Apparently the Penguins (unconfirmed) and Lightning (team confirms they've been approached) have been approached to open the 2008-2009 NHL season with games in Prague.
Why Pens and Lightning? They should wait to see if Jagr retires and if he doesn't, bring the Rangers. Jagr + Czech Republic = Sell Out Stadium (yes stadium), lol.
Well it would make more sense to go to a country that actually cares about hockey (Czech) than the UK.
From what I hear, there was absolutely no buzz in London for this weekend's games. The average Londoner on the street had no idea the NHL was in town.
I tried searching through the online sports pages of British newspapers for some reaction. Finally found some buried stories about British "hockey" leagues, read through them for a while, to eventually realize that they were about field hockey. Can you believe it? Even field hockey has a higher profile in the UK than real hockey! A womens' sport!
Why Pens and Lightning? They should wait to see if Jagr retires and if he doesn't, bring the Rangers. Jagr + Czech Republic = Sell Out Stadium (yes stadium), lol.
That would make sense... but Dolan and company hate losing money... and one less home game would cause them to cry foul.
I lived 6 months in Prague studying aborad last year. AWESOME city, I would rec it to anyone...but if they are playing these games at T-Mobile Arena, that is a joke of an arena. It has a nice, new jumbotron but it's so beat down and from the outside on the 'namesti' it looks like a shack. It's also in the worst neighborhood in Praha, not that it makes a big differnece. Sparta Prague plays there and if I remember it hold about 13K. There's another arena where Slavia plays but I have never seen it but I imagine its even worse.
This makes a lot more sense than London. However, I thought next year the Kings were going to open another AEG run arena in Berlin. With the popularity of the DEL, Berlin wouldn't be that bad of a choice.
If the NHL was serious about European promotion, they would have a team go and play in the Spengler Cup though. I realize that falls in the middle of the season, but its popularity in Europe would help this promotion much more than opening the season in Europe.
However, at least this time the NHL opened in a proper arena. It could've been like that "arena" in Tokyo, where it was a swimming pool that was frozen over. I remember the diving board high above the net at one end. That was a dumb idea, even playing in the Tokyo Dome would've been better than that.
This makes a lot more sense than London. However, I thought next year the Kings were going to open another AEG run arena in Berlin. With the popularity of the DEL, Berlin wouldn't be that bad of a choice.
If the NHL was serious about European promotion, they would have a team go and play in