2009 will be great

Its going to be nice next year back in canada.Each game will be sold out.

You bet.

The iihf should say bye europe and move them full time to canada.

The iihf should say bye europe and move them full time to canada.

No... no see it's called the International Ice Hockey Federation.

No... no see it's called the International Ice Hockey Federation.

See its called support which they don't get in europe.Just take next year in ottawa 70% of tickets have been sold.They have sold more tickets then the czech rep have and last years as well.There is a choice playing in empty buuldings or full houses each game.

No... no see it's called the International Ice Hockey Federation.

Maybe he thinks International = US + Canada?? :D

Maybe he thinks International = US + Canada?? :D

What would you want empty buildings.Or sold out games.

See its called support which they don't get in europe.Just take next year in ottawa 70% of tickets have been sold.They have sold more tickets then the czech rep have and last years as well.There is a choice playing in empty buuldings or full houses each game.

But you have to play the WJC in europe once in a while to build the interest for the tournament. Give it time and the WJC will grow in europe too.

What would you want empty buildings.Or sold out games.

I don't care.

Good, competitive hockey is all I want.

Its going to be nice next year back in canada.Each game will be sold out.

I like spaghetti.

I don't care.

Good, competitive hockey is all I want.

You one of the rare ones.People want sell outs or close to it.This inludes fan/networks/players/coaches etc.I do think there are areas in europe that are hot beds sweden/switzerland are the tops.

Canada will have a lot of players from this one to the one in Ottawa!

Whoa, did you see all the Canadians at the game today!? Wow!

Will be looking forward to see Kuchin, Kitsyn, Paajaveri, Hedman, Tavares, Rajala, Jordan Schroeder, etc, by then as well. :D

See its called support which they don't get in europe.Just take next year in ottawa 70% of tickets have been sold.They have sold more tickets then the czech rep have and last years as well.There is a choice playing in empty buuldings or full houses each game.

.....

No I don't think you're getting it; I'll try again... see it's called International Ice Hockey Federation. Why on EARTH, even for the sake of filling the buildings, would they permanently move the tournament to Canada? It is hardly about ticket sales... Do you want hockey to fall off the face of the planet altogether, except for Canada? I mean come on now, use your brain.

.....

No I don't think you're getting it; I'll try again... see it's called International Ice Hockey Federation. Why on EARTH, even for the sake of filling the buildings, would they permanently move the tournament to Canada? It is hardly about ticket sales... Do you want hockey to fall off the face of the planet altogether, except for Canada? I mean come on now, use your brain.

You for what ever reason don't under stand.They need support for the networks/sponcers etc.Having empty buildings is not helping anyone.Why do you think so few networks want a part of this thats right now support.Just take next year for exzample there will be 14 networks showing games.They have lost sponcers in the past due to lack of support.Now take the players do you think they like playing in front of so little fans.I am not so much talking about moving it full time but and there is some truth to this they will be more tournemants in canada starting in 2009.From 2009-2012 the tournemants will be in canada.Then 2013 it will be in europe then another 3 years in canada.The point i am trying to make is they need to stay away from the so called smaller markets in europe.This is much more about filling buildings this will help everyone involved.I am aware and i should not have said they can't move it here full time .Americans should be very excited about it beeing in ottawa next year for the first time all usa games will be aired.

You for what ever reason don't under stand.They need support for the networks/sponcers etc.Having empty buildings is not helping anyone.Why do you think so few networks want a part of this thats right now support.Just take next year for exzample there will be 14 networks showing games.They have lost sponcers in the past due to lack of support.Now take the players do you think they like playing in front of so little fans.I am not so much talking about moving it full time but and there is some truth to this they will be more tournemants in canada starting in 2009.From 2009-2012 the tournemants will be in canada.Then 2013 it will be in europe then another 3 years in canada.The point i am trying to make is they need to stay away from the so called smaller markets in europe.This is much more about filling buildings this will help everyone involved.I am aware and i should not have said they can't move it here full time .Americans should be very excited about it beeing in ottawa next year for the first time all usa games will be aired.

But all sponsors aren´t in North America. If you take the tournament from Europe then the Europeans will dont´care about it at all. Not the sponsors, the Teams and supporters! If the WJCH will still be alive it must be tormaments in Europe too, if not the interesting for WJCH will be gone!

