NHL Announces 2016 Outdoor Games

[Kerfuffle]

It's official - here are the 3 outdoor games for next season that the NHL announced today:

Winter Classic - Montreal at Boston on 1/1/16
Stadium Series Game #1 - Blackhawks at Minnesota on 2/21/16 at TCF Bank Stadium
Stadium Series Game #2 - Detroit at Colorado on 2/27/16 at Coors Field

[STLADOGG]

3rd straight year Chicago is getting an outdoor game, 4th overall.

[cprice12]

And they are most likely going to give Toronto the Winter Classic game in 2017 because it is their 100th anniversary. Bettman said they are discussing that already.
It's also our 50th anniversary in 2017, but I'm sure the NHL doesn't care about that...and no way we get to play in Toronto in the Winter Classic. I'm sure it would be Toronto and Montreal or something.

Today during the press conference, Bettman ignored the part of a question that asked if he felt it's unfair that other teams aren't getting in the Winter Classic when Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Washington, etc. have been in a 2, 3 or 4 times each. The fact that Chicago will be in it for three years in a row is a complete joke.

Bettman just thanked Chicago for agreeing to be in it so many times. I was really looking forward to hearing what he had to say about that, but he didn't even address it...and of course, nobody followed up with the question again.

[not_a_wings_fan]

There's an easy fix here...win the cup.

If we want national recognition we will need to stop getting bounced in the first round.

I don't agree with it, but I understand it. Chicago has won several cups, is a big TV market, and has a national following that Blues just can't match. Win a couple cups and we can talk about getting screwed.

[Kerfuffle]

I"m still puzzled why it went to Minnesota. It would have been more exciting if our 2 teams met. No one has a rivaly with Minnesota.

This past Winter Classic also had much lower ratings than the previous ones. I think what St. Louis is missing in the eyes of the league is a marketable star and I don't say that disrespectfully. The teams chosen so far all have a guy or 2 that they can market the game after and that brings bigger ratings = more $$$ for the league. The Blues are a great team but there is no sexy Crosby, Ovechkin, Chara, etc that they can rally around. And it's that which I believe has kept St. Louis out of selection up to this point. Is it fair? No it's not but I think this is a plausible reason why it hasn't happened yet.

[not_a_wings_fan]

I"m still puzzled why it went to Minnesota. It would have been more exciting if our 2 teams met. No one has a rivaly with Minnesota.

This past Winter Classic also had much lower ratings than the previous ones. I think what St. Louis is missing in the eyes of the league is a marketable star and I don't say that disrespectfully. The teams chosen so far all have a guy or 2 that they can market the game after and that brings bigger ratings = more $$$ for the league. The Blues are a great team but there is no sexy Crosby, Ovechkin, Chara, etc that they can rally around. And it's that which I believe has kept St. Louis out of selection up to this point. Is it fair? No it's not but I think this is a plausible reason why it hasn't happened yet.

I would agree with your assessment of the situation as a plausible alternative, but I think a cup win would achieve the same end.

[JesusNEVERexisted]

But Minnesota hasn't won a Cup! So how did they get it?

Does anyone know if Busch stadium and the Cardinals have agreed to let the Blues play there? Wouldn't the shape of the Edward Jones Dome be better for a hockey rink?

[cardsfan04]

But Minnesota hasn't won a Cup! So how did they get it?

Does anyone know if Busch stadium and the Cardinals have agreed to let the Blues play there? Wouldn't the shape of the Edward Jones Dome be better for a hockey rink?

Yeah, the Edward Jones DOME will host an outdoor game. Maybe they'll play it there midway through tearing it down or something.

[cardsfan04]

Also, I don't have a problem with Minnesota hosting a game. That's a good market for it.

[cprice12]

I"m still puzzled why it went to Minnesota. It would have been more exciting if our 2 teams met. No one has a rivaly with Minnesota.

This past Winter Classic also had much lower ratings than the previous ones. I think what St. Louis is missing in the eyes of the league is a marketable star and I don't say that disrespectfully. The teams chosen so far all have a guy or 2 that they can market the game after and that brings bigger ratings = more $$$ for the league. The Blues are a great team but there is no sexy Crosby, Ovechkin, Chara, etc that they can rally around. And it's that which I believe has kept St. Louis out of selection up to this point. Is it fair? No it's not but I think this is a plausible reason why it hasn't happened yet.

I disagree about marketable star power.
We have one of the most dynamic young players in the leauge in Tarasenko. He scores as many highlight reel goals as anyone. The whole league knows him.
And Oshie is the star of the USA Olympic team because of his performance vs. Russia in the shootout.

Both players are extremely marketable for those reasons.

Plus, MSNBC has no trouble marketing Backes vs. Toewes during a Hawks vs. Blues matchup. Backes isn't Crosby-like (few are) but he is every bit as marketable as Chara...if not more so. The only difference is Chara plays for a big east coast team, so that artificially inflates his marketability all by itself.

You also have Stasny, Petro and Bouwmeester...all marketable to a lesser degree. And Steen is pretty much as good of an all around player as there is in the NHL...but the NHL doesn't tend to market players who can score AND play D, unless they are a defenseman.

But if you are saying that the Blues don't have a guy who is 100% offense...in otherwords, will score 50 goals and not play a lick of defense....then no, we don't have any of those kinds of players...nor do I want them here.

[cprice12]

There's an easy fix here...win the cup.

If we want national recognition we will need to stop getting bounced in the first round.

I don't agree with it, but I understand it. Chicago has won several cups, is a big TV market, and has a national following that Blues just can't match. Win a couple cups and we can talk about getting screwed.

