According to a report in the LA Times, Kasten said he plans to explore the possibility of the Kings hosting an NHL Winter Classic Game at Dodger Stadium.
“Facility-wise, we could certainly handle it,” Kasten told the LA Times.
How many of you Canadian hockey fans went crazy when you read that?
Why LA all of a sudden?
Will the weather be acceptable in LA to host an outdoor hockey game?
These are just a few questions that hockey fans are asking and Pucking Hockey is here to answer them for you.
Many fans think the NHL should host the Winter Classic in Canada, sure it makes sense. That’s where the sport was created, well kind of. The Indians were running around with tree sticks and a rock way before hockey was invented, but that’s a story for another day.
The weather would be burrrrfect for an outdoor hockey game in Canada. Which is a BIG plus, but there is ONE reason why I can’t see the NHL hosting the Winter Classic in Canada anytime soon.
You have to believe that the NHL knows they won’t generate as much revenue and ratings if the Winter Classic is held in Canada.
There are 7 NHL teams in Canada and 23 NHL teams in America. Obviously each arena holds between 15,000 and 20,000 but let’s take 15,000 for example.
If there are 23 NHL teams in America and each arena holds 15,000 people that means about 345,000 fans go to see their teams play in America.
As where Canada has 7 teams, and still using the 15,000 example, Canada has about 105,000 fans go to see their teams play.
345,000 fans vs 105,000 fans having to get a passport and pay more money to see the Winter Classic could be BIG loss of money for the NHL.
Of course it’s the same hassle and money for a Canadian to come to America as it is for an American to go to Canada, but the NHL does not see it that way. They feel it’s easier to make money and have ratings if the Winter Classic is held in America.
There are more fans and more teams, that simple.
Now of course before you start the bashing, I am only using the 15,000 example to get my point across. I could break down each teams arena and how much money they generate, but that’s getting off point.
To my belief the only way the NHL will host a Winter Classic game is either the Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames or the Edmonton Oilers will need to win the Stanley Cup.
Which leads me into the next question, why all of a sudden should the LA Kings host the Winter Classic?
Unless you have bad memory loss with what I said earlier in this article, it comes to ratings and revenue, again.
The LA Kings were expected to be the most dangerous team in the Western Conference all season long. They did not live up to the expectations, but then the 2012 Playoffs started and they have been steam rolling through everyone and anyone.
This naturally will lead to more ratings and more revenue. Of course the Dodgers President wants to take advantage of the Kings success. And now is the time to do it, with the Kings impressive playoff run and the Dodgers being in first place.
But, will the weather hold up to host a Winter Classic in Los Angeles?
The average temperature is 68 degrees in January with a low temperature of 48 degrees; an average temperature for a NHL arena is about 58 degrees before the fans come in. Once the fans come in, the temperature can rise to about 70 degrees.
Now I’m no ice making specialist, but to me, those numbers look about the pucking same. The NHL hosted a night Winter Classic; they can do it again if needed.
Sure they may need to spend extra money to keep the ice formed, but in the end, California civilians love their outdoor events and this could very well be one of the biggest Winter Classics to date.
Did I mention California has the largest population in America? 36,756,666 reside in California
HOW ABOUT THAT FOR RATINGS AND REVENUE?
It has been reported by the NHL that Detroit will host the 2013 Winter Classic against the Toronto Maple Leafs. So if LA will host the Winter Classic it won’t be until 2014.
What a shame though, because I would love to see the LA Kings host the Winter Classic. Detroit already played in one and losing talented players due to retirement. And to top that off, who really wants to see the Maple Laffs play? The Laffs got their nick name for a reason, I’m sure you can figure out why.
The Kings have one of the deepest rosters in the NHL and could very well win the 2012 Stanley Cup.
They are a great story and the NHL could very well get Wayne Gretzky back in the picture, I mean, he already told the NHL he is going to attend the Stanley Cup games.
The NHL would generate so much revenue and ratings with the LA Kings hosting the 2014 Winter Classic, and I truly believe it will happen.
Money and revenue is everything to this league…Make it happen Gary Bettman!
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Well I’m old enough to remember it being done in Las Vegas for an exhibition game so I can’t see why it cant be done in LA now..I imagine all the technological advances and such should make it possible. Besides that the thought of playing an outdoor hockey game on ice in California should draw even more intrigue I would think.
I agree, it can be done in LA during the NHL season. As it should be, there’s a ton of potential out there especially since the Kings won the 2012 Cup and are going to make the 2013 playoffs again. I’m actually one of the few who is looking forward to 6 outdoor games in 2014
This is my first time on this site and all I can say is whoever wrote this is a moron. The population of California has nothing to do with why LA should host a winter classic. The same goes for your irrelevant fact about there being 23 teams in the United States and 7 in Canada. That literally has nothing to due with a city’s ability to host a winter classic.
Do some research, it actually does. $$