“Welcome to the 2011 NHL Winter Classic, Live from Dodger Stadium in Sunny Los Angeles California”
Not exactly what you would picture for a place to hold and outdoor game eh? Well I’m convinced that this could take the gold mine that is the Winter Classic and make it something really unique and special.
Despite the poor editing of my previous post, that is not a typo I did in fact say 2011. Because its almost a foregone conclusion and a great idea to have the next one at New Yankee stadium, with the Rangers and Bruins playing. Both teams play in big markets and both franchises have become relevant in their respective markets, not to mention New Yankee Stadium will be a great backdrop for a game.
But for 2011 its got to be in LA with the Kings playing..... the Washington Capitals. The Kings have a young team that should be a genuine playoff team by then with some great young talent, and the Capitals are already becoming an elite team and they have Ovie to boot. So it’s a chance to get your biggest player and your 2nd biggest market on a major national stage.
“Hey Andrew Hockey is played on ice, LA isn’t exactly cold even in January”
This is where the beauty of this game lies. How cool will it be to be playing ice hockey, outside, in 25degree LA weather? Think about it, the fans are in shorts and t-shirts while the players are playing on a sheet of ice. The visuals/ intrigue to see if it will work will attract a lot of people to watch this game, not to mention Ovie clearly already knows how to dress for this kind of weather.
“Well that’s nice and all but you’re forgetting that ice melts when its hot, clearly you have forgotten some basic science here”
http://www.mexicopremiere.com/?p=839
Its been done, and in Mexico none the less. If they can make an ice rink that is much larger than an NHL rink, with 1000 people on it at a time stay cold, they can sure do it in LA 85ftX200ft with 15 guys in the ice. It won’t be cheap to do as the rink in Mexico used 10 regular ice machines on at all times to keep the rink frozen. So clearly they will need to spend extra money to make it work. Not to mention there are a lot of risk tradeoffs with the games in a cold climate
Game in cold area- game in LA
Injuries due to muscles being cold- injuries to dehydration ( some extra Gatorade can help this)
Excess snow- Excess rain
sun can be a factor- sun can be a factor this is why in any of these games the direction of the rink is important
fans bundled up and freezing- fans get a sunburn
So that’s where I think the next game should be , feel free to comment/ criticize this idea I want to see what other ideas people have. (possibly same teams but at the Washington monument) just an idea
Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Olympics
2010 has been the subject of a lot of talk around these parts, especially in the last little while. Costs are ballooning and the fact this money could be used elsewhere is not sitting well with many people. Now while I agree with the fact the amount of money being spent is getting to be a little bit too excessive, there are a few things that people say that I take issue with.
Any variation on“we don’t want the Olympics lets not have them”
I wont waste time on this because its just stupid to even think its an option. The Olympics are coming, its not going to change now.
“Im just going to leave during the Olympics”
This isn’t so much something to debate as it is a question of why you would do this. Yes things will be busy, ya you might not have tickets, but with all the people coming here from all around the world, there will be such a great atmosphere around the city and I feel it would be a shame to miss out on that.
“we are going to protest/ cause disturbances during the protest”
Most of this centres around the amount of money not being spent on other things. While I’m one for standing up for things if you believe in them, it is a bad idea to be putting Vancouver in a poor light while the world is looking at us. Being a business student my view on this all comes down to one thingROIReturn On Investment. We’ve spent the money and are spending this money in an attempt to show our city off to the world and make people want to come here. If during the Olympics all people see is a city of people who are angry and try to bring attention to the bad parts of our city and not the good, people wont be enticed to come. So not only will we have a big bill for the Olympics, we will also not reap the full benefits of a 17 day infomercial on why people should come and spend money in our city.
So if you need to make your voice heard, do it before and after the game, but if you can put on a smile next February it will be good for all of us in the long run. Because the Olympics are coming like it or not, and even if you feel the Olympics is a giant lemon, at least try to make some lemonade.
Any variation on“we don’t want the Olympics lets not have them”
I wont waste time on this because its just stupid to even think its an option. The Olympics are coming, its not going to change now.