If there won't be any junior tournaments in Europe how those could get any marketting/publicity/watchers either. And since the time difference it's even worse if all events will be in Canada. Junior hockey is small in Europe, yep. But same goes for football(or soccer that's) in USA, still they had World Cup in USA.

If you have all events just in place where games are already established then it's obvious nothing will change in the future either.

It surely won't help european junior hockey or getting WJC bigger event to have it every year in Canada. Actually it will just do it smaller and less publicity.

Fact is WJC won't get any bigger in Canada that it's already. But it could be get a lot bigger in Europe, so obviously there should be tournaments in Europe a lot as well.

.....

No I don't think you're getting it; I'll try again... see it's called International Ice Hockey Federation. Why on EARTH, even for the sake of filling the buildings, would they permanently move the tournament to Canada? It is hardly about ticket sales... Do you want hockey to fall off the face of the planet altogether, except for Canada? I mean come on now, use your brain.
Why the hell not...

We've seen the exact opposite happen for years and it never worked.

Take the fifa there are very very few events in north america.They do it so why can't they iihf.

The iihf should say bye europe and move them full time to canada.

Ah. Ignorant Canadian/American who thinks that the whole hockey world revolves around the NHL and that everything should be in Canada just because they have more people. For god's sake.

Ah. Ignorant Canadian/American who thinks that the whole hockey world revolves around the NHL and that everything should be in Canada just because they have more people. For god's sake.

AGREED! And remember that the most of the Teams in the International hockey are from EUROPE! Without Europe the hockey would be like as it is today! I cannot belivie how a Canadian can thinking about to have all tournaments in Canada. It should destroy the hockey and even for the Canadian hockey!

Ah. Ignorant Canadian/American who thinks that the whole hockey world revolves around the NHL and that everything should be in Canada just because they have more people. For god's sake.

For freak sake your really going over board.Tell me this why is most of the major soccer events held in europe.Thats right because they sell out.Why should this be any different.This is not about more people this is about people who will sell out the games.Take some games in this tournemant there were some games that had a 750 crowd.Each game next year will be sold out 10,500 and the civic centre and 21,000 at the scotia bank place.If england for exzample or any contry in europe would show the repesct is should get this topic would be moot.I think its good the iihf trys andf spreads it out something the fifa does not do.If europe can step it up then come on if now stop yapping what a great market it is.

For freak sake your really going over board.Tell me this why is most of the major soccer events held in europe.Thats right because they sell out.Why should this be any different.This is not about more people this is about people who will sell out the games.Take some games in this tournemant there were some games that had a 750 crowd.Each game next year will be sold out 10,500 and the civic centre and 21,000 at the scotia bank place.If england for exzample or any contry in europe would show the repesct is should get this topic would be moot.I think its good the iihf trys andf spreads it out something the fifa does not do.If europe can step it up then come on if now stop yapping what a great market it is.

The IIHF's main concern is not about making as much money as possible. It's bringing hockey around the world, and making sure that fans all around the world can see the best senior and junior hockey.

The Fifa world cup has a seeding system where the world cup is evenly distributed between all of the continents

74 - West Germany
78 - Argentina
82 - Spain
86 - Mexico
90 - Italy
94 - USA
98 - France
02 - Japan and South Korea
06 - Germany
10 - South Africa

Take the fifa there are very very few events in north america.They do it so why can't they iihf.

STOP PLEASE with your stupid comments!!!!!!!!!!! Football(soccer) is far way bigger than icehockey! Its many more countries in the world which want to host the Fifa World Cup! In football you must count whole both South America and North America as a continent, not only North America! North America it to small to host World Cup often. If you don´t know, I can tell you that the World ARE bigger than North America.

STOP PLEASE with your stupid comments!!!!!!!!!!! Football(soccer) is far way bigger than icehockey! Its many more countries in the world which want to host the Fifa World Cup! In football you must count whole both South America and North America as a continent, not only North America! North America it to small to host World Cup often. If you don´t know, I can tell you that the World ARE bigger than North America.

I am not talking about the world cup.By your logic it does not matter about the fans at all.Hey lets have the jrs play in mexico.For what ever reason you seem to think i have some sort of hate on for europe.That is so far from the truth its not even funny.I want the best for the words if europe could support it then have it there each year.

