Winter Classic in Raleigh?
by Bob Wage on Jan 4, 2008 2:10 AM EST
8 comments
The other morning I was listening to "The Fanatics" on 99.9 The Fan with Mike Maniscalco and Dan Mason, and they were actually discussing the idea of having a "Winter Classic" in Raleigh. For those of you who may have been traveling in Europe during the New Year and have no idea what I'm referring to as the "Winter Classic", it was that great outdoor hockey game up in Buffalo on New Year's Day that was played in a snowstorm.
In my opinion, the game was a huge success on many levels. First of all, it got the whole continent talking about hockey and the NHL for a couple of days. The event drew a near record crowd of over 70,000 at the venue and also garnered a substantial USA television audience while capturing the highest rating for a regular season hockey game in over 10 years. While there were several technical aspects and delays which could be improved upon, the game had plenty of drama which kept viewers watching. (Of course the falling snow helped as well).
Could a similar game be successful in Raleigh, say if the Hurricanes played the Capitals in Carter Finley Stadium? On a local level it could be, at least as a one time special event. There's no doubt that bus loads of Caps fans would come, as well as the Caniac diehards and curious multitudes in the Triangle who would want to participate in doing something unique. With proper marketing, the 50 to 55,000 seats in Carter Finley would sell out, (even if not immediately like in Buffalo). I really doubt that it would be as popular on television though, outside of the local area.
While the event in Buffalo was fantastic for the game of hockey and for the NHL, the league has to be careful. One of the reasons that it was so successful is because it was different. Will these outdoor games continue to be popular if they become more common? That's something the NHL will have to figure out, because according to reports several franchises have requested to host one of the spectacles.
Who knows, maybe an annual New Year's Day "Winter Classic" would become more and more popular each year as time goes by? Maybe it could become a tradition, like Thanksgiving Day football? In any event, I think it will be a cold day in Hades before one comes here. If Gary Bettman has requests to host one of these games in New York, Minnesota, Boston, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Colorado, Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, Detroit, Ottawa, and Raleigh, which franchise do you think will be at the bottom of his list?
But just the fact that two sports radio jocks in Raleigh, North Carolina were even discussing the feasibility of an outdoor hockey game here without laughing about it, shows everyone just how successful the "Classic" was. It also shows how hockey has "arrived" in this area.
While we are dreaming here, let's take the idea to another level. You know what would be cool? If the NHL could pull off a "Winter Classic" in multiple locations on the same day, just like an NFL Sunday. If you look at the possible attendance figures here, they could be astronomical....
- Rangers against the Islanders at Yankee Stadium, 60,000
- Flyers against the Pens at Veteran's Stadium, Penn State 80,000
- Leafs against the Habs at the Skydome, 70,000
- Sabres against the Sens at Buffalo, 70,000
- Devils against the Lightning at the Meadowlands 70,000
- Bruins against the Kings at Fenway Park, 50,000
- Canes against the Caps at Carter Finley, 50,000
- Oilers against the Flames at Edmonton, 70,000
- Chicago against St. Louis at Wrigley Field, 50,000
- Wild against the Canucks at the Metrodome, 70,000
- Avs against the Stars at Mile High, 70,000
- Red Wings against anybody at the Silverdome, 80,000
(please excuse me for using a couple of indoor arenas or outdated ones in my list above. In a brain-dead moment, I was just throwing out some hypothetical examples and obviously some were not good choices. Just replace my example with one that works better for you, the premise is the same.)
You get the idea. Twelve outdoor games the same day would draw almost a million people. Even if the television ratings were in the tank, (which they wouldn't be), the gate receipts would set all kinds of records. Can you smell the money Mr. Bettman?
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My Comment is in regards to the last prediction, “Red Wings versus anybody” The silverdome wouldn’t Work, First it’s indoors so you wouldn’t get the same effect as in Buffalo. I think having at The Big House on the University of Michigan Campus would give a Better atmosphere than any other city with the exception of the SkyDome in Toronto. Can you imagine how many people would show up. I would imagine at least 80,000 maybe upwards, the stadium holds over 105,000 People on Game Day. anyways i love the idea of having a traditional new years day game or two, like they have on Thanksgiving. maybe have one indoors one outdoors on the Network programming. anyways love the article. See you guys at the Game
by MBland4002 on Jan 4, 2008 9:31 AM EST reply actions
Bubba,
I hate to say it, but the Silverdome is an indoor stadium. The roof does not come off at all (except when it snows too much and a rip appears in it). But how about this? A winter classic involving the Wings and Chicago at Michigan Stadium in beautiful downtown Ann Arbor, with a potential 113,000! I gaurantee a late December, early January game at The Big House would be a very successful sellout, and would draw a sellout due to the location and the team. Mr. Bettman could even discount the tickets from the usually high priced ones that sell at The Joe, and still make a killing!