“Im just going to leave during the Olympics”
This isn’t so much something to debate as it is a question of why you would do this. Yes things will be busy, ya you might not have tickets, but with all the people coming here from all around the world, there will be such a great atmosphere around the city and I feel it would be a shame to miss out on that.
“we are going to protest/ cause disturbances during the protest”
Most of this centres around the amount of money not being spent on other things. While I’m one for standing up for things if you believe in them, it is a bad idea to be putting Vancouver in a poor light while the world is looking at us. Being a business student my view on this all comes down to one thingROIReturn On Investment. We’ve spent the money and are spending this money in an attempt to show our city off to the world and make people want to come here. If during the Olympics all people see is a city of people who are angry and try to bring attention to the bad parts of our city and not the good, people wont be enticed to come. So not only will we have a big bill for the Olympics, we will also not reap the full benefits of a 17 day infomercial on why people should come and spend money in our city.
So if you need to make your voice heard, do it before and after the game, but if you can put on a smile next February it will be good for all of us in the long run. Because the Olympics are coming like it or not, and even if you feel the Olympics is a giant lemon, at least try to make some lemonade.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Letter
Dear NHL,
Now while I am but a University marketing student and have 0 experience running a professional league, I feel you need me to make sure you don't let another golden opportunity to get your league attention in the US slip away
*ahem*
Your 2 highest skilled/most well known/ most marketable stars reallly don't like each other. PROMOTE THE HOLY HELL OUT OF THIS. If there was ever a golden chance to drum up interest from the casual sports fan this is it. In one corner you have Sidney Crosby the clean cut Canadian who has been trained in front of a mic from a young age, and has been ordained the savior of the NHL from the age of around 2 years old. In the other corner you have Alex Ovechkin the unshaven, missing-toothed brash Russian who says whatever comes to his mind.
For years Sid has been the poster boy for the NHL and the person everyone pays to see, with Ovie being right there. But with a Tilly hat and sunglasses Oveckin in a flash became the face of the league. But now the rivalry that was based on them both being so talented has some feelings behind it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4bGh3lsDxE
So people at the NHL's marketing dept, everything is set up here for you, all you have to do is promote this properly and finally make good on a golden opportunity. ( how Lance Armstrong wasn't used in any way shape or form when Phil Kessel got testicular cancer still baffles me but that's for another time).
So here's what you do:
Make sure this game is on national TV- A game like this is an easy sell, do whatever you can to convince Versus (or try to get it on the NBC affiliate in these cities) in the US and TSN or TSN2 in Canada to air this game. Its two teams that are going to bring in the ratings based on the talent of the teams involved and the rivalry with Sid and Ovie will make it even better. Its not officially on the schedule for these stations yet but here is a chance to grow your game and get some people to catch it when its at its best, fast, hard hitting and filled with emotion. You might just get some people switching over out of curiosity who will be impressed and come back for more.
Play up the rivalry- commercials and video packages showing the different stages of this rivalry and making it look even more intense than it is will do wonders. People watch hockey for the intensity and if there seems to be a good chance of a fight or some big hits people will be tuning in just to see how far it will go.
Make this game a big deal- New York is playing Boston on NBC earlier that day here's a chance to hype this game to your largest and one of your largest markets, make it seem special
" THE THRILL ON CAPITAL HILL" just make sure people know this game is happening, it gets top billing on the website and you make sure press releases are being sent out hyping the hell out of this.
Part of the reason this needs to happen is even in the case where the rivalry doesn't produce fireworks, you still have two of the most exciting teams in the league playing and 5 of the stars your league will be built on for the next 10-15 years (Ovie, Crosby, Semin, Backstrom, Malkin). So in the case of a lack of hate you will get exciting hockey that will get people to want to tune in again.
At the end of the day its simple, great rivalries create intrigue. Federer/Nadal , Johnson/Byrd, Yankees/Sox in all these cases its not just the fans of the parties involved that pay attention, the entire sports world takes notice.
