Winter Classic at Notre Dame

[Ace Card Bedard]

Who's going?

I'll be there, section 18.

Click to read more...

 

[Hawkaholic]

I'm so excited, said no one ever.

 

[featherhawk]

hopefully the hawks suck balls this year like last and if they keep Q around that will certainly be the case and then perhaps finally the NHL will be forced to by-pass the hawks in the outdoor games for a a few years.

the nhl has taken a novelty, a good one at that and ruined it be having outdoor games take place too often but all Gary cares about is $$$ so it will continue

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

I went to the outdoor game against Pittsburgh at soldier field. I might have free tickets to this lined up. If so, guaranteed win.

 

[Fenway]

Greetings from the Bruins board.

We have a thread on it and frankly the logistics of getting to South Bend from New England are not great especially with the game being on a Tuesday.

2019 Winter Classic Bruins /Hawks at Notre Dame - travel & tix talk

Bruins have been in 2 outdoor games, both at home - Fenway Park was special, Foxborough not so much.






I lived in Chicago twice for a total of 7 years and I think I know the market. McCub obviously sold the NHL that he could sellout the venue

Driving from Boston to South Bend is a challenge and the best route to avoid lake effect snow is through Ontario.

Amtrak offers direct service but it is 21 hours each way.

Flying means either Detroit or Chicago and renting a car or connecting in either Detroit or Newark.

This isn't going to sell out is my bold prediction.

Blackhawks fans seem to be waiting to see if the team looks better this year and outdoor games are not a novelty for them, South Bend is 900 miles from Boston and has no direct air service. The venue is the second largest the NHL has ever used for an outdoor game. A sellout is very unlikely and they could be looking at 30,000 empty seats or more.

The timezone change from Chicago is something the NHL suits in New York didn't think through as when the clock strikes Midnight on New Year's Eve in the Central Time Zone, the game starts 12 hours later. The drive itself is like driving from Manhattan to New Haven on I-95 except there are no alternate parkways - you have to take the Indiana Toll Road.

The X factor is weather concerns - Lake and Porter Counties in Indiana can be like Buffalo with lake effect snow.

This could be an epic disaster for the NHL.

 

[Sarava]

Yeah, this has bad idea written all over it. I'm not sure I'd go if offered free tickets. I've done the outdoor game thing and it was a fun novelty.

It feels like the Hawks should be out of these outdoor game for the next 4 or 5 years at least. This is beyond overkill.

 

[Hawkaholic]

I lived in Chicago twice for a total of 7 years and I think I know the market. McCub obviously sold the NHL that he could sellout the venue

Driving from Boston to South Bend is a challenge and the best route to avoid lake effect snow is through Ontario.

View attachment 136727

Amtrak offers direct service but it is 21 hours each way.

Flying means either Detroit or Chicago and renting a car or connecting in either Detroit or Newark.





Blackhawks fans seem to be waiting to see if the team looks better this year and outdoor games are not a novelty for them, South Bend is 900 miles from Boston and has no direct air service. The venue is the second largest the NHL has ever used for an outdoor game. A sellout is very unlikely and they could be looking at 30,000 empty seats or more.

The timezone change from Chicago is something the NHL suits in New York didn't think through as when the clock strikes Midnight on New Year's Eve in the Central Time Zone, the game starts 12 hours later. The drive itself is like driving from Manhattan to New Haven on I-95 except there are no alternate parkways - you have to take the Indiana Toll Road.

The X factor is weather concerns - Lake and Porter Counties in Indiana can be like Buffalo with lake effect snow.

This could be an epic disaster for the NHL.

Yeah, not sure driving down Highway 402 in Ontario is going to be any better when it comes to lake effect snow. That highway is constantly shut down because of snow drifting.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Yeah, this has bad idea written all over it. I'm not sure I'd go if offered free tickets. I've done the outdoor game thing and it was a fun novelty.

It feels like the Hawks should be out of these outdoor game for the next 4 or 5 years at least. This is beyond overkill.

It feels like the Hawks civic duty to the league at this point. Every year it's the same...

