CBC Driving Force Behind Potential Calgary Outdoor Game

Some Oppose Potential Second NHL Winter Classic So As Not To Dilute Concept

The prospect of a potential second NHL outdoor game played in Calgary on January 1, 2010 was "first broached four months ago and has largely been driven by the CBC, the primary TV rights holder in Canada," according to Duhatschek & Maki of the GLOBE & MAIL. The proposal would see two games played back-to-back -- a Bruins game at Fenway Park televised on NBC and the Calgary game on CBC and Versus. But the plan "still requires approval from all the major stakeholders, as well as the NHL's competition committee." Duhatschek & Maki noted there is "some opposition at the league level to the proposed doubleheader on the grounds that the outdoor game could become passé if it becomes diluted by too much exposure." However, the CBC "invests a great deal more in rights fees than NBC," and it is "believed that the CBC's wishes will be met." The "primary logistical issue will be cobbling together a second ice-making plant" for the game in Calgary, "after the NHL purchased its own mobile ice-making plant" (GLOBE & MAIL, 6/20). NHLPA Exec Dir Paul Kelly acknowledged that there was "pressure from Canadian fans and [the CBC], who felt excluded by the Winter Classic process which, by next Jan. 1, will have featured six American-based teams." But ESPN.com's Scott Burnside wrote if history is "any indicator look for the NHL's competition committee to put the kibosh on the plan when they meet Thursday." The proposal "must be approved by ... seven of 10 voting members of the competition committee," and Kelly said that he did not think that instructing the five players who sit on the committee to "vote against a second outdoor game ... would be necessary." Kelly: "I don't think I have to do that. I will tell you that last year when the competition committee met this issue came up and all five players and, in fact, all voting members of both sides of the fence did not support a second Winter Classic game" (ESPN.com, 6/20). In Calgary, Myers & Hall noted the CBC is the "major force behind the Calgary proposal." Flames President & CEO Ken King: "If and when it happens, it will be a great opportunity. But we don't know that yet, so we shouldn't get too far ahead of ourselves" (CALGARY HERALD, 6/20).

PLANNING AHEAD: In Calgary, Wes Gilbertson reported NHL Facilities Operations Manager Dan Craig, the league's "ice-making guru, was a surprise visitor at McMahon Stadium" Friday, an appearance that "will only add fuel to speculation the back-half of a Winter Classic doubleheader" will be held at the facility. However, King said, "We are nowhere beyond that of a concept and an idea that the league is working on and it isn't past the concept stage, to my knowledge." A source said that the NHL will "announce its plans for the next Winter Classic in mid-July" (CALGARY SUN, 6/20). Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment President & CEO Richard Peddie said the Maple Leafs are "very interested" in participating in a potential Calgary game. Peddie: "If the [NHL] invited us, we would jump at it. Any chance we have to bring the Leafs across Canada, we support" (TORONTO SUN, 6/20).

Writer Says NHL Should Not Trade Successful Winter Classic For "Winter Overkill"

DON'T MESS WITH SUCCESS: ESPN.com's Burnside wrote, "It appears the NHL is prepared to trade its wildly successful Winter Classic for what would be Winter Overkill." Burnside: "Instead of protecting and nurturing one of the league's shining success stories since the end of the 2004-05 lockout, the NHL is now entertaining the notion of destroying the very uniqueness that has made the Winter Classic so compelling by trying to jam another outdoor event onto the schedule. ... The idea Canadian franchises and/or the CBC are forcing the NHL to essentially give Canada its own outdoor game is ludicrous." Media members would "have to choose between covering one or the other game, splintering the attention as opposed to the steady buildup that has marked the previous two outdoor ventures since the end of the lockout." Burnside: "How does having a second outdoor game do anything but lessen the impact of both games?" (ESPN.com, 6/19). YAHOO SPORTS' Sean Leahy wrote, "Please, let's keep this to just a one time deal per season." The NHL has a "great thing going right now with the Winter Classic." Leahy: "Why dilute the excitement and uniqueness of it all by adding a second game? ... The NHL is coming off another great Stanley Cup Finals, with its highest TV ratings in 36 years. Add that with next season's Winter Classic in storied Fenway Park and then the Olympics a month later and it's clear, hockey is on a serious up-swing. The mojo is good. Let's not mess with it" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/21).