So in closing, NHL despite the fact you have dropped the ball in the past, i have faith that you will knock this one out of the park and promote a rivalry that will help the league get out of the abyss that it has created down south. So here we go Sid the Kid vs Alexander the Great, lets hand it off to Michael Buffer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RBeoPauVb0
Now while I am but a University marketing student and have 0 experience running a professional league, I feel you need me to make sure you don't let another golden opportunity to get your league attention in the US slip away
*ahem*
Your 2 highest skilled/most well known/ most marketable stars reallly don't like each other. PROMOTE THE HOLY HELL OUT OF THIS. If there was ever a golden chance to drum up interest from the casual sports fan this is it. In one corner you have Sidney Crosby the clean cut Canadian who has been trained in front of a mic from a young age, and has been ordained the savior of the NHL from the age of around 2 years old. In the other corner you have Alex Ovechkin the unshaven, missing-toothed brash Russian who says whatever comes to his mind.
For years Sid has been the poster boy for the NHL and the person everyone pays to see, with Ovie being right there. But with a Tilly hat and sunglasses Oveckin in a flash became the face of the league. But now the rivalry that was based on them both being so talented has some feelings behind it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4bGh3lsDxE
So people at the NHL's marketing dept, everything is set up here for you, all you have to do is promote this properly and finally make good on a golden opportunity. ( how Lance Armstrong wasn't used in any way shape or form when Phil Kessel got testicular cancer still baffles me but that's for another time).
So here's what you do:
Make sure this game is on national TV- A game like this is an easy sell, do whatever you can to convince Versus (or try to get it on the NBC affiliate in these cities) in the US and TSN or TSN2 in Canada to air this game. Its two teams that are going to bring in the ratings based on the talent of the teams involved and the rivalry with Sid and Ovie will make it even better. Its not officially on the schedule for these stations yet but here is a chance to grow your game and get some people to catch it when its at its best, fast, hard hitting and filled with emotion. You might just get some people switching over out of curiosity who will be impressed and come back for more.
Play up the rivalry- commercials and video packages showing the different stages of this rivalry and making it look even more intense than it is will do wonders. People watch hockey for the intensity and if there seems to be a good chance of a fight or some big hits people will be tuning in just to see how far it will go.
Make this game a big deal- New York is playing Boston on NBC earlier that day here's a chance to hype this game to your largest and one of your largest markets, make it seem special
" THE THRILL ON CAPITAL HILL" just make sure people know this game is happening, it gets top billing on the website and you make sure press releases are being sent out hyping the hell out of this.
Part of the reason this needs to happen is even in the case where the rivalry doesn't produce fireworks, you still have two of the most exciting teams in the league playing and 5 of the stars your league will be built on for the next 10-15 years (Ovie, Crosby, Semin, Backstrom, Malkin). So in the case of a lack of hate you will get exciting hockey that will get people to want to tune in again.
At the end of the day its simple, great rivalries create intrigue. Federer/Nadal , Johnson/Byrd, Yankees/Sox in all these cases its not just the fans of the parties involved that pay attention, the entire sports world takes notice.
So in closing, NHL despite the fact you have dropped the ball in the past, i have faith that you will knock this one out of the park and promote a rivalry that will help the league get out of the abyss that it has created down south. So here we go Sid the Kid vs Alexander the Great, lets hand it off to Michael Buffer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RBeoPauVb0
The Beauty Of Hockey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C2UaOQrOAI
I couldnt set it up better than JimHughson. Some nights hockey produces moments that hollywood whiches they had thought up first, and this was definatly one of those.
Aside from the storybook ending this game also showed what hockey as a sport has in spades compared to others.
Respect and Class
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8ZZU6-30Qo
Its moments like this that show how despite the fact hockey players will resport to bare knuckle fighting with each other, few sports have the level of respect and class between players/fans that hockey does. Its moments like this, as well as the post game handshake after you have spent the game trying to destroy your opponent that make me proud to be a hockey player.
I couldnt set it up better than JimHughson. Some nights hockey produces moments that hollywood whiches they had thought up first, and this was definatly one of those.
Aside from the storybook ending this game also showed what hockey as a sport has in spades compared to others.
