The dawn of a new season of NHL training camp is here, and in Edmonton the excitement hits a fevered pitch. Fans scrutinize the Oilers prospects; pack the University of Alberta stadium to watch Oiler rookies take on the CIS Golden Bears. Thousands watch live streams online of relative unknowns wearing the Copper and Blue. Rexall Place will undoubtedly sell out Sunday afternoon to watch the yearly intra-squad scrimmage known as the Joey Moss Cup.
The Problem is that around the National Hockey League, not every city shares the same excitement. And this is fine, many cities do not have hockey as the number one sport or share the same enthusiasm Canadians do. They have the NFL starting, MLB winding up and more than enough reason to ignore training camps. I don’t blame them or point fingers, as it’s completely understandable.
Recently in Lake Traverse, Michigan, the RedWings hosted a rookie tournament which has been a huge success the past couple years. The Dallas Stars rookies won it over Zach Bogosian and his Atlanta Thrashers. Other teams have been asking to join the tournament but the locations and scheduling does not allow for it to be a large event. Similarly in Camrose, Alberta, the Oilers, Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks held a mini-tournament of their rookies. The success was there and will continue next year in a new location.
The lesson the NHL needs to take from this, and from their brethren at Major League Baseball is the idea of a “Grapefruit League” for training camps. The New York Yankees play their entire training camp and preseason games at George Steinbrenner field in Tampa, Florida. The Boston RedSox in Fort Myers, Florida, The Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Arizona. Three of the sports world’s biggest fan bases do not even play their preseason games in their cities because Grapefruit League is a resounding success for baseball. All the teams are in close proximity to each other so numerous training camp games can be played amongst the teams in MLB. Travel costs cut, more opportunities to evaluate squads, teams promote themselves in other regions of the United States.
This is a model the NHL should follow. The brass at the NHL is always trying to expand their product into other markets. They feel the best way is by blind expansion and relocation. Often with disastrous results. As much as Oiler fans love their training camp season, the NHL could follow the Grapefruit model and make the preseason an event in itself. The Sharks in Portland, the Kings in Las Vegas, the Oilers in Saskatoon, the Flames in Regina, the Canucks in well, who cares about the Canucks, okay Seattle. The Flyers already often play in PEI or New Brunswick, get the Bruins in Maine, the Penguins in Kansas City, You get the drift, Eastern and Western Conferences, divisions hold training camps in certain regions around Canada and the United States.
The NHL expands their product. More format to the preseason, rookie tournaments in these local areas that never get the NHL. The teams promote their brand and build up a fan base in other areas. Spread the game, spread the teams, and test the markets. Canadians often feel slighted that the National Hockey League ignores the fan base that according to reports generates 33% of the NHL’s revenue. There are untapped markets all over Canada for cash, that while probably could not support a full time team would open their city to an NHL team for 2 weeks with open arms and wallets. Halifax, Moose Jaw, Victoria… Oh yeah, the token Coyote game in Winnipeg does not count; it’s a complete slap in the face. Actually more a donkey punch because the Peg deserves their own team.
In 1991, the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers played an outdoor game at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. This is often pointed out as a success that led to the Heritage Classic and subsequent outdoor games. Also pointed out as proof Las Vegas could support an NHL team. This season the Kings are back September 27 playing the Colorado Avalanche. The Kings have done this a few years to play a game in Vegas (Roenick dancing like a jackass to the crowd), why not have their entire training camp and preseason’s there? Every team should follow suit and designate cities for their future training camps, get on it NHL. This one’s free.
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