Are Outdoor Games Losing Their Luster?

Joe Bauer- KEEP THE OUTDOOR SERIES!!

The Winter Classic, Heritage Classic, and the Stadium Series. Regardless of the venue, regardless of the setting, how can you not enjoy an outdoor hockey game?

It’s actually a little disappointing to hear how much flak the Stadium Series gets. “It takes away from the Winter Classic.” No it doesn’t. I don't see how it does.

First, it draws more attention to those who don’t pay as much attention to hockey. Maybe it’s the change in scenery that first draws your attention. “Wait... where are they playing right now? Are... are they outside?!” Yes. Yes they are. It brings more people to pay attention to a game even if it’s for only 3 hours at a time. It can create more hockey fans from nothing. It’s a game that becomes more of a tradition every year. I don’t care if it’s the Winter Classic or Stadium Series games. Even the Heritage Classic should be a yearly game. All of this to just draw in more attention, even to just a handful of games per year.

Second, following more attention from the fans and the people that are involved with hockey fans, comes the money made on all the merchandise, apparel, souvenirs, etc. This one is more aimed at the NHL than anyone else. The amount of money they NHL can demand and pull in for an outdoor game is just ridiculous. I mean, if you charge just as much, if not a little more for tickets for a game at an outdoor stadium than you would for an arena, and add the amount of people that will show up, ca-ching ca-ching. The capital the NHL is able to receive for just one game is astounding. If you multiply that number by three or four games... you get a ton of money. Probably even a literal ton...

And thirdly, piggybacking on number one, when you create those games to play with rival teams, the intensity level goes up. Not just for the fans but also for the teams. Now take a game between the Pens and Flyers for an example. That is a game that anyone who loves hockey it’s a great match to see. The hatred, the intensity, the back and forth chirping. Regardless of who wins, it’s a great game to see. Now take all of that emotion, that hard play, the chirping, and put it outdoors. Which the NHL has finally decided to do. February 18, 2017. Mark it on your calendars. Set a reminder on Facebook, your phone, whatever you need to do. Do not forget. That is a game that will have the intensity of a Stanley Cup Final with the hatred of a rivalry. But we all know that.

However, this time it’s outdoors. Heinz Field will be rocking, fans will be screaming and fighting back and forth for their teams, their pride, their right to be there. It may turn into a madhouse, but it’s gonna be a blast for everyone there.

So that’s what it’s all about. Having fun, having a blast watching a game you wouldn't normally catch a hockey match. It’s a new place, a new setting that turns into just a great place and great time. Not just for the fans, but for the players, too.

Everyone playing hockey growing up wants to play in front of a crowd. Especially a crowd that large.

I never grew up playing hockey, but I grew up with sports. I grew up playing baseball and wanted that thrill of playing in front of stadium full of fans, winning a game in the bottom of the 9th. Now it’s time for kids growing up playing hockey to dream about playing outdoors at Heinz Field, Wrigley Field, Gillette Stadium, scoring the winning goal in overtime against their most hated rival.

Bring on more outdoor games and just keep bringing on all those great games.

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Cody Flavell- GET RID OF THE OUTDOOR SERIES!!

I think I speak for a lot of hockey fans when I say that Outdoor Games have become hard to appreciate. When it is constantly the Blackhawks, Penguins, Bruins, or Flyers playing in the games, then who wants to see originality? Especially in today’s NHL.

We want change. We want new. The NHL’s outdoor series has become stale.

If you are a fan of outdoor games, at least hear me out.

I guess I am sort of excited to see the Pens and Flyers take each other on at Heinz Field next year. It'll be a cool game to watch. Two rivalry teams going head to head outside, especially here in Pittsburgh has a cool ring to it. But that's the only reason I will watch.

I was always a fan of the Winter Classic when the idea was presented and began annually in 2008 with the Penguins and Sabres playing against each other. I can't say I didn't like it, but that was the extent of it. I loved waking up around 12 PM every New Year’s Day knowing that an outdoor hockey game was a part of my January 1st. Although it still is, the idea of this Stadium Series and having two or three other outdoor games throughout the year is ridiculous.

It is way too hard to appreciate the outdoor atmosphere of the Winter Classic when it isn't the only outdoor game special to that year.

I am also against the fact that the NHL brainwashes people into believing that outdoor games are a way to “celebrate the heritage of where the game originated”. For any casual hockey fan, you may not know that hockey was originated in Canada on frozen ponds and began growing into the Olympic phenomenon it is today. But the NHL isn't doing it to celebrate anything. The NHL is doing it because people believe the crap that they spew and it makes them more money. ($$$$$$$). Obviously, any business is out to make money and you can't argue it. I'm just disgusted with the false advertisement and the portrayal in which it is done.

I was unable to attend the previous outdoor game at Heinz Field, but I have a few family and Twitter friends who did attend. They said they were unwilling to pay the unreal prices that the NHL was charging to sit down low so instead they sat up high and completely regretted going in the first place. Obviously a hockey rink isn't nearly as wide or as big as a football field, so the seating was not necessarily right up against the glass. If you weren't down low, it was almost certain you had no clue what was going on and if you're going to pay to sit outside in the freezing cold for a hockey game, you'd likely want to see what was going on.

For me, it's just hard to appreciate what outdoor games have become. Instead of an annual New Year’s Day event, it's become a three or four game event that has overstayed it's welcome. The NHL needs to eliminate the Stadium Series before hell (and winter temperatures) freezes over.