I would like to pull a Krusty and run with that idea, I think that the claim here is that a pond in Windsor, Nova Scotia was the site where the first documented written evidence of a ball and stick game being played on ice in Canada took place...

    ------

    i appreciate the technicality of your response, very diplomatic. ;)

    bettman can't even do this right: if he wants a f'n circus, call in barnum & bailey or the wringley brothers to organise the one-offs, they'll give the apathetic american hockey fans the circus he always wanted.

    i've been reading proverbs and quotes all morning and one comes to mind, "a bird in hand, is worth two in the bush". several cultures have very similar proverbs, and it is a timely reminder of bettman's (and the owner's) dreams of the american market... at the expense of the canadian.

    and agreed, the placement of the rink in the picture provided is certain to ensure no one gets a good view of the game.
  30. J.C. Petite from Toronto, Canada writes: LOL!
    Wow, how in Gods name is anybody going to be able to see anything???
    What a joke.
    Why didnt the put it in the stadium where the Bears play out of?
  31. max from edmonton from Canada writes: Alexander L from Toronto, Canada writes: Unfortunately, a better place to hold an outdoor game would be just about any city in Canada. Halifax, where hockey originated. Winnipeg, first city outside of Montreal to win the Stanley Cup. Montreal, site of the first organized game in 1875. Ottawa, on the Rideau Canal during Winterlude. Vancouver, first city on the west coast to win the Cup. And the list goes on and on. If only there could be a Canadian Outdoor Classic, but it'll never happen as long as New York controls the game.
    ******************************************************
    I believe Edmonton did quite well in essentially selling out Commonwealth stadium in the outdoor heritage classic a few years back.

    It did afterall, start the chain of events leading to the other outdoor NHL attractions.
  32. MR. oz from Canada writes: who gives a s**T?
  33. Neil No more last name from Mississauga, Canada writes: "Homerun for hockey"

    Sounds like something Bettman would say

    Please take note of us America, PLEEEEEEEEEEEASE!!!
  34. Joel S from Canada writes: Poor deluded Gary. Keep the gimmiks coming and the masses will flock to see it he figures. "Grow the game in the US" has been the battle cry for decades. It is likely time for everybody to realize that this is as good as it's going to get. Keep peddling the same product (with some cosmetic changes) to a quickly fragmenting audience is an exercise in futility. Baseball, hockey, even basketball are slipping in the collective conciousness of the average north american consumer. No time to waste watching these games to appreciate the nuances. Give them ultimate fighting (more reality TV), NFL football (each game is hyped as a once in a lifetime event) and all their other distractions and they continue to drift away in droves. As the demographics continue to shift the audience for hockey will probably decrease. Even now you don't see many kids in the Toronto area playing road hockey or buying hockey cards etc. and ask a group of high school age kids in the winter if they are hockey/NHL fans and you get blank stares and head shakes much of the time. Having said all this - WHO CARES? I like hockey and you like hockey. If dingbat Gary and the NHL want to roll the dice on stuff like this go ahead. If they get one more fan or one less so what? as long as it's economically viable they'll continue these sideshows.
  35. J K GALBRAITH from Canada writes: Slapdash: For the record, it should be "Ringling Brothers" not "Wringley brothers" David Gehring has great points on why Chicago is a great place to host this event. In addition, the Blackhawks are a very exciting young team who could break out this year similar to how Pittsburgh did last year. The fact that Patrick Kane is an Americn also helps in the promotion of the game. Choosing Detroit as the opponent makes a lot of sense both as defending Stanley Cup champions but also with their geographic proximity. It will give diehard Detroit fans something extra to root for and I suspect a lot of them will make the trip to Chicago. I agree the seating arrangements look horrible particularly when there won't be any seats on the field. Nobody will see the puck. Everyone will have to watch the game on the big screen. However, since this is an event primarily designed for television, it is less of a problem as one off each year. While a football field would be better, Wrigley Field is more iconic than Soldier's Field so from a marketing standpoint it is a better choice. Mr. Bettman and the NHL deserve lots of criticism. However, on this one they have made a good decision. If you are going to rebuild the hockey market in the US, then build from where your strengths should be. Chicago has the potential to be a really good hockey market again and it makes a lot of sense to help the Blackhawks build on their new success. The other good thing is that there is not a great college football team in the Chicago area so the media coverage on January 1 should not all be on a college bowl game.
  36. Chazz Michaels from United States Outlying writes: does anyone miss it when the NHL was just about hockey? when the boards were bare, when they werent skating on billboards made of ice? when there were at most five penalties called in a game? when it was a tough game, I don't even recognize the sport anymore, nobody likes it when you change yourself to get people to like you, they can sense the phoniness, and yes people the NHL has become phony
  37. J K GALBRAITH from Canada writes: Chazz: I not sure what era you are referring to but the one I remember with no advertising on the boards was the 1970's and there were very few games when there was probably less than 10 penalties a game called let alone 5. A fight with any Philadelphia Flyer of that period usually resulted in 5 penalties by itself.
  38. Sandy T. from Canada writes:

    R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: "Habs versus Rangers at Yankee Stadium would have been a better match up for a Winter Classic IMHO..."

    Probably, but one thing these outdoor 'Classics' will never again have is a Canadian team. If they're going to be held at a US venue - and in future they almost certainly will be - the games will be between two 'long time rivals', which means, if it was to have been Yankee Stadium - Rangers would have played one of Islanders, Flyers or Devils. No Habs for "The Classic". Not unless they host it, and what are the chances of that? Slim, at best.

    This one is in Chicago, so they play the Wings. The Outdoor Classic ain't about us, we're already hooked. Not hooked enough to make me watch this stuff again though. The Edmonton game, which had the kind of conditions needed for outdoor hockey was a decent - and watchable - game, the one in Buffalo was basically a waste of great players.

    Maybe this time around we'll get the rainout. Now that would be a hoot.
  39. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Mac GLG ... check out the link left by a poster above re ice technology.

    http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2007/12/27/winter-classic-ice.html

    Gary Dare from Portland; Great post concerning Rocky Wirtz. I saw my first live NHL game in Chicago at the old arena. (late 80's) they were building the new one at the time.... great atmosphere.

    The first choice for this game was New York... but due to construction issues regarding the new Yankee Stadium.. it wasn't possible.... read the other articles complainers.

    As for why can't we have it in Canadian cities and why not Canada ad nauseum..... why don't you read the article that has been on this website for almost a month and nobody has commented on it?

    Soaring dollar changes NHL's economics
    JOHN WAWROW

    Associated Press

    June 27, 2008 at 2:57 PM EDT

    I'm tired of trying to explain it to people who can't read but have lots to say.

    Cheers

  40. Yves Champoux from Trois-Rivieres, Canada writes: Grow the game in the U.S.? No, have the games where it matters. Hamilton, Quebec, Winnipeg where no sale job is required.
  41. sidney Goldberg from writes: I would love to see a return of the NHL to my home town of Winnipeg. If the game was being played in Nashville, Tampa, Atlanta or L.A I would agree with the outrage. Chicago is one of the original NHL teams and has similar weather to Winnipeg, Minneapolis and Detroit. It has a huge fan base to draw from including the NHL Blackhawks, The AHL Wolves. The city has not one but two NCAA Divison 1 College teams including the University of Illinois and Northwestern. I lived in Minnesota for 22 years and they have very active High School hockey leagues, plus College teams in Minneapolis and Duluth that are NCAA Division 1. With Detroit and Minneapolis only a one hour plane ride away, you can bet the place will be filled to capacity. No disrespect to the good Acadian people, but Chicago is bigger then the population of all four provinces. I agree that Bettman is the village Idot and should bring the game back to Winnipeg and put a franchise in Hamilton. I agree the game does not have much interest throughout the US. Edmonton had the first outdoor game because they have an available facility in Commenwealth Stadium. Winnipeg has the MTS arena available for the NHL and Winnipeg Stadium for an outdoor game, Hamiton has Ivor Wynn Stadium. Where would the game be held in Ottawa, St. Johns, Moncton etc. They have had for example a successful CFL exibition game, but at this point do not have the financial backing for a CFL or NHL franchise. I hope at some point they will. I agree the NHL is over built and has franchises in places that make no sense like Nashville, Tampa, Miami or Atlanta. But I believe if your going to have an outdoor game in the US, Chicago makes sense. Could a game be played in Canada that makes sense sure Toronto at Montreal, Vancouver against Calagary or Edmonton. Those are natural games like Chicago and Detroit. Sydney Joel Goldberg
  42. RR Mac from toronto, Canada writes: This will be a huge hit.
    The Hawks are BACK in a big way.

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