I am not talking about the world cup.By your logic it does not matter about the fans at all.Hey lets have the jrs play in mexico.For what ever reason you seem to think i have some sort of hate on for europe.That is so far from the truth its not even funny.I want the best for the words if europe could support it then have it there each year.


Come on, you cannot compare Mexico with Europe in ICEHOCKEY! WJCH needs tournaments in Europe to ALIVE! Have you get it?????? You should worry about how you could do the interesting bigger in Europe! Do you really think that the Europeans interesting will be bigger if the tournaments always are in Canada?
The interesting for WCH is very low in Canada and US, so they shouldn´t host any tournaments! Do you think so????? It´s stupid!

Come on, you cannot compare Mexico with Europe in ICEHOCKEY! WJCH needs tournaments in Europe to ALIVE! Have you get it?????? You should worry about how you could do the interesting bigger in Europe! Do you really think that the Europeans interesting will be bigger if the tournaments always are in Canada!
The interesting for WCH is very low in Canada and US, so the shouldn´t host any tournaments! Do you think so????? It´s stupid!

The point i am trying to make.Is do your reward countrys that do support the event or not.

The point i am trying to make.Is do your reward countrys that do support the event or not.

Okay, no WHC in North America because the lack of interesting! Say to IIHF that they should move WHC 2008 from Canada to Europe!

Okay, no WHC in North America because the lack of interesting! Say to IIHF that they should move WHC 2008 from Canada to Europe!

If they was lack of ticket sales.Then lets just say there was a country in europe sold 20,000 tickets then yes.

If they was lack of ticket sales.Then lets just say there was a country in europe sold 20,000 tickets then yes.

There's not many 20,000 seaters in most European countries

For example this year.

The Cez Arena in Pardubice and the arena Liberec cannot hold over 10,000

If they was lack of ticket sales.Then lets just say there was a country in europe sold 20,000 tickets then yes.

20,000?????????? Sweden´s biggest hockey arena, Stockholm Globe Arena, only takes 13,850 persons. So do you think Sweden shouldn´t host WCH even if the interesting is bigger than in Canada? Pathetic!:help:

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l290/Dinatina/800px-Globen_Stockholm_February_200.jpg

There's been good crowds this year and not just for the Czech games. Russia-Usa was well attented as Canada-Sweden.

Don't be that naive to think that Swiss-Latvia will get more than 800 in Ottawa...

Finally the crowds no matter their size are much better in Europe especially here with the drums the singing the scarfs and everything.
Really soccer crowd we have for this tournament it's wonderful.

There's been good crowds this year and not just for the Czech games. Russia-Usa was well attented as Canada-Sweden.

Don't be that naive to think that Swiss-Latvia will get more than 800 in Ottawa...

Finally the crowds no matter their size are much better in Europe especially here with the drums the singing the scarfs and everything.
Really soccer crowd we have for this tournament it's wonderful.

Yes a swiss-latvia game will be sold out in ottawa.Well put it this way all the seats will be sold out.Ottawa is one of the best markets out there for jr hockey.No game will have less then less 10,000.There is a difference between having 5-10,000 beeing great supporters.And having buildings sold out.A game has not been played out and already ottawa has set new ticket sales records.It is great to see the euro fans it would just be nice to see more of them

Sthlm
Not 20,000 for one game.I mean 20,000 ticket packges sold.Just the remarks for mats sundin and daniel alfredson give postive things about hockey in sweden.Bu they both say changes need to be done to make it even better.

The bottom line is it, it is the principle of the thing. You're talking about permanently moving to Canada, a tournament sponsored by the International Ice Hockey Federation. That's like moving the Olympics to a certain country for good, because it attracts more people than other countries.

The bottom line is it, it is the principle of the thing. You're talking about permanently moving to Canada, a tournament sponsored by the International Ice Hockey Federation. That's like moving the Olympics to a certain country for good, because it attracts more people than other countries.

What i was trying to say is this.Hold in canada 5 years on and then 5 years off.There are great markets in europe but not nealry enough.

They have good crowds this year in Pardubice great arena for junior hockey and tremendous atmosphere. Don't need 19 000 people like they have at air canada centre and make absolutely ZERO NOISE.

