Winter Classic weather....

[loki604]

Move the game to LA
It never rains on New Years Day and the Temps should be about the same.

Rain is the biggest issue here. The next is too much sun (which is why LA may never get one). It is not the sun melting the ice, it is the glare on the ice making it hard for the cameras. A night game in LA would work, but that would make it really late for you East Coast people.

I hope the game gets played. If it doesn't I am worried that NBC may decide it is not worth it anymore and we may lose out on this fun event.

No, you're supposed to hope it fails.

Why, when the NHL went into a lockout, I rooted for the entire league to fail. After all, I hate lockouts and also didn't want anyone else to follow the sport, even if it meant I couldn't!

 

[awaz]

Seriously. I don't care if you're indifferent or hate the classic, but that's just being a dick.

And can people quit pretending that this game would garner as much attention if it was any two teams? HBO wasn't going to follow around Minnesota and Dallas. Hopefully when the Flyers, Wings, or Blackhawks play in one of the next two, people can just accept that certain teams are going to be picked for this type of event. It's not fair, but it's a business. Do NFL fans bitch about their teams not playing a Thanksgiving game? I'm curious. The NHL is 1) angling for a good TV contract this year and 2) trying to give this game an appeal that means it CAN be any team at some point in the future because people will tune in regardless.

i disagree. the teams in the winter classic don't make that big of a difference. do the teams in the little ceasar's pizza bowl matter? i'm sure espn got fine ratings for that game last night because its a bowl game, but who really cares about florida international and toledo?

i realize the pens/caps are a 'bigger' draw, but i really dont think it makes as big of a difference as you think.. the spectacle is what draws the crowd

however, i do agree that HBO probably wouldn't have covered a stars/wild game, but they probably would've covered other big market teams.. i think if the caps were involved they probably would've done it, regardless of the other team

and while new york turned down the first one, i dont think they'd turn it down now.. i am curious to read that article though if you can find it

*regardless of my feelings on the pens playing in the 2nd classic in 4 years, i still dont root for it to fail, i just get irritated that the pens are playing in it again.. i probably want it to succeed as much or more than 90% of the ppl in pittsburgh

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

FYI:
NHL sets backup plans if weather delays Winter Classic - ESPN

 

[loki604]

i disagree. the teams in the winter classic don't make that big of a difference. do the teams in the little ceasar's pizza bowl matter? i'm sure espn got fine ratings for that game last night because its a bowl game, but who really cares about florida international and toledo?

i realize the pens/caps are a 'bigger' draw, but i really dont think it makes as big of a difference as you think.. the spectacle is what draws the crowd

however, i do agree that HBO probably wouldn't have covered a stars/wild game, but they probably would've covered other big market teams.. i think if the caps were involved they probably would've done it, regardless of the other team

and while new york turned down the first one, i dont think they'd turn it down now.. i am curious to read that article though if you can find it

*regardless of my feelings on the pens playing in the 2nd classic in 4 years, i still dont root for it to fail, i just get irritated that the pens are playing in it again.. i probably want it to succeed as much or more than 90% of the ppl in pittsburgh

Sorry, but I disagree. You hear people say quite often "I don't watch the NBA, but I watched LeBron's first game against Cleveland". Star players draw higher ratings. Coincidence that HBO picked now to do this series?

 

[buffhockey]

Move the game to LA
It never rains on New Years Day and the Temps should be about the same.

Rain is the biggest issue here. The next is too much sun (which is why LA may never get one). It is not the sun melting the ice, it is the glare on the ice making it hard for the cameras. A night game in LA would work, but that would make it really late for you East Coast people.

I hope the game gets played. If it doesn't I am worried that NBC may decide it is not worth it anymore and we may lose out on this fun event.

or move here - Las Vegas. It's been done before in September 27, 1991, with 85 degree weather!!

1991-1992 N.H.L. SEASON - 1991-1992 N.H.L. SEASON - Gamble Works - Rangers Play In Las Vegas - NYTimes.com

Fight during game!

 

[puckhead]

Move the game to LA
It never rains on New Years Day and the Temps should be about the same.

Rain is the biggest issue here. The next is too much sun (which is why LA may never get one). It is not the sun melting the ice, it is the glare on the ice making it hard for the cameras. A night game in LA would work, but that would make it really late for you East Coast people.

I hope the game gets played. If it doesn't I am worried that NBC may decide it is not worth it anymore and we may lose out on this fun event.

