The NHL’s annual Winter Classic drew 16% less TV viewers than last year’s. The audience of 920,000 was the event’s lowest ever.
That’s hardly shocking.
The Winter Classic featured two subpar teams, St. Louis and host Chicago. The Blackhawks currently sit last in the NHL’s Central Division and their alleged superstar Connor Bedard isn’t one, not yet.
The appeal of Wrigley Field’s backdrop is momentary. Once you’ve seen it, you’ve seen it.
The NHL tries to spread around its outdoor games. Get the whole league involved. The next one is March 1 at Ohio Stadium between Detroit and host Columbus. Another blah matchup.
If the NHL is going to do outdoor games, it should forget about fair.
Every game should feature championship-caliber teams and/or legit marquee players in cold-weather markets where scenario and ice can both be counted on.
Better yet, don’t do outdoor games for a while. Or limit them to one per season.
The NHL still relies on ticket revenue. Outdoor games are a cash cow in that regard.
But the NHL had four outdoor games last season. That’s not special. That’s overkill.
Do Sidney Crosby vs. Alexander Ovechkin one more time.
Do Crosby vs. Connor McDavid.
Do a matchup that people want to see.
St. Louis vs. Chicago wasn’t it.
Does the NHL want heightened exposure and more ad revenue via ratings, or does the NHL want to be fair?
Working the Winter Classic around the college football playoffs wasn’t easy. But the New Year’s Six bowl games have always been an obstacle.
Face it, hockey just isn’t that popular.