I loved the game and would love to see more out door games. But I hope that the NHL doesn’t overkill it, and take away the “nostalgic” feel of an outdoor event.
Sean
by CaniacSean on Jan 4, 2008 9:38 AM EST reply actions
Excellent points, the Metrodome in Minnesota is an indoor arena as well. I was just quickly listing some large venues but it’s true that if the game was held inside a dome, it would certainly take away from the whole ambiance of being an outdoor game! smacks myself in the forehead
Good suggestions about an alternative location!
by Bubba on Jan 4, 2008 9:56 AM EST reply actions
The Gophers football team currently plays at the MetroDome, but in 2009 they will move into the TCF Bank Stadium—which will be an outdoor facility, and very nice too.
I’m sure that there’d be a “Winter Classic” held here too. As for C-F? Not so likely, given the distinct unpredictability of the weather around here in the winter. With our luck? 80 and sunny.
by AcidQueen on Jan 4, 2008 1:51 PM EST reply actions
You’re probably right. But can you imagine watching a hard-working and probably swearing Donnie MacMillian hustling to maintain a viable ice surface there? That might be worth the price of admission alone.
by Bubba on Jan 4, 2008 3:06 PM EST reply actions
Um. Dude?
Seriously? No offense intended, but are you stupid or on crack?
The appeal of outdoor games is that they’re OUTDOORS! You’ve named two indoor buildings. One of which (the Silverdome) is no longer in use at all.
You’ve also named two buildings that don’t exist. Veterans stadium was demolished in 2004. Mile High Stadium was demolished in 2002.
You’re delusional if you think that 50,000 would show up to a game at Carter-Finley. We can barely sell out the RBC Center. Even if the weather wasn’t conducive, they could construct a rink and maintain proper ice temperature. That wouldn’t be a major issue. However, there’s no way the league would approve that venue. Many of the seats in that stadium are of the “bench” variety.
It’s a nice idea, but you have to accept the fact that an outdoor game only works if it’s outdoors. That precludes the Silverdome and the Metrodome. And on principle, it should rule out the SkyDome. It also works only if the venue actually exists. That pretty much rules out Veterans Stadium and Mile High Stadium (although I’m pretty sure you meant to say “Invesco Field”). As much as we would like to pretend otherwise, an outdoor game also works best in a place where the weather cooperates and there’s an actual market for it. That rules out Raleigh.
I’m not completely sure, either, that the seating configurations of Yankee Stadium, Wrigley and Fenway would offer good sight lines on a hockey rink awkwardly positioned in their diamonds.
by David Lee on Jan 5, 2008 4:30 PM EST reply actions
No, it wouldn’t be. It would be stupid, and it would give the Idiot Brigades in the other 29 NHL cities more ammo to bash us with. I’d rather not put up with that, thanks.
by AcidQueen on Jan 5, 2008 8:02 PM EST reply actions
The final part of the post was just supposed to be an idea or a “hypothetical” not factual, but I guess i didn’t identify it well enough. You are right I should have done a little research before I threw that information out there. Next time I will. But I did identify the mistakes in an ealier comment. Perhaps you didn’t read the earlier comments?
As for the sightlines and what not, I didn’t do a study on all of that, didn’t have the time. Sorry. Not all of the sightlines looked perfect in Buffalo either, now that you mention it.
As for whether or not 50K would show up at C-F for a once in a lifetime chance to watch an outdoor hockey game, Maniscalco and Mason must both be on crack as well because they both said that they thought it could be done. As I mentioned in my article, the outdoor game here would never be approved, “the cold day in Hades comment”, we won’t have to worry about finding out anyway. Perhaps you missed that part of the article?
AQ, I was just joking about it being worth the price of admission to watch Donnie screw with the ice. Obviously, I really doubt many people would pay to watch that. I guess I will have to figure out a way to identify which of my comments are sarcastic.
Thanks for the comments..S
by Bubba on Jan 6, 2008 1:43 AM EST reply actions
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