Let's take the one good idea the NHL has executed in the last few years, and piss all over it:

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/91803 ... ources-say

The NHL is in the final planning stages of its much-anticipated series of outdoor stadium games next season with six outdoor contests set to take place in football and baseball stadiums across North America, sources familiar with the plan confirmed to ESPN.com Tuesday.

The series will start with the annual Winter Classic, recently confirmed for Ann Arbor, Mich., on Jan. 1, 2014, and will continue with games in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Vancouver.

The league hopes to unveil ...

Read full story

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Not a mult.

I don't see the issue. It's a draw for the casual fan.

I had written a long, thoughtful counterpoint, but BF's motherfucking auto log-out killed it when I went to submit it

In a nutshell: IMO it only appeals to the casual fan when it is a unique, once-a-year "event". You water the concept down, you lose the appeal.

Bettman's "more/merrier" approach will succeed with this plan about as well as the same approach has worked with expansion.

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Not a mult.

As a 'hardcore' hockey fan I'm against it. From a casual fan and business perspective it makes sense. Even something as simple as, say those 6 games were played in regular arenas. That's roughly 120,000 ticket sales and $ to split into the CBA for teams to spend. By having them outside, figure 40-50k per game, at least double the revenue going back to the league/teams. Add in additional marketing exposure and I'm sure this will be a nice financial boon to the league.

All that said, this better be the only year for it.

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Team Cutler.

We'll see. I can see this doing very well for 2-3 years and then them not even selling out games if the casual fan gets bored of it or if they get too cocky and try outdoor games in Phoenix.

There's one huge problem, and I remember it happened when the Penguins hosted the game at Heinz Field a couple years ago in Pittsburgh vs. the Capitals, I do believe. The weather wasn't that cold, and I remember they ended up playing the game in primetime when temperatures were cold enough for the ice to hold.

Dumb.

These games should be played in warm weather cities...

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Next time that happens, click the back button on your browser, then copy your text, sign back in & try to post again.

Hawks are officially hosting the Pens next year in one of the outdoor games. Too bad its at fucking Soldier Field and not Wrigley. March 1st though??

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=6687 ... l:topheads

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Wrigley probably won't be available due to all the renvovations that will be happening.

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I've seen the Badgers play outdoors at Lambeau, Soldier and Camp Randall. Each time I ultimately regret it. It's cold, you can't really see much and once the novelty of seeing the rink wears off, I want to leave. No clue why I keep attending, but I'm sure I'll try to see the Hawks at Soldier too.

The amount of dead space outside the rink at a football field looks to be too much. It just looks too weird.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!