USA TODAY International Edition
After Tahoe: 10 more outdoor sites for NHL
Through one day, the NHL’s Lake Tahoe experiment saw mixed results.
Did it look great on TV? Yes, for the one period it was on before poor ice conditions – the sun turning the surface to slush – caused an eight- hour delay that pushed the game Saturday past midnight on the East Coast.
The second game at Lake Tahoe was pushed to late afternoon Sunday in anticipation of the conditions.
Regardless, the setting is undeniably cool. Events like this could find their way into the annual calendar, NHL chief content officer Steve Mayer said, although some more consideration toward the weather will have to be taken into account.
Here are some places the NHL should consider holding outdoor contests.
Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada
The originally desired destination for this weekend’s games, restrictions made playing there impossible. Hopefully those hurdles can be cleared during non- pandemic times to deliver a stunning presentation.
The Great Lakes
Dropping a rink on a frozen body of water could be treacherous, but the Great Lakes do freeze over in extreme temperatures, which appear more common in the Midwest each winter.
Some great hockey cities sit right on these lakes’ shores, creating easy matchups and marketing opportunities. If Lake Michigan can one day freeze over, play it right off Navy Pier in Chicago and have the Blackhawks face a regional rival such as the Minnesota Wild. Viewing options from there for fans could perhaps be possible.
Pebble Beach
Or another oceanfront golf course. Waves crashing into the shore, a salty mist wafting overhead. Pebble Beach is likely too warm, so perhaps head up the West Coast for a chance to showcase the Seattle Kraken.
Grand Canyon
You want views? Are there many better than this? Temperatures drop low enough at sundown to make it possible, perhaps.
Central Park, New York City
The overhead shots of Central Park in Manhattan are already spellbinding. Having fans involved might be possible.
National Mall, Washington D. C.
Similar to the Central Park idea, see if the public can become involved, while playing a game between America’s monuments.
Yosemite National Park
Set up a rink at Yosemite Village and stay for the natural beauty in one of the country’s most treasured grounds. Glacier National Park in Montana, finding a frozen- over lake there, is another similar idea.
Aircraft carrier
Taking a page out of the college basketball playbook, the NHL can build an event around Veterans Day and put on a showcase for the troops. A hockey game in the middle of the ocean? Pretty cool.
Bristol Motor Speedway
Michigan Stadium, “The Big House,” hosted 100,000 hockey fans a few years back. Pack another non- hockey stadium to the gills here and construct the rink on the infield. Have near- ish teams Carolina and Nashville play.
Fairbanks, Alaska
No, not “Mystery, Alaska,” a movie that served as the inspiration for more remote outdoor games. In Fairbanks, incorporating the Northern Lights would put the visuals over- the- top.