Winning a cup apparently has little to do with being in an outdoor game.
Washington hasn't won a cup, and they have been in it not once, but twice.
Philly hasn't won one in a long time...nothing in the modern era anyway...and they've been in it twice.
Same with the Maple Leafs...they haven't won it since we have been in the league...and they'll probably be in their 2nd one in 2017.
Ottawa, Vancouver, San Jose, Buffalo... no cups...and all have been in an outdoor game.
The Rangers haven't won it in 20 years, but they were in two outdoor games in one week.
And of course the NHL has, for some reason, already announced that they will have one in friggin' Winnipeg in 2017. Winnipeg? Seriously? ...no cups there either.

A number of those teams aren't as marketable as the Blue are...at least I don't think they are. But the league saw no problem in awarding them an outdoor game.
It literally makes zero sense to me how they decide who gets to play in these games.

[dmiles2186]

I"m still puzzled why it went to Minnesota. It would have been more exciting if our 2 teams met. No one has a rivaly with Minnesota.

This past Winter Classic also had much lower ratings than the previous ones. I think what St. Louis is missing in the eyes of the league is a marketable star and I don't say that disrespectfully. The teams chosen so far all have a guy or 2 that they can market the game after and that brings bigger ratings = more $$$ for the league. The Blues are a great team but there is no sexy Crosby, Ovechkin, Chara, etc that they can rally around. And it's that which I believe has kept St. Louis out of selection up to this point. Is it fair? No it's not but I think this is a plausible reason why it hasn't happened yet.

Minnesota got a game because that state is to hockey what Texas is to football. They live it and breathe it up there...it's in their culture. And personally, they may not have a bona fide rivalry with anyone, but the Stars coming back to Minnesota to play the Wild in an outdoor game is a juicy enough headline for me. I think that would be fantastic.

[cprice12]

I"m still puzzled why it went to Minnesota. It would have been more exciting if our 2 teams met. No one has a rivaly with Minnesota.

This past Winter Classic also had much lower ratings than the previous ones. I think what St. Louis is missing in the eyes of the league is a marketable star and I don't say that disrespectfully. The teams chosen so far all have a guy or 2 that they can market the game after and that brings bigger ratings = more $$$ for the league. The Blues are a great team but there is no sexy Crosby, Ovechkin, Chara, etc that they can rally around. And it's that which I believe has kept St. Louis out of selection up to this point. Is it fair? No it's not but I think this is a plausible reason why it hasn't happened yet.

Minnesota got a game because that state is to hockey what Texas is to football. They live it and breathe it up there...it's in their culture. And personally, they may not have a bona fide rivalry with anyone, but the Stars coming back to Minnesota to play the Wild in an outdoor game is a juicy enough headline for me. I think that would be fantastic.

I agree. Too bad that isn't what is going to happen.

[cardsfan04]

I"m still puzzled why it went to Minnesota. It would have been more exciting if our 2 teams met. No one has a rivaly with Minnesota.

This past Winter Classic also had much lower ratings than the previous ones. I think what St. Louis is missing in the eyes of the league is a marketable star and I don't say that disrespectfully. The teams chosen so far all have a guy or 2 that they can market the game after and that brings bigger ratings = more $$$ for the league. The Blues are a great team but there is no sexy Crosby, Ovechkin, Chara, etc that they can rally around. And it's that which I believe has kept St. Louis out of selection up to this point. Is it fair? No it's not but I think this is a plausible reason why it hasn't happened yet.

Minnesota got a game because that state is to hockey what Texas is to football. They live it and breathe it up there...it's in their culture. And personally, they may not have a bona fide rivalry with anyone, but the Stars coming back to Minnesota to play the Wild in an outdoor game is a juicy enough headline for me. I think that would be fantastic.

I agree. Too bad that isn't what is going to happen.

You don't think Minnesota will get another game next year? Oh, nevermind, they're not the blackhawks.

[Kerfuffle]

There's also things that Bettman and his governors have at their hands to make their decision on these outdoor games. TV ratings obviously drive ad revenue and I'm sure the #1 consideration of a team to select has to do with those pulling in the big ratings. #2 I would say would be marketability of that teams players. An intangible here that could factor into it but we don't know is if St. Louis ownership has a bad relationship with Bettman or the league. You never know what personal clash took place at some point and if someone is holding a grudge. It's speculation of course but when things don't make sense I think you have to consider the fact that something may be in play that is out of the hands of the fans in St. Louis. Remember how Salt Lake City got the 2002 Winter Games? They bribed the selection committee and it had been going on for years with other city selections. I'm not putting it out of the question that there's a possibility of kickbacks here to get certain teams the outdoor games.

[STLADOGG]

But Minnesota hasn't won a Cup! So how did they get it?

Does anyone know if Busch stadium and the Cardinals have agreed to let the Blues play there? Wouldn't the shape of the Edward Jones Dome be better for a hockey rink?

Yeah, the Edward Jones DOME will host an outdoor game. Maybe they'll play it there midway through tearing it down or something.

....ANYWAYS.....
I guess the Budweiser thing has a big part in this, with Coors being a big part of the Stadium series.

[Kerfuffle]

The prices also went up a bunch guys in these outdoor games. In 2009 for the Winter Classic I got my seats for $75 each and there were only 3 price tiers. I sold the tickets for $450 each. In 2014 the price was $175 for the cheapest ticket and I got around $250 each. Then for this past Winter Classic on New Years Day in Washington I got mine for $220 and sold them for $280. So the ticket prices keep going up while the margin goes down. And selling the game against Pittsburgh last year took a lot longer. The 2009 game I sold in 5 minutes. What was once a special thing is starting to become routine.

[ecbm]

*Yawn*

Despite the existence of this very post: don't care. Apparently the NHL brass is embarrassed by STL (and most other cities in the league). The feeling is mutual.