In Europe hockey isn't #1 like in Canada relax there's plenty other sports in Europe unlike Canada and 10 000 in Pardubice equals 100 000 in Canada in terms of atmosphere.

They have good crowds this year in Pardubice great arena for junior hockey and tremendous atmosphere. Don't need 19 000 people like they have at air canada centre and make absolutely ZERO NOISE.

In Europe hockey isn't #1 like in Canada relax there's plenty other sports in Europe unlike Canada and 10 000 in Pardubice equals 100 000 in Canada in terms of atmosphere.

I would not call 10,000 good crowds.However it is a good start for them.Maybe they will get better.By the way canada is more then hockey.

Lacrosse
Hockey
Rugby

Are the 3 major sports in canada.

and i dont like watching games at 7 in the morning, and missing the gold medal game well i am at school :rant:

AHAHAAHAHAH Yeah sure Rugby there is not even one league in Canada. The National team...is made of guys playing in Europe.

Lacrosse you must be kidding right?????????????

Canada=Hockey and Soccer in participation but no results in this sport and no national league...

The final is Saturday at 2PM kid.

People seem to forget that in 1999 games were played in Brandon 5000 arena and that Halifax was 10 000 also...

Vancouver was the exception because look at Winnipeg 11k Halifax 10k Brandon 5k Red Deer etc it's 10K max just like Pardubice.

Next year Ottawa it's 10 500...

You one of the rare ones.People want sell outs or close to it.This inludes fan/networks/players/coaches etc.I do think there are areas in europe that are hot beds sweden/switzerland are the tops.

Actually, almost all fans would rather watch good hockey than a bad game that is sold out.:teach:

and i dont like watching games at 7 in the morning, and missing the gold medal game well i am at school :rant:

Well still it's better for NA when games are in Europe, than for Europe when games are in Canada. Since if games are evenings in Europe it's morning/afternoon in Canada/NA. But if games are evening/afternoon in Canada, it's already night in Europe.

Next year Ottawa it's 10 500...

It's 10,500 at one arena and 19,500 at the other arena.

And all games in Ottawa might be "sold out", but that doesn't mean all the games will have full attendance. People right now are buying 31 game packs. That's tickets for every game. There are times when two games are on at once, so obviously, one or the other will lose out on attendance.

AHAHAAHAHAH Yeah sure Rugby there is not even one league in Canada. The National team...is made of guys playing in Europe.

Lacrosse you must be kidding right?????????????

Canada=Hockey and Soccer in participation but no results in this sport and no national league...

The final is Saturday at 2PM kid.

People seem to forget that in 1999 games were played in Brandon 5000 arena and that Halifax was 10 000 also...

Vancouver was the exception because look at Winnipeg 11k Halifax 10k Brandon 5k Red Deer etc it's 10K max just like Pardubice.

Next year Ottawa it's 10 500...

And 19,500 (You forget this)

AHAHAAHAHAH Yeah sure Rugby there is not even one league in Canada. The National team...is made of guys playing in Europe.

Lacrosse you must be kidding right?????????????

Canada=Hockey and Soccer in participation but no results in this sport and no national league...

The final is Saturday at 2PM kid.

People seem to forget that in 1999 games were played in Brandon 5000 arena and that Halifax was 10 000 also...

Vancouver was the exception because look at Winnipeg 11k Halifax 10k Brandon 5k Red Deer etc it's 10K max just like Pardubice.

Next year Ottawa it's 10 500...

1)There is 2 rugby leagues in canada.

Rugby canada super league
Canadian aussy football league.

2)Lacrosse is massive in canada.There is the minor system all the way up to the major series lacrosse.

3)Both pools will be playing in ottawa

Pool a (scotia bank place 21,000)
Pool b (Civic center 10,500)

Play nice now kids....







Rajala.

See its called support which they don't get in europe.Just take next year in ottawa 70% of tickets have been sold.They have sold more tickets then the czech rep have and last years as well.There is a choice playing in empty buuldings or full houses each game.

you really dont have a argument since it, like said above, is called the IIHF. They wont, nore will they ever make it a full time thing in NA

you really dont have a argument since it, like said above, is called the IIHF. They wont, nore will they ever make it a full time thing in NA

Well 3 years in canada and then 1 year in europe and then 3 years back in canada.That is very close to beeing full time.