-lame/underwhelming jerseys (2009 not withstanding)
-Hawks get their asses kicked
-the novelty wears off even more as it's yet ANOTHER year we're in it

 

[No Fun Shogun]

My only interest in the game over a normal regular season game is in the jersey, tbqh.

 

[Rick C137]

Yeah don’t have much interest in driving to Indiana to watch a subpar team play outdoors in January. That would also mean I have to spend New Years in freakin Indiana and who wants to do that?

Don’t think this one was thought out very well. If it was in Chicago, they could have at least gotten people to grab last minute tickets if they’re cheap.

 

[Pez68]

Maybe they were counting on the college students filling it up? Only problem is....aren't most home for Christmas break???

This is likely going to be a total flop. Way too many issues with the time and location.

 

[Game suspension]

What blows me away about these things is the cost of the tickets. Pretty obvious that this is just a big cash grab. Why people are paying a premium to watch the game in the freezing cold from shitty sight lines is beyond me anyway.

 

[ChiHawks10]

What blows me away about these things is the cost of the tickets. Pretty obvious that this is just a big cash grab. Why people are paying a premium to watch the game in the freezing cold from ****ty sight lines is beyond me anyway.

That answer is simple. The experience. To say you've done it. Nothing more.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Pretty obvious that this is just a big cash grab.

No offense, but it took you this long to realize that NHL outdoor games were anything other than cash grabs? That's the way they've always been, it's just the novelty wore off almost a decade ago.

 

[Game suspension]

No offense, but it took you this long to realize that NHL outdoor games were anything other than cash grabs? That's the way they've always been, it's just the novelty wore off almost a decade ago.

If the novelty wore off a decade ago how come they are still going on? Clearly they won't stop until the NHL takes a financial hit and the ratings suck. Personally I think the ratings will always be okay because it is New Years day and the general public is hungover and just want to crash on the couch and watch TV. The real key to ending these things is to have a horrible turn out.

All I can say is I won't be there. Went to the Wrigley game. Paid by dues. Never again.

 

[No Fun Shogun]

Ratings already suck. They keep doing it because they keep making extra dough.

 

[Game suspension]

Ratings already suck. They keep doing it because they keep making extra dough.

Depends on your expectations. If you get half the average audience of a Stanley cup final is that good? I would say yes. The trend of these winter classics is down obviously but I would imagine it is a league marketing thing baked in.

Winter classic

NHL Winter Classic - Wikipedia.

NHL final round

Stanley Cup Finals television ratings - Wikipedia

 

[Kaners PPGs]

That answer is simple. The experience. To say you've done it. Nothing more.

Really? Who cares if you've gone to an outdoor game?

 

[talkinaway]

Maybe they were counting on the college students filling it up? Only problem is....aren't most home for Christmas break???

This is likely going to be a total flop. Way too many issues with the time and location.

College students might not fill it up - especially those on a budget. But I've always thought of Notre Dame has having one of the more loyal groups of alumni - I'd think selling to groups of alumni for a mini-reunion centered partly around the Winter Classic might work.

Note that I said "might" - yes, there are South Bend logistical problems, but I'm sure Notre Dame alumni know all about them, and are somewhat used to them if they go back for football games and/or reunions. Of course, team quality is an issue, and some folks may be waiting a month or two to see if the teams are worth it - and that's true for both Blackhawks fans and Bruins fans. And, there's the issue of "here we go again" - as a Bruins fan, I'm already over being part of the Winter Classic this year. I can't even begin to imagine how Hawks fans feel about it.

Personally, I got my tickets early as a Bruins STH, and managed to finagle a rare return because, after two weeks, they still hadn't fixed the issues they had with the NHL Ticket Exchange. Never been happier with a non-purchase.

 

[Game suspension]

Seabrook went to a Notre Dame game. If that doesn't sell tickets I don't know what will.

Seabrook takes early look at Winter Classic site at college football game

 

[pvr]

The jersey...

 

[pvr]

 

[x Tame Impala]

Not too bad. Would've liked some red in there but they're cool enough

 

[clydesdale line]

Not too bad. Would've liked some red in there but they're cool enough

Completely agree, especially with the red.

 

[Styles]

Might actually have to get one of those jerseys. On a different note I wish we would make the 09 classic jerseys our thirds.