Should the NHL allow fans for cup clinching games?

[Balance]

Just watching the NFL with fans has shown its time to start moving away from closed door games and transitioning back to allowing fans in stadiums. I think it would be great to have a select group of fans invited from both teams to watch cup clinching games. It would also set the scene for having fans next season.

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[Hockeyholic]

Just watching the NFL with fans has shown its time to start moving away from closed door games and transitioning back to allowing fans in stadiums. I think it would be great to have a select group of fans invited from both teams to watch cup clinching games. It would also set the scene for having fans next season.

Should they? Probably.

Will they? No.

 

[Gnome17]

There is no way they do something like that this season.
The premise of coming back to play was discussed for months between the NHL and NHLPA, changing something here isnt something you just do an a whim, especially when its about the safety of everyone.
Theyve kept an airtight very successful bubble up for the entire playoffs and they wont make any changes now.

 

[Balance]

There is no way they do something like that this season.
The premise of coming back to play was discussed for months between the NHL and NHLPA, changing something here isnt something you just do an a whim, especially when its about the safety of everyone.
Theyve kept an airtight very successful bubble up for the entire playoffs and they wont make any changes now.

I dont see what is unsafe about letting a few thousand fans for a few games with good sanitation protocols.

The grocery and department stores we go into have thousands of people in and out on the daily and this has been managed.

 

[serp]

They are not going to break the bubble now nor should they. They'll see this through to the end like it was planned. Indoor is also a different animal than an outdoor stadium.



Also having seen this today. Nah i'm good with the current format.

 

[Shaman464]

No, and its stupid as hell for a lot of reasons that the NFL is doing it.

 

[scorpiorising]

We have a breakout of covid in our first day of beer league hockey in Vancouver here. Just keep NHL as is.

 

[JT Kreider]

I bet fans are not allowed in NFL stadiums by Week 5 or so. All it takes is one case even slightly connected to attendance at an NFL game to shut that down

 

[Ryan Michaels]

I thought this thread was going to be asking if the NHL would have fans next season....to answer the OP, no.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Just watching the NFL with fans has shown its time to start moving away from closed door games

We really don't have enough information to draw that conclusion yet. Give it a month or two and check back for results.

 

[Kranix]

Why not just play it safe. It's the covid cup after all.

 

[CanadianHockey]

Grocery stores are essential. Hockey games are not. The NHL would have to re-negotiate with the Ontario government directly, who are currently limiting most sport venues (including the OHL) to fifty spectators (or fewer if 2 meter spacing isn't possible).

Given second wave concerns, current restrictions, and the added stresses for contact tracing, I highly doubt the province is going to agree to that.

 

[Rowlet]

Just watching the NFL with fans has shown its time to start moving away from closed door games and transitioning back to allowing fans in stadiums. I think it would be great to have a select group of fans invited from both teams to watch cup clinching games. It would also set the scene for having fans next season.

Pretty sure all its shown is that NFL owners are greedy, garbage people and that people are incredibly stupid with no concern for their own lives.

 

[tntkid]

The NHL can not function with bubble hockey next season with 30 plus teams.

The league will just fold in many markets.

 

[Cas]

I dont see what is unsafe about letting a few thousand fans for a few games with good sanitation protocols.

The grocery and department stores we go into have thousands of people in and out on the daily and this has been managed.

Grocery stores aren't on NBC.

 

[robertmac43]

Maybe just families in the crowd? Liverpool allowed fans for their trophy lifting game against Chelsea and the NBA has some families in the bubble as of now.

Would keep the numbers considerably low which would be awesome.

 

[robertmac43]

Just watching the NFL with fans has shown its time to start moving away from closed door games and transitioning back to allowing fans in stadiums.

Aren't only 2 teams allowing for fans at this point? KC being one and Jacksonville being the other.

Most are opting to go the safe route.

 

[Super Hans]

Bringing a bunch of Floridians to Edmonton to watch the Lightning lift the Cup sounds like a great idea.

 

[Shinjuku Calling]

no.

 

[jetsforever]

They won't but it could work to just have a limited number (say 100-200) of die-hard fans (spaced out of course) just to get a bit of that vibe.

 

[member 305909]

No, it's not worth the risk.

 

[SUX2BU]

 

[tarheelhockey]

The travel restrictions make it a non-starter.

That being said, if they could manage some sort of an exemption I could see them doing something like:

- Each player/coach gets something like 4-5 tickets for family (so something like 150 people total)
- 2-3 families per section in the lower bowl
- Something like 6 or 8 rows between family groups
- Do this for Games 4-7, so basically anywhere from 1 day to 1 week
- Families stay in the hotel bubble space previously occupied by eliminated teams
- Obviously, same bubble procedures that always apply

With a very minimal level of logistics about entering and exiting their areas, that really should be completely safe. And it would make a really cool dynamic for the presentation of the game. But it all depends on getting travel exemptions, which is not something they can do with the save of a hand.

 

[member 305909]

I thought the Canadian government required a 14-day quarantine on entering the country.

 

[Gunnersaurus Rex]

Grocery stores are essential. Hockey games are not. The NHL would have to re-negotiate with the Ontario government directly, who are currently limiting most sport venues (including the OHL) to fifty spectators (or fewer if 2 meter spacing isn't possible).

Given second wave concerns, current restrictions, and the added stresses for contact tracing, I highly doubt the province is going to agree to that.

Ummm....games are in Edmonton now.....