Ah. Ignorant Canadian/American who thinks that the whole hockey world revolves around the NHL and that everything should be in Canada just because they have more people. For god's sake.

Agreed 100%. It's not a Canadian tournament.

Agreed 100%. It's not a Canadian tournament.

Ok this is going on to long.Everyone even the iihf will agree all that matter is whats best for the event.Now with the next 3 years in canada i am sure people will say thats not fair.The fact is its the best for the event.Then back to europe for a year.

:biglaugh:

Will be looking forward to see Kuchin, Kitsyn, Paajaveri, Hedman, Tavares, Rajala, Jordan Schroeder, etc, by then as well. :D

i believe mikeal granlund will be elgible as well

From 2009-2012 the tournemants will be in canada.
Wrong. 2011 is in the USA.
http://www.iihf.com/fileadmin/user_upload/PDF/2007-2008_IIHF_Calendar_of_Events.pdf

But all sponsors aren´t in North America. If you take the tournament from Europe then the Europeans will dont´care about it at all. Not the sponsors, the Teams and supporters! If the WJCH will still be alive it must be tormaments in Europe too, if not the interesting for WJCH will be gone!

I think no sponsor actually cares where the tournament is. TV-time is the most important thing.

Same goes with supporters. If I am able to see as many games as possible from Team Finland + all the important games from TV, I am satisfied. Getting the tournament once in two decades to Finland does not have any special effect on my interest towards this tournament.

Same goes with supporters.

Well it depends about what kind of supporting are you talking about. HC hockey fan, yes. But if it's about casual fan it is a lot more about getting to see games "beeing there" or talking about how the games are in home town/country in media etc.

The point i am trying to make.Is do your reward countrys that do support the event or not.

No you do not. The IIHF is a not-for-profit entity that exists first and foremost to maintain fair competition. Any other priorities (like increasing the number of fans, for example) are fine, as long as they do not compromise that first point.

The NHL is a commercial entity, it's fine for them to think according to the bottom line; the IIHF is a different animal altogether. National teams do not exist for monetary reasons, only sporting ones.

No you do not. The IIHF is a not-for-profit entity that exists first and foremost to maintain fair competition. Any other priorities (like increasing the number of fans, for example) are fine, as long as they do not compromise that first point.

The NHL is a commercial entity, it's fine for them to think according to the bottom line; the IIHF is a different animal altogether. National teams do not exist for monetary reasons, only sporting ones.

This is not about the $$$.This is about filling the arenas to show support.I do know in the czech they were offeering very cheap tickets but still very few took them

No you do not. The IIHF is a not-for-profit entity that exists first and foremost to maintain fair competition. Any other priorities (like increasing the number of fans, for example) are fine, as long as they do not compromise that first point.

The NHL is a commercial entity, it's fine for them to think according to the bottom line; the IIHF is a different animal altogether. National teams do not exist for monetary reasons, only sporting ones.

This is not about the $$$.This is about filling the arenas to show support.I do know in the czech they were offeering very cheap tickets but still very few took them

This is not about the $$$.This is about filling the arenas to show support.I do know in the czech they were offeering very cheap tickets but still very few took them

If it's about just attendances then every event should be in May Day Stadium no matter what event and when.

Tell me, if you want only full 20k crowds, how junior hockey would get any bigger outside Canada if there isn't any top junior hockey ever available in other countries than Canada?

Guess what's IIHF's purpose? To get hockey bigger all over world. It's not about getting full attendances, but to get more support all over world. Canada already have huge junior hockey support, which any other nation is lacking. So obviously they want to get it bigger all over world as well. I thought it would be obvious. Same as any other international federation wants, global support.

The iihf should say bye europe and move them full time to canada.

Great idea! :dunce:

And you wonder why people call you arrogant and cocky:shakehead

I think the tournament should be held in NA roughly once every 3 or 4years, or 3.5... Whatever. There's 2 NA nations in the Elite-7, that makes 3.5

This said, the tournament should be organised in "newcomers" countries as well. I don't know who got promoted in the lower group (group II or group I, I don't know the mechanics so well), but they should receive the event. I remember Latvia getting good support at the WHC.

Why a higher ratio in NA? Much less mobility, and travel is much easier in Europe.

1)There is 2 rugby leagues in canada.

