Winter Classic

[coljesep224]

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/...goryId=2459791

Awesome to watch, I love it.

A couple of things

#1 I just heard Patrick Kane has never played Pond Hockey... how cool will this be for him huh?

#2 I wish the NHL used this game a little bit more wisely. All due respect to the Det/Chi "rivalry," the goal of this game is to attract non-hockey worshippers to watch and enjoy their game. A non-hockey fan isn't going to come to this game on tv because its a good rivalry from the past. They need to showcase their younger talent that outsiders "hear about." Obviously Detroit won the cup but that doesn't do it for a non-hockey fan...

People watched last year for 2 reasons. #1 The atmosphere and the idea, and #2 Crosby.

Kane and Toews aren't there yet, a sports fan open to the idea of knowing hockey exists right now knows Ovechkin before they know anybody on Detroit. This game should have been Chicago/Washington.

[nyisles16]

Eh - they try to make the games "rivalry" games.. They probably took the two this year, as it isn't far for Detroit to travel...

I see your point though - it would be better to get the "big names" in there to show off the sport..

[slickdtc]

I really don't know how much it matters now. Hockey is not a "big 4" sport anymore (was it ever?) in the US and it's not going to change. That doesn't mean they shouldn't try to lure more fans into the game, but they shouldn't alienate the current fans either.

I'm actually pretty excited for the Winter Classic this year. I missed it last year and regret it. It'll be cool watching Chicago and Detroit play. I haven't seen any of the young guys on Chicago yet and of course, Detroit is always a treat to watch.

[coljesep224]

This game is not created for you and I the hockey fan. If the game was on NBC played indoors there's a good chance you'd watch it anyway. This game is created to get the guy who is open to watching a game, and getting them more interested. A rivalry from the past does nothing for that group. This game is created so that people walk away wondering "where and when I can see that Crosby kid play again," yada yada

[soxcatch15]

I would like to see the Winter Classic being a rematch of the stanley cup finals. Only problem is they could not play outside if a team from a warmer climate made it.

[soxcatch15]

Quote: Originally Posted by coljesep224

This game is not created for you and I the hockey fan. If the game was on NBC played indoors there's a good chance you'd watch it anyway. This game is created to get the guy who is open to watching a game, and getting them more interested. A rivalry from the past does nothing for that group. This game is created so that people walk away wondering "where and when I can see that Crosby kid play again," yada yada

Why don't they just call it the Sydney Crosby Classic then? The NHL has a lot of young stars no doubt, and I know they have to market them, but I don't want to see it to the extent that the NHL turns into the NBA and becomes a league of individual stars rather than teams.

[theaub]

I would like to know how putting the defending champion against the most exciting team to watch in the league is poor marketing.

[coljesep224]

Because not a single person outside of people who know about the rivalry care?

My friends who watch sports but not hockey aren't saying, "hey I hear chicago is an exciting team to watch play this year when is the winter classic"

Last year an average sports fan watched the game because of Crosby. Say whatever you want, I'm not sayin it as a Pens fan I'm sayin it as an observer. You can't deny it.

The NHL is hoping non NHL but sports fans are intrigued by the fact its at Wrigley. Nobody is coming to this game to see Detroit v. Chicago except true hockey fans