The Confluence
Penguins should pass on Winter Classics for a few more years
by Tony on 01/01/10 at 07:23 PM ET
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If recent reports end up being true, such as today’s article from the Washington Post’s excellent Capitals beat writer Tarik El-Bashir that the Caps are the front-runners for participating in the 2011 Winter Classic, the NHL may be looking at the Caps’ heated rival in the Steel City once again as their opponent. Another possibility, in addition to the Penguins, is the New York Rangers, with the game in Yankee Stadium.
Of course, I don’t speak for any other Penguins fans, but allow me to chime in while the discussion is hot:
Pass on it, Penguins.
Not only next year, but for quite a few more years.
Don’t get me wrong, the Penguins’ experience in the inaugural Winter Classic on New Years Day 2008 was fantastic, although I wasn’t there in person to witness it. The light snow falling, the 71,000 plus in the crowd, and of course the close game, ending in Sidney Crosby’s shootout goal to win the game for the Penguins. Last year’s game in Chicago with the Hawks and Wings and today’s in Boston with the Flyers and Bruins were outstanding as well.
So now that there have been three Winter Classics, comprised of most of the hockey hotbeds of the U.S. East and Midwest, the focus now looks to be shifting to the Capitals and naturally to Alex Ovechkin. While Ovie has his critics for some of his on-ice actions, and I am certainly one of them, he’s as energetic as they come and provides the NHL “good television”, as much as that’s possible in today’s television market.
The issue early on, though, appears to be that while the Caps are enjoying increased television ratings locally in the DC market, NBC is concerned with how national ratings would do with the Caps versus particular teams.
Enter the Penguins ? Well, let’s look at it in NBC’s point of view, because let’s face it, that’s the only one that truly matters. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, no one can deny that the Penguins rule the roost when it comes to hockey television ratings in the U.S.. How about the monetary aspect ? Once again, the Penguins would have absolutely no problem selling it’s ticket share at Penn State’s Beaver Stadium, for example. In addition, plenty of room for Capitals fans, close enough for many Canadian hockey fans, as well as fans throughout the U.S. Not that other sites couldn’t fill a stadium, but just sayin’, if the NHL asked the Pens to play, they’d fill it.
Sounds like I’m supporting this, but my personal view is: Just say no, Penguins.
Let teams play that haven’t experienced it yet, like the Caps, Wild, Rangers, Devils or Avalanche. Now before any Canadian team’s fans or other U.S. team’s fans start flaming, let me explain. I’m strictly referring to the NBC telecast. In that respect, quite frankly, I don’t see it being realistic that NBC would have either a U.S. team with mediocre or worse ratings or a Canadian team in their telecast. Not that I personally wouldn’t enjoy it, but let’s not forget, this is about money to NBC, great hockey is not foremost on their mind, in my opinion anyway.
Now, in terms of Canadian teams, by all means, they can have a New Years game of their own. Not that a Canadian hockey fan would really care what the TV ratings would be for that game in the U.S., I hope you realize that NBC wouldn’t come close to that game. Now, would Versus and/or the NHL Network ?? That could very well be a different story. The only issue with a Canadian game (in addition to the U.S. game) that I could see is that it may eventually wear out the novelty aspect of the Classic.
I think the decisions are going to start being more and more difficult as these Winter Classics accumulate. Starting with next year.
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Tags: NHL-Hockey, Pittsburgh+Penguins,
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