Rugby canada super league
Canadian aussy football league.

2)Lacrosse is massive in canada.There is the minor system all the way up to the major series lacrosse.

3)Both pools will be playing in ottawa

Pool a (scotia bank place 21,000)
Pool b (Civic center 10,500)

We need to be honest here, there is no national rugby league, and lacrosse is a non entity outside of the few cities that have a team.
It would be interesting to see numbers of people who play a specific sport. Hockey obviously, soccer, curling probably (shakes head!), football (maybe??) I think would be the top sports.
As far as viewing figures on TSN/sportsnet, what's the order? Hockey, NFL, CFL, NASCAR???? If someone knows, please post them b/c these are just guesses...

Anyone who thinks that the games in Canada will be pure sellouts are fooling themselves. The Czechs said the same thing prior to this tournament, and we've all seen how well the non home team games have been attended. Canada will be much the same. Sellouts are due only to the ticket package system, which people utilize only to get tickets to the Canada/medal round games. It does not guarantee the people with tickets to the German/Latvian/Swiss/Slovakian and relegation round games will actually show up.

Furthermore, for those insisting the tournament be kept here, it will do nothing for the advancement of junior hockey outside of Canada if that were to happen. It IS simply all about the money and guaranteed profit. Junior hockey is a tough draw in most of europe as it is. Having a tournament few people there follow to begin with across the pond evey year will make sure it stays that way. Then look at developing hockey nations like Latvia. They just got promoted to the top division again for Ottawa in front of a sell out crowd the likes of which are unseen in Canada (video:http://youtube.com/watch?v=-E7bIgwWrk4 ) support wise, and they hold the record for attendance for any U18 tournament in IIHF history at any level, despite having only hosted the second tier tournament. I hardly think it would be right to deny a small country that supports it's junior players the right to try and host the top level tournament simply due to a few lost Canadian advertising dollars.

We need to be honest here, there is no national rugby league, and lacrosse is a non entity outside of the few cities that have a team.
It would be interesting to see numbers of people who play a specific sport. Hockey obviously, soccer, curling probably (shakes head!), football (maybe??) I think would be the top sports.
As far as viewing figures on TSN/sportsnet, what's the order? Hockey, NFL, CFL, NASCAR???? If someone knows, please post them b/c these are just guesses...

The Rugby canada super league

East
Niagara
Ottawa
Toronto
Quebec
Newfoundland
New Brusinwick.
Nova Scotia

West
Edmonton
Calgary
Vancouver
Vnacouver island
Saskatchewan

The Ontario aussy footy league

East
Ottawa
London
Toronto
Guelph
Hamilton
Etobicoke
Broadview
Lakeshore
MIssissauga

Lacrosse is massive in canada.

Major series lacrosse
Ontario (6 teams)
Bc (6 teams)

Jr a
Ontario (12 teams)
Quebec (9 teams)
Bc (6 teams)

Jr b
Ontario (24 teams)
Bc (14 teams)

Sr b
Ontario (16 teams)
Bc (8 teams)
Alberta (6 teams)

What's the average attendance in this rugby league that only you've heard of? An Ontario Australian football league? Are you kidding me?!!! Big time I guess
And the lacrosse league doesn't look like it covers many provinces.
Sorry man, you're stretching big time!! Full marks for enthusiasm though!!The Rugby canada super league

East
Niagara
Ottawa
Toronto
Quebec
Newfoundland
New Brusinwick.
Nova Scotia

West
Edmonton
Calgary
Vancouver
Vnacouver island
Saskatchewan

The Ontario aussy footy league

East
Ottawa
London
Toronto
Guelph
Hamilton
Etobicoke
Broadview
Lakeshore
MIssissauga

Lacrosse is massive in canada.

Major series lacrosse
Ontario (6 teams)
Bc (6 teams)

Jr a
Ontario (12 teams)
Quebec (9 teams)
Bc (6 teams)

Jr b
Ontario (24 teams)
Bc (14 teams)

Sr b
Ontario (16 teams)
Bc (8 teams)
Alberta (6 teams)

Anyone who thinks that the games in Canada will be pure sellouts are fooling themselves. The Czechs said the same thing prior to this tournament, and we've all seen how well the non home team games have been attended. Canada will be much the same. Sellouts are due only to the ticket package system, which people utilize only to get tickets to the Canada/medal round games. It does not guarantee the people with tickets to the German/Latvian/Swiss/Slovakian and relegation round games will actually show up.

