Is the NHL game at Wrigley a desperate measure to regain interest in hockey in Chicago?

Question

They are playing a popular team, the Stanely Cup Champions at the most popular stadium in the city.

Answer 1

Of course it is intended to improve the hockey interest in the US. Why else would they have it.

They wouldn't spend a million dollars to convert a baseball stadium to a hockey rink just because they wanted to have more fans attend a game would they? Especially in a city that doesn't sell out its rink every night.

It isn't a reward for consecutive sellouts for a poor team is it?

It is in one of the largest cities in the USA on a day when TV coverage is saturated with sports events. The gimmick is that it is in Wrigley Field. They wanted Yankee Stadium but Steinbrenner wouldn't allow hockey to play the last game in the hallowed ground.

It isn't a desperate measure, yet. Next year at Mile High will be a desperate measure. The year after that at Safeco Field will prove that the NHL is getting desperate. However when some genius proposes the Rose Bowl for a New Years Day game between the Ducks and the Kings it will be time to call a halt to this folly.

It is time we forgot about this absurdity of playing a hockey game in a stadium with the closest seats 30 yards from the ice surface. Having been to a Raptors game at the Skydome it is easy to wish to see an end to this joke.

Answer 2

In Bettman's head probably, but Chicago got all it needed to rejuvenate hockey... Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and the death of Bill Wirtz.

Answer 3

No - season tickets were already going quickly, all 82 games on TV for the first time every - this game is at Wrigley because a) it's actually a cool idea, and b) you knock out 2 Original Six teams in one game - these teams deserve the first chance(s) at these games.

Answer 4

No. It was a huge success the last time they did it, and now they are doing it with two of the original teams- it is nostalgic if anything.

Answer 5

No.  When the last out Door game was played in Canada it drew thousands of hockey fans.  Ice hockey originated  on out door rinks years ago.  It is a nostalgic trip for avid hockey fans.

Answer 6

No, it's more insidious than that. It's a 'desperate' attempt to gain more media coverage for the game of hockey in the US. It's allso an incredibly good idea.

Answer 7

its just a new tradition mostly for the hockey fans that are already into the sport....if it was to attract a lot of new people then it wouldnt be on the bowl day....its time to start putting hockey down because it doesnt have high ratings....football and baseball do the same thing with over seas games so lets not single out hockey....we know its not popular, but why hate on starting a fun tradition liek this one?

Answer 8

No,its just a fun day,and a new venture.Did you see the game last year in Buffalo?

Actually did very well in the ratings,and sold out quickly.

Its a new day,and this is a fun thing.Good exposure for all involved.

Answer 9

no. if they wanted to do that, then how would you do it?its an original 6 team vs another orig. 6. its a fun game. just like the japanese games for baseball.the football game in england, the hockey games in europe. it is to expand the nhl's popularity to other countries.

Answer 10

I'd say it is... interest seemed to have died there. I blame the recent past poor teams on the ice for their troubles and this is way for the organization to showcase the teams' promising future and young stars - not just nationally but also locally and get the city excited about hockey. without this event - Historic venue and a popular divisional opponent and current cup champion - chicago hockey will just be the way it was for the past 3-5 years... dead...

even if no one in Chicago goes, there will be a flock coming from Detroit and Canada.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance...

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/31/biz_...

Answer 11

I think so, otherwise they would have had it at Comerica park.  Detroit's interest in hockey needs no spurring on.  Chicago, which should be a hockey city, surprisingly is not.  There are more fans there than in Phoenix, granted, but most of them watch baseball, basketball, or football like most American cities.  The Hawks being horrible for so long might play a part in that.  I think this, given the added talent and potential of Chicago's team, will bring hockey back to the city to a certain extent.  It's a desperate measure that they needed to take, and that will most likely be somewhat successful.  Tickets will not be easy to get.

Like spaceboy said, part of it is nostalgia too.

Answer 12

I thought Patrick Kane was the desperate measure to regain interest in hockey in Chicago.

Answer 13

i wanna see boston v montreal at fenway or gillette

that would be like the highlight of my life

Answer 14

Being from Chicago I think it is picking up again but they definitely are trying to get it more popular, I think that this will help its popularity but still I don't think they will get the fanbase they had from the days of Jeremy Roenick, Denis Savard and other greats. They also probably wouldn't give the winter classic to a city that doesn't have any fans, the blackhawks don't have much but they have more than Atlanta, and even Detroit doesn't have that many fans, partly because they always win the presidents trophy and they dominate the rest of the league every year so it gets old for the fans unless they win the cup.