Full Version: New Years Day Outdoor Doubleheader?
Rumours are that Fenway Park will have the Bruins playing somebody on New Years Day. Word on that has been floating around for weeks. But tonight on Sportsnet they reported that the NHL has approached Calgary to see if they are interested in hosting a game at McMahon Stadium against another Canadian team as a second game of an outdoor doubleheader that day. I suspect Versus would carry the second game in the US after the Fenway game being on NBC. Just a hunch.
Maybe getting a little carried away with yourself, NHL, after the high ratings for the Stanley Cup finals? 
Another blatant plug alert. 
I think having more than one game isn't a good idea. It turns it into a watered-down event.
I think having more than one game isn't a good idea. It turns it into a watered-down event.
I can see your point Joe - but I think it is a case of catering to the Canadian marketplace on this one. In the US a second game (4PM start I assume ET) would likely have it going head to head with the Rose Bowl - but that is not a big draw up here - so I'm sure CBC - who have gotten over a million viewers for the first two games on New Years will likely top 2 million and maybe even more with 2 Canadian teams.
One of these years I would love to see Wings vs Leafs in the Big House in Ann Arbour with half the tickets sold to Wings fans and half the tickets sold to Leaf fans. That would be awesome!
One of these years I would love to see Wings vs Leafs in the Big House in Ann Arbour with half the tickets sold to Wings fans and half the tickets sold to Leaf fans. That would be awesome!
They're definitely catering to Canada, and that's fine. I'd rather see one game, and if it features Canadian teams, then so be it. The league and/or NBC probably feels differently, thinking that they couldn't sell Calgary-Vancouver (or Toronto or Montreal or Ottawa or Edmonton) to the US viewers.
Perhaps they should feature a US vs Canada matchup and instead of the Winter Classic it could be the Cold War?
Perhaps they should feature a US vs Canada matchup and instead of the Winter Classic it could be the Cold War?
Interesting. NBC apparently wants the Flyers instead of the Capitals as Boston's opponent.
Multiple reports are saying the Flyers will indeed be the Bruins' opponent when it's announced. Apparently there will also be an NCAA hockey game at Fenway, possibly Boston College vs. Boston University, but it's a little unclear as to if it will be held the same day or not.
Here is the apparent rationale for NBC wanting the Flyers and not the Capitals:
Here is the apparent rationale for NBC wanting the Flyers and not the Capitals:
QUOTE
The lackluster playoff ratings for NBC during an opening round Stanley Cup playoffs matchup between Alexander Ovechkin and his Washington Capitals vs. the New York Rangers – the hockey team from the nation’s #1 TV market – is believed to at least be partly behind the network’s motives.
Last season’s first round’s Game 6 between the Rangers and Capitals drew a paltry 0.7 rating, off 30% from a 1.0 for Red Wings/Predators Game 6 during the 2008 playoffs. An expected marquee matchup pitting Ovechkin against the Rangers averaged a mere 0.7 for two games on NBC, which was down 22% from a 0.9 for two comparable Red Wings/Predators matchups in ‘08.
Surprisingly the 1.4 rating for NBC’s Game 1 between the Capitals/Penguins was 18% below the 1.7 that Penguins/Flyers Game 3 drew on the network just two weeks prior in the first round of the 2008-09 postseason. That may be the exact kind of number that NBC is looking at in pulling the strings for the Broad Street Bullies.
Locally in Washington, playoff TV ratings for Capitals games were labeled a disappointment as they were down from the 2007-08 postseason — a surprising development given the dream matchup between Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby in the second round of the playoffs.
Last season’s first round’s Game 6 between the Rangers and Capitals drew a paltry 0.7 rating, off 30% from a 1.0 for Red Wings/Predators Game 6 during the 2008 playoffs. An expected marquee matchup pitting Ovechkin against the Rangers averaged a mere 0.7 for two games on NBC, which was down 22% from a 0.9 for two comparable Red Wings/Predators matchups in ‘08.
Surprisingly the 1.4 rating for NBC’s Game 1 between the Capitals/Penguins was 18% below the 1.7 that Penguins/Flyers Game 3 drew on the network just two weeks prior in the first round of the 2008-09 postseason. That may be the exact kind of number that NBC is looking at in pulling the strings for the Broad Street Bullies.
Locally in Washington, playoff TV ratings for Capitals games were labeled a disappointment as they were down from the 2007-08 postseason — a surprising development given the dream matchup between Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby in the second round of the playoffs.
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