Furthermore, for those insisting the tournament be kept here, it will do nothing for the advancement of junior hockey outside of Canada if that were to happen. It IS simply all about the money and guaranteed profit. Junior hockey is a tough draw in most of europe as it is. Having a tournament few people there follow to begin with across the pond evey year will make sure it stays that way. Then look at developing hockey nations like Latvia. They just got promoted to the top division again for Ottawa in front of a sell out crowd the likes of which are unseen in Canada (video:http://youtube.com/watch?v=-E7bIgwWrk4 ) support wise, and they hold the record for attendance for any U18 tournament in IIHF history at any level, despite having only hosted the second tier tournament. I hardly think it would be right to deny a small country that supports it's junior players the right to try and host the top level tournament simply due to a few lost Canadian advertising dollars.
Great link, great crowd! What's with the turning the shirts around after the game?!!

Take the fifa there are very very few events in north america.They do it so why can't they iihf.

europeans can play hockey, north americans cant play soccer

Anyone who thinks that the games in Canada will be pure sellouts are fooling themselves. The Czechs said the same thing prior to this tournament, and we've all seen how well the non home team games have been attended. Canada will be much the same. Sellouts are due only to the ticket package system, which people utilize only to get tickets to the Canada/medal round games. It does not guarantee the people with tickets to the German/Latvian/Swiss/Slovakian and relegation round games will actually show up.

Furthermore, for those insisting the tournament be kept here, it will do nothing for the advancement of junior hockey outside of Canada if that were to happen. It IS simply all about the money and guaranteed profit. Junior hockey is a tough draw in most of europe as it is. Having a tournament few people there follow to begin with across the pond evey year will make sure it stays that way. Then look at developing hockey nations like Latvia. They just got promoted to the top division again for Ottawa in front of a sell out crowd the likes of which are unseen in Canada (video:http://youtube.com/watch?v=-E7bIgwWrk4 ) support wise, and they hold the record for attendance for any U18 tournament in IIHF history at any level, despite having only hosted the second tier tournament. I hardly think it would be right to deny a small country that supports it's junior players the right to try and host the top level tournament simply due to a few lost Canadian advertising dollars.

Its much more then afew sponcers dollars.I will say this latvia is one of the very few countrys that should get the games.

Great link, great crowd! What's with the turning the shirts around after the game?!!

Not quite sure, just tradition i guess. They did it the last time they got promoted as well. At that point i figured that it was so the scouts see their names up front and center or they get their names in the papers, but since some of these guys are already drafted, I suppose that doesn't really make sense. I'll try and find out from Daugavins later this week.

Hummm... The arenas in Winnipeg and Grand Forks were pretty packed if I remember well.

We need to be honest here, there is no national rugby league, and lacrosse is a non entity outside of the few cities that have a team.
It would be interesting to see numbers of people who play a specific sport. Hockey obviously, soccer, curling probably (shakes head!), football (maybe??) I think would be the top sports.
As far as viewing figures on TSN/sportsnet, what's the order? Hockey, NFL, CFL, NASCAR???? If someone knows, please post them b/c these are just guesses...

I forgot to put baseball in my lists, especially for sports that people in Canada play. And maybe volleyball and basketball?

Great crowd! Unfortunately, North Americans are far too restrained!

Hummm... The arenas in Winnipeg and Grand Forks were pretty packed if I remember well.

Yes, for the Canada games. 85% of the crowd in Grand Forks was Canadians crossing the border. The thing is, the tournament was just as uncared for in Canada as the rest of the world prior to TSN marketing it properly and Canada being so dominating in the past ten years. It's simply another time of year that we can beat our chests in pride. Once the tournaments done, most of the sports fans go back to not giving a damn about junior hockey. I bet you 60-70% of the people packing Toronto bars during this tournament wouldn't be able to name the local OHL franchises.

But all sponsors aren´t in North America. If you take the tournament from Europe then the Europeans will dont´care about it at all. Not the sponsors, the Teams and supporters! If the WJCH will still be alive it must be tormaments in Europe too, if not the interesting for WJCH will be gone!