Respect and Class
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8ZZU6-30Qo
Its moments like this that show how despite the fact hockey players will resport to bare knuckle fighting with each other, few sports have the level of respect and class between players/fans that hockey does. Its moments like this, as well as the post game handshake after you have spent the game trying to destroy your opponent that make me proud to be a hockey player.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Ok, time to get to some regular scheduled programming here at the best blog on the Internet Delbaere-none ( see what i did there). Ok maybe that's a statement i can't back up yet but it was fun to say.
So this is going to be your typical blog. Given whos blog this is it probably wont be where you will find deep philosophical pressing debate topics on a regular basis, although when something irks me or i feel a need to rant you can expect me to have some fun with this. I'm always open for some good arguments, provided its kept somewhat mature, and doesn't resort to "your mother" jokes. For those who best me in the arena of debate you will be honored with the Delbaere World Championship Belt
(and yes I am aware its almost as big as me in the picture, no need to remind me)
So this is going to be your typical blog. Given whos blog this is it probably wont be where you will find deep philosophical pressing debate topics on a regular basis, although when something irks me or i feel a need to rant you can expect me to have some fun with this. I'm always open for some good arguments, provided its kept somewhat mature, and doesn't resort to "your mother" jokes. For those who best me in the arena of debate you will be honored with the Delbaere World Championship Belt
(and yes I am aware its almost as big as me in the picture, no need to remind me)
So you can expect a fair amount of sports talk, the occasional current events talk, and then a healthy portion of my ramblings whether they are coherent or incoherent. SO stay tuned,
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
6 HOURS
Being the eternal optimist that i try to be it kind of annoys me that the first thing to get me into the "blogosphere" is something that is driving me up the wall.
My next post will be more of the welcome to my blog here is what I plan to do with it variety but for now I need to vent.
Barak YES WE CAN Obama is about to take the daunting trip from Washington DC all the way to our fair country. While I do like the guy and feel he is a step in the right direction for our friends south of the 49, can we please let this love affair subside just a tad.
He is going to be in Canada for.....................5 hours. yay?
While its a nice gesture that Canada is getting the first foreign visit of his tenure, the amount of coverage this is getting is slowly pushing me towards the bottle, especially since each newscast is saying and going to cover the same thing
"WE WILL HAVE ALL THE DETAILS OF HIS VISIT FROM THE MOMENT HE STEPS OUT OF HIS PLANE UNTIL HE GOES BACK TO THE US"
let me save you having to watch the news tomorrow
Barak arrives by plane, smiles and waves.
Enters bullet proof car and goes to a meeting
has lunch
has another meeting
goes back to airport
waves and smiles again
adíos Señor Obama
Some riveting news to report on if you ask me. While I truly feel he is going to be much better than he who shall not be named anymore, we need to hold off on the canonization of Saint Barak until he truly makes the world a better place.
But hey its nice to see him come, so welcome Mr. President, enjoy some timbits, meet with our PM but make sure to get home by bedtime
My next post will be more of the welcome to my blog here is what I plan to do with it variety but for now I need to vent.
Barak YES WE CAN Obama is about to take the daunting trip from Washington DC all the way to our fair country. While I do like the guy and feel he is a step in the right direction for our friends south of the 49, can we please let this love affair subside just a tad.
He is going to be in Canada for.....................5 hours. yay?
While its a nice gesture that Canada is getting the first foreign visit of his tenure, the amount of coverage this is getting is slowly pushing me towards the bottle, especially since each newscast is saying and going to cover the same thing
"WE WILL HAVE ALL THE DETAILS OF HIS VISIT FROM THE MOMENT HE STEPS OUT OF HIS PLANE UNTIL HE GOES BACK TO THE US"
let me save you having to watch the news tomorrow
Barak arrives by plane, smiles and waves.
Enters bullet proof car and goes to a meeting
has lunch
has another meeting
goes back to airport
waves and smiles again
adíos Señor Obama
Some riveting news to report on if you ask me. While I truly feel he is going to be much better than he who shall not be named anymore, we need to hold off on the canonization of Saint Barak until he truly makes the world a better place.
But hey its nice to see him come, so welcome Mr. President, enjoy some timbits, meet with our PM but make sure to get home by bedtime
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)