Toronto Maple Leafs: 3 Outdoor Venues That Should Host NHL Games
The Toronto Maple Leafs have played in some cool outdoor games before, but there are plenty of untapped markets.
If you were lucky enough to attend the Toronto Maple Leafs outdoor game at BMO Field, The Big House or Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The conditions aren’t great for the players or the fans, but the idea of being surrounded by 100,000 people to watch a hockey game outside is something you’ll never forget.
Over the past two decades, outdoor/novelty games, have been more popular in the NHL and throughout professional sports. In fact, the MLB just recently developed a “Field of Dreams” game where the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox faced off on the same diamond as the movie was filmed.
It was a spectacular event and it drew a different audience to a game that many people probably wouldn’t have watched otherwise. As such, the NHL needs to find something similar and create a brand new event that attracts new viewers.
The NHL has played games in NFL, NCAA and MLB venues before, but they haven’t done anything extreme.
The NHL could copy the “Field of Dreams” game completely and find a rink in Charlestown to replicate “Slapshot” and the Charlestown Chiefs, but the rinks they filmed the movie in are not in the town they created. They filmed the movie in the Utica Comets and Syracuse Crunch rinks, and those venues are too small to hold a big event like this.
As a result, the NHL should look at these three venues to hold an outdoor game, and it would be quite exciting if the Toronto Maple Leafs got to play in one of them.
No. 1: Lake Louise, Alberta
The NHL tried something different by playing a game in Lake Tahoe last year, but that was a disaster. Based on weather, the ice conditions were brutal and the game was delayed all afternoon.
However, one lake where that should be an issue is Lake Louise, Alberta. In fact, the NHL has thought of this idea already, according to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston:
“One thing that comes into my mind watching all this is that this game originally was supposed to be in Lake Louise. That was the NHL’s original hope for this outdoor game. I still think there is interest in the future, potentially, in going back to Lake Louise. One thing that kept that from happening originally was there wasn’t an ability to market on the ice — there was restrictions from the government about ads and things like that. But don’t be surprised if we see them revisit that come the future.”
After reading that quote, it feels like this game is going to happen sooner than later, as it should. If you’ve ever been to Lake Louise or visited any of the mountains in Alberta, it’s spectacular. The views will blow you away and the ice is crisp.
This would be an amazing event and a tourist attraction for any hockey fan.
No. 2: Red Square, Russia
Based on the KHL having such a strong influence in Russia, this may be harder to pull off, but it would be a spectacular event if they did.
As you can see by this video, the KHL held their All-Star game at the Red Square in 2009 and it was amazing. The rink looked great and the surrounding area was even better. Playing a legitimate game right in the heart of the square would be a monumental event.
Alex Ovechkin is one of the biggest stars of the NHL, but is even more beloved in Russia. If they were able to have the Washington Capitals play a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins where Russia born Ovechkin faced off against fellow countrymen Evgeni Malkin, the viewership would be incredible.
As previously mentioned, it may be hard to get the KHL on-board with this, as you’d be marketing in their territory but if they were able to come to an agreement to help both parties, it would be something to watch.
Regardless of what they had to do to make it work, having the ability to play an outdoor game in a foreign country would be a great idea for the NHL.
No. 3: Lake Placid, Mirror Lake
Do you believe in miracles?
Led by Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks, these two original six teams would be perfect for an outdoor game in Lake Placid.
During the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, Team USA shocked the world by winning gold. In what we now famously call the “Miracle on Ice,” the NHL would be smart to market a game at the sight of one of hockey’s biggest moments.
The NHL could highlight some players who were part of that team, but more importantly highlight two of their biggest American-born stars. As previously mentioned, Auston Matthews has to be part of that game and Kane of the Blackhawks make sense as an opponent.
Both of those teams will draw serious television coverage and fans across North America will tune into watch. Lake Placid has plenty of space to hold an event like this and the NHL could boost this up to be one of the biggest sporting spectaculars of all-time.
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Also, based on it’s location, it would not only be a spot where many fans could travel to, but it’s easy for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Blackhawks to get to. Let’s hope that one of these games comes into existence because the Winter Classic bit is getting old and the NHL teams to create something fresh.