Yeah somehow I think the tournament would go on without it being in Europe. And it only took 100 years for the World Championships to come to Canada and it remains a relatively popular tournament in Canada.

Europeans and Americans should prove they deserve the tournament.

:shakehead

Don't need 19 000 people like they have at air canada centre and make absolutely ZERO NOISE.

Not everyone is into that noise thing. In Finland being rather quiet is part of the culture, even during sports events. Maybe some cheers every now and then when something interesting is happening, but not constant drumming and annoying horns (freaking Latvians). I really think it doesn't add anything to the "atmosphere" when you can't even hear your own thoughts let alone on-ice noises and can't hear the distinction between a breakaway and an intermission.


In Europe hockey isn't #1 like in Canada

Finland (a part of Europe at least geographically) disagrees (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Popularsports.PNG).
...Wow, do Estonians need to discover hockey or what. Quite an embarrassment to the Finno-Ugric tribe. Skiing? :biglaugh:

The problem in Europe is that they usually are held in quite small places.

Here's a list of recent places where WJC has been held and their (recent) populations.
2008: Pardubice (90000), Liberec (100000)
2007: Leksand (6000), Mora (10000)
2004: Helsinki (560000), Hämeenlinna (45000)
2002: Pardubice, Hradec Kralove (95000)
2001: Moscow (10 000000), Podolsk (180000)
2000: Skellefteå (35000), Umeå (75000)
1998: Helsinki, Hämeenlinna

Russia and Finland are exceptions where tournament has been in big city. But Czech Republic and Sweden...get tournament into Prague, Stockholm, Gothenburg and you would surely get more spectators.

Stockholm? :sarcasm:

(yes, I live there currently btw)

I still believe leksand+mora was a good choice as ice hockey in Stockholm currently (past ~5 years or so) have close to zero media/hype! Football teams at relatively very poor level have larger fans/attendance average during their practices than all ice hockey teams in stockholm except one (djurgården - sole team in elitserien) have during games!

Perhaps this is (slowly) changing, e.g. Djurgården having a lot more "native" (i.e. Stockholm-born players) past years and have moved to a more appropriately sized arena (i.e. smaller ~50%)!

(Perhaps you/others already knew this - but wanted to shed some of my frustration living in Stockholm. Having grown up and studied etc. in hockey-crazy areas)

First off, I don't agree with moving the tournament to any one country all the time. None of the money-making entities likely do either, as everyone gets great exposure wherever the tournament is held, whether it's live or on TV. Sure it's nice to have the tourney in Canada, but it's also fun for Canucks to fly overseas to catch the games in another country. Canadian sponsors follow them too. I'm pretty sure there aren't any Tim Hortons, Booster Juice, etc, etc in Czech Republic.

Interestingly enough, this is the first year in a long time I remember the finals being on the weekend. That's a good move on the organizers' part, as weekday finals always leave half the world with an unfavourable watching time.

People seem to forget that in 1999 games were played in Brandon 5000 arena and that Halifax was 10 000 also...

Vancouver was the exception because look at Winnipeg 11k Halifax 10k Brandon 5k Red Deer etc it's 10K max just like Pardubice.

Next year Ottawa it's 10 500...

1999 games (Winnipeg, Brandon) were also held in Morden, Selkirk, Portage la Prairie and Teulon, MB -- none of which have major league rinks. In fact, each of these four communities could not fill a major league rink even if everyone from town showed up.

Not sure where the Winnipeg Arena capacity comes from, as that rink has always been able to hold at least 13,000. A new rink has been built since, which holds 15,000, and was full for several exhibition games leading up to 2005 (Grand Forks, Thief River Falls).

WHC 2008 (Quebec City, Halifax) capacities will be about 11,000 and 15,000. This tournament was almost moved to Winnipeg, until local organizers got their act together.

Lots of teams should have a bunch of returning players, will be a much older tourney. :yo:

Well it is true that not many people care about the WJC's over here. Why not keep them in Canada more often? TV signal will come to my telly just the same from either Czech rep or Canada. Difference being, in Canada they have full arenas and the atmosphere that comes with it.

There's less than few fans from other European countries who traveled to Czech to see the games anyways so it's not like it would change anything for the European hockey fan. No-one cares about it so why bother? Have it in Europe once every four years and keep the rest in Canada where they interest people.