AHL (or was it ECHL) had an outdoor game in Vegas a lot of years ago. seemed to work fine. I think that was a night game, too.

personally, I think its a gimmick, but if it draws fans, so be it. I hope my team isn't a part of one, as it tends to be a sloppy hockey game. Same can be said for sending teams to Europe for regular season games, actually. Fine, if it draws interest, but I'd rather they didn't disrupt my team's schedule to do it.

 

[awaz]

Sorry, but I disagree. You hear people say quite often "I don't watch the NBA, but I watched LeBron's first game against Cleveland". Star players draw higher ratings. Coincidence that HBO picked now to do this series?

there was nothing about that game that was special.. of course, regular season vs. regular season the star players are going to draw bigger crowds.. that's like comparing apples to oranges.. this game is a spectacle in itself, that game was not.. they weren't playing it outside or on a different color floor, or any of that

and as far as hbo picking now, why wouldn't they pick now? they just came up with it for the NFL this season too with the jets.. the 24/7 series didnt exist for the other 3 winter classics (i dont think anyway, correct me if i'm wrong).. and they turned to the classic which has proven over the past 3 years to be a hit..

plus look at the ratings, the red wings/blackhawks game had higher ratings than the pens/sabres, and not only did the pens have the sexy superstar appeal, but they had the 'first ever' appeal too, and it still lost in ratings

 

[buffhockey]

AHL (or was it ECHL) had an outdoor game in Vegas a lot of years ago. seemed to work fine. I think that was a night game, too.

It was LA Kings vs NY Rangers- NHL Exhibition game.

Photo Gallery - KINGS MAKE HISTORY IN VEGAS - 10/28/1991

 

[Comeds]

Sorry, I don't wish lost money or wasted afternoons for anyone going, but I hate the gimmick event and the attention it gets. If one or two of them get canceled or if a team involved isn't happy about losing too points when weather may have been a factor; then maybe these events are much less frequent.

Sorry if that makes me a dick. I like the NHL's product on the ice. I don't like the fact this event is a created spectacle with a sub par product on the sub par ice in a sub par venue when I think the NHL generally has a great product.

I could care less about who is playing, I want them all to fail and have said as much since they have been doing them (and will say it again in a few months when the Habs play in a stadium), but the fact that the Penguins are playing in their 2nd in 4 years is a joke but no an unexpected one. As long as I have been a fan the NHL has done a terrible job marketing its game and its players, why should I expect any different here.

And those that think the NHL needs Crosby for its ratings, the ratings for all the Winter Craptastics have been pretty good. People are not tuning in for the teams or the game, its all about the gimmick.

Maybe the NBA will have a Playground Classic and play a game outside! Wouldnt that be great! No, well you dont understand, see the game will be outside! Still not excited? The game will be played outside! Outside! Not in an arena! Outside! Weather! Outside, like its roots! Outside!

 

[davnlaguna]

It was LA Kings vs NY Rangers- NHL Exhibition game.

Photo Gallery - KINGS MAKE HISTORY IN VEGAS - 10/28/1991

My favorate part of that game was the Hrudey cam. The Kings mounted a camera onto the goalie's head. It was the first time something like that was done (that I know of) for an NHL game.

 

[HonusWagner66]

Sorry, I don't wish lost money or wasted afternoons for anyone going, but I hate the gimmick event and the attention it gets. If one or two of them get canceled or if a team involved isn't happy about losing too points when weather may have been a factor; then maybe these events are much less frequent.

Sorry if that makes me a dick. I like the NHL's product on the ice. I don't like the fact this event is a created spectacle with a sub par product on the sub par ice in a sub par venue when I think the NHL generally has a great product.

I could care less about who is playing, I want them all to fail and have said as much since they have been doing them (and will say it again in a few months when the Habs play in a stadium), but the fact that the Penguins are playing in their 2nd in 4 years is a joke but no an unexpected one. As long as I have been a fan the NHL has done a terrible job marketing its game and its players, why should I expect any different here.

And those that think the NHL needs Crosby for its ratings, the ratings for all the Winter Craptastics have been pretty good. People are not tuning in for the teams or the game, its all about the gimmick.

Maybe the NBA will have a Playground Classic and play a game outside! Wouldnt that be great! No, well you dont understand, see the game will be outside! Still not excited? The game will be played outside! Outside! Not in an arena! Outside! Weather! Outside, like its roots! Outside!

So just to be clear... you're saying you're not a fan of the Winter Classic?

 

[TiLoBrown]

Maybe the NBA will have a Playground Classic and play a game outside! Wouldnt that be great! No, well you dont understand, see the game will be outside! Still not excited? The game will be played outside! Outside! Not in an arena! Outside! Weather! Outside, like its roots! Outside!

the NBA should do this, but when I think of playground basketball I think about teams work...not give the ball to your superstar(s) 75% of the time and hope someone doesnt fuck up the other 25%

 

[Comeds]

So just to be clear... you're saying you're not a fan of the Winter Classic?

Whoa! Lets not jump to any conclusions.

the NBA should do this, but when I think of playground basketball I think about teams work...not give the ball to your superstar(s) 75% of the time and hope someone doesnt fuck up the other 25%

I was being sarcastic. I think the Playground Classic, besides the name which my lawyers are copyrighting as we post to and fro, is as bad as an idea as the Winter Classic.

 

[elocomotive]

Whoa! Lets not jump to any conclusions.

I was being sarcastic. I think the Playground Classic, besides the name which my lawyers are copyrighting as we post to and fro, is as bad as an idea as the Winter Classic.

Resident SportsHoopla Sports Lawyer Says...
You don't have to get your lawyer to copyright anything - its vests upon expression.

As to the Classic, I agree with Loki that marketing your stars is a good thing. This is pretty much how all sports work - Tiger Woods has doubled purses on the PGA tour, Joe Namath made the "Super Bowl" what it become, and Magic and Bird saved the NBA in the late 70s/early 80s by being the feature game basically every weekend. This is how you build a sports enterprise - rivalries, stars, and storylines.

The outdoor nature of the Classic is the gimmick to get new fans in the door, and there is nothing wrong with that. Putting your brightest stars on display once you get people watching is the best way to show people there is something exciting to be watched, so while some hardcore hockey fans may not like playing up OV vs. Crosby, it's a savvy business move and designed to turn casual fans into something more.

And since the league is not too many years removed from the brink of financial ruin, what the NHL is doing is smart. If you don't like the teams featured, they will change as time goes along and people should recognize that a rising tide floats all ships.

I've seen it happen here in Washington... Not too big into hockey > This OV guy is pretty amazing > Start watching on TV > Hey I like such and such too > Maybe I'll check out a couple games this year > "My wife says it's hockey or me... I can't decide"

Hockey fans...the Classic is NOT for you. I repeat...NOT for you. It is designed to build new, American fans and it's been successful since attendance and ratings for the NHL are up despite a full on recession and a TV contract on a sports station not located in Bristol, CT. If you don't like that it's not for you, at least recognize that it's good for the sport and understand that marketing stars is how you generate new fans.

 

[HonusWagner66]

Resident SportsHoopla Sports Lawyer Says...
You don't have to get your lawyer to copyright anything - its vests upon expression.

He'd wanna Trademark the term, not copyright it anyway.

As for the Classic... I love it. I can't wait till the Pens play the Rags next year too!

 

[elocomotive]

He'd wanna Trademark the term, not copyright it anyway.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

So I just figured out the ultimate Winter Classic scenario.

Pens get off to a fast start and lead 2-0 after the 1st period with an opening goal from Crosby. Crowd going crazy. Caps make a slight comeback in the 2nd and push it to 2-1, but Geno scores in the final minute to make it 3-1. Caps come out gangbusters in the 3rd period. Ovechkin scores in the 2nd minute and again in the 5th. Caps take the lead in the 13th minute on a sick move from Semin. Pens look done but their captain ties the game with just 40 seconds left and the goalie pulled. Crowd explodes.

Overtime comes and goes and nobody scores with both goalies making spectacular saves. Teams go to the bench but the crowd starts chanting "More O..T... more ... O... T..." over and over, louder and louder. The captains skate to center, talk for a moment, and then both wave to their benches where skaters jump the boards to keep going. Refs shrug their shoulders and drop the puck. The ending doesn't even matter.

It would never happen, but how sick would that be?

 

[TiLoBrown]

Wasnt that a commercial? Well the ending anyway

 

[Automattic]

HBO would have covered whoever. Look at the Hard Knocks series. It has featured such powerhouses as the Chiefs, the Jets, and the Bengals...

 

[KennyBanyeah]

BTW, I bet Pens and Caps fan overwhelming disagree with me.

But you were sticking up for casual, johnny-come-lately fans?

 

[IPostedWhat]

Do we really have a 3 page, 60+ post thread about the Weather?