WJC: Damian Cox: Canada's constant home-ice advantage is killing WJCs

[Jussi]

Here, we have a different philosophy - if the stands are full of rabid supporters, your team generally will step up and perform well.

The case you're making is "our team sucks, so don't bother going". Yeah, that's motivational....

No, it means "no talent in team=team closer to relegation than medals=no one interested in watching the team=no profit from tournament".

 

[GKJ]

Nah, not really correct.

The last time I checked there were like "E"-pools (5 divisions) in the WJC. In other words, proof that you can host a tournament without it being played in Canada.

With that said -- the WJC's draws people to the arenas in Canada, not anywhere else. So play it there a lot.

But its unfortunate that its played in NA for so many straight years.

Yeah but it's much much more expensive to put on a tournament that gets as much coverage as it does.

 

[PuckOut]

Agreed. No reason for Europeans to go crazy about this tournament when they can watch their own team's propspects play every week for their local team. The WJC therefore is even smaller in Europe than the World Championships is in Canada and the US.

Yeah, and most hockey fans don't really care about the NHL too much so watching other national teams to catch up with who's gonna be the next NHL star just isn't that interesting. And that's why europeans pretty much just support their favourite team and their national team. Watching Canada-Russia in WJC isn't interesting for your average hockey fan here, that's just for the hardcore few.

 

[PuckOut]

Haha, according to the swedish commentator the canadians have removed all the comfortable furniture from the swedish dressing room as well as equipment like tv's and such before the game. Playing mind games eh?

That's hilarious, but probably not something worthy of a host nation.

 

[BruceOp]

I say just hold it exclusively in places like Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Maritimes and any other place (Canadian province/American state) that it is likely to sell that doesn't have an NHL franchise.

 

[DoyleG]

This whole issue came up back during the first WJC dynasty. Europeans wouldn't care about the tournament since, like other age limit tournaments, its considered to be merely part of the development process. It's the senior national team that has the prominence.

The problem is that doesn't do good for IIHF finances, hence why Canada will host it so many times in the future. The problem may come down to finances, as it would only leave the bigger communities in a position to benefit.

 

[emb24*]

This whole issue came up back during the first WJC dynasty. Europeans wouldn't care about the tournament since, like other age limit tournaments, its considered to be merely part of the development process. It's the senior national team that has the prominence.

The problem is that doesn't do good for IIHF finances, hence why Canada will host it so many times in the future. The problem may come down to finances, as it would only leave the bigger communities in a position to benefit.

Europeans should start caring about it. it's a premiere development competitive showcase tourney for world class talent that will FEED the senior national teams.

 

[TRASHCAT]

I dont even understand why other teams show up. Tournament implies some sort of compitition.

 

[wjhl2009fan]

I say just hold it exclusively in places like Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Maritimes and any other place (Canadian province/American state) that it is likely to sell that doesn't have an NHL franchise.

Look at ottawa last year it was a huge success and i am sure edmonton-calgary will aslo be a huge success.I beleave last year ottawa aslo set attendance records as well.I don't see why the event should be excluvisvely in non nhl markets.

 

[DoyleG]

Europeans should start caring about it. it's a premiere development competitive showcase tourney for world class talent that will FEED the senior national teams.

The major flaw with your argument is the European logic on development v. the Canadian one.

In Europe, if you are considered a first-rate player in any at sport at 18 or 19, your on the first-team of your club. As such, you wouldn't get selected for a junior side such as the U20's. A U-23 side was far more likely as its competitions were more in line with tournaments at the European level. When one looks at the NBA players that come in through the draft, many of the start players already had some pro experience before they got drafted. In their case, their already juicing the youth system for everything. Hence, there's no real need to take such a tournament as seriously.

 

[Jesus Christ Horburn]

Buffalo next year will be great.

Hockey fans there are just as crazy as anywhere in Canada (Buffalo is almost Canada anyways )

 

[Steve Kournianos]

keep the tourney in canada and northern u.s. hockey is a business like any other. it's stupid to throw money away to make a few thousand people happy on one side of the atlantic while concurrently making hundreds of thousands irked on the other.

 

[Talus]

I think this tournament should go to Europe once every three years.
The tournament should be held in major cities not in small rural towns.
If you think there is limited interest in this tournament in Europe now,you will have no interest at all if it's held in NA all the time.

 

[Davebo*]

I think this tournament should go to Europe once every three years.
The tournament should be held in major cities not in small rural towns.
If you think there is limited interest in this tournament in Europe now,you will have no interest at all if it's held in NA all the time.

If Europeans would learn to live up to their obligations, this tournament would be in Europe THIS YEAR.

So, what say you now?

 

[drew1234]

#1. Profit is shared equally among all teams.

Therefore, it is great when the stands are full and money from tv ratings pour in. The money made from this tournament help teams like Latvia/Kaz/Germany etc for the future. Which is why its great to be in Pool A and lose vs Pool B and win.

Yes, its kinda unfair being in canada but if other markets can be profitable to help all nations then im for it.

 

[ComrieFanatic]

Canada sells way more tickets and has corporations lined up to sponsor the tournament. This means more money for IIHF and a ton of money for Hockey Canada. It's too bad that the tournament isn't more popular else where, but what can you do?

How often are the World Championships played in Canada and the US? That tournament is far more popular overseas and I may be wrong, but it's rarely held in North America - last year was the first I can remember being in Canada in a long time.

 

[Heat McManus]

I imagine the tournament would still exist without Canada's help. It just would be a lot smaller in scale.

 

[wjhl2009fan]

Canada sells way more tickets and has corporations lined up to sponsor the tournament. This means more money for IIHF and a ton of money for Hockey Canada. It's too bad that the tournament isn't more popular else where, but what can you do?

How often are the World Championships played in Canada and the US? That tournament is far more popular overseas and I may be wrong, but it's rarely held in North America - last year was the first I can remember being in Canada in a long time.

With the world championship the time of year its held it may be hard to get arenas in north america.

 

[Mihairokov]

Just posting this here, too:

TOP 11 U20 Attendances Since 2000 (By Average) Location, Total Attendance, Average Attendance
2009 Top Ottawa, Canada 453,282 14,622
2006 Top Kamloops, Kelowna & Vancouver, Canada 325,138 10,488
2003 Top Halifax & Sydney, Canada 231,393 7,464
2005 Top Grand Forks & Thief River Falls, USA 193,256 6,234
2002 Top Pardubice & Hradec Kralove, Czech Rep 111,128 3,628
2008 Top Pardubice & Liberec, Czech Republic 103,179 3,328
2004 Top Helsinki & Hameenlinna, Finland 102,869 3,318
2001 Top Moscow & Podolsk, Russia 82,400 2,423
2003 DIV IA Almaty, Kazakhstan 35,300 2,353
2008 DIV IB Riga, Latvia 33,320 2,221
2007 Top Leksand & Mora, Sweden 63,493 2,048

The thing to remember with these numbers are the sizes of the arenas used. I think we're all aware that the arenas used in Leksand & Mora aren't the same size as what is used in Vancouver or Ottawa. Surely if Sweden held their U20s at the Globe Arena or Scandinavium their numbers would be higher, one would think.

 

[syc]

Buffalo next year will be great.

Hockey fans there are just as crazy as anywhere in Canada (Buffalo is almost Canada anyways )

Yet they depend on southern Ontario to sell out their NHL team. Fine fans compared to most US cities but far from crazy.

 

[BlackAces*]

Yet they depend on southern Ontario to sell out their NHL team. Fine fans compared to most US cities but far from crazy.

I have higher hopes for Buffalo, but you raise good points. I wonder why Minnesota hasn't gotten it, or bid for it?

 

[missinthejets]

Look at ottawa last year it was a huge success and i am sure edmonton-calgary will aslo be a huge success.I beleave last year ottawa aslo set attendance records as well.I don't see why the event should be excluvisvely in non nhl markets.

because it's throwing a bone to the places that can't go out and watch the NHL team play. The whole setting attendance records things really started in Winnipeg cause the city needed some hockey to get behind, but then it got bigger and the cities that had NHL teams wanted to jump on board too, but really they already have their NHL teams, let the smaller cities have something every once in a while.

 

[Rob]

Buffalo next year will be great.

Hockey fans there are just as crazy as anywhere in Canada (Buffalo is almost Canada anyways )

A Canada v USA game in Buffalo would be very interesting indeed. Which team would have more fans?

 

[Wetcoaster]

Problem is, is when the tourny is in europe no one shows up

Or we have a Punch Up in Piestany...

 

[wjhl2009fan]

because it's throwing a bone to the places that can't go out and watch the NHL team play. The whole setting attendance records things really started in Winnipeg cause the city needed some hockey to get behind, but then it got bigger and the cities that had NHL teams wanted to jump on board too, but really they already have their NHL teams, let the smaller cities have something every once in a while.

I agree now and then move it around between small and bigger citys.But don't just say it should not be in nhl citys it does very well there.