Having fans would have helped chances of Lake Tahoe game
Had spectators been allowed to attend, there’s a chance the Sharks would been included in one of the two outdoor games scheduled to take place next month on the shores of Lake Tahoe.
That’s what NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Monday when asked why the Sharks, the closest team geographically to Lake Tahoe, were not included in the weekend’s festivities.
Confirming reports that originally surfaced Jan. 1, the NHL officially announced Monday that the Vegas Golden Knights will play the Colorado Avalanche on Feb. 20 and the Boston Bruins will play the Philadelphia Flyers the next day at Edgewood Tahoe Resort in Stateline,
Nevada. Fans will not be allowed to attend.
Bettman said that if spectators were allowed, the Sharks would have been considered. The Sharks played the Los Angeles Kings in front of an announced c r owd of 70,205 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Feb. 21, 2015 as part of the NHL’s Stadium Series.
“I’m sure the Sharks would have wanted to participate and frankly, if we were dealing with a game where there was live attendance and we were looking to fill a large stadium as we did with the Sharks and Levi’s Stadium (in 2015), they certainly would have been considered and maybe as well picked,” Bettman said. “But for the circumstances that we were addressing, we think we’ve got four terrific teams giving us two great matchups.”
Bettman also said Monday that the Sharks approached the league about possibly playing a game at the picturesque site for local television after the weekend’s nationally televised festivities were over.
Bettman said the Sharks “asked us to think about, and they would think about, whether or not after we finished the weekend events, maybe they play a game for local television.
“That’s not something that we’re in a position to focus on right now,” Bettman said. “We’re more focused on getting this season up and running.”
The Sharks did not wish to comment on their inquiry into playing a locally televised game at Lake Tahoe.
The Golden Knights and the Avalanche are expected to compete for the NHL’s West Division title this season, while the Sharks are expected to be a borderline playoff team. The other game between the Bruins and the Flyers will also likely bring a larger television audience than any potential matchup involving the Sharks.
“We picked, as we discussed about Lake Tahoe, a beautiful, scenic visual for a national television audience,” Bettman said, “and we think we’ve created two nationally compelling matchups.”
The Sharks on Feb. 20 are scheduled to play in St. Louis against the Blues. Their season opener is Thursday night in Arizona against the Coyotes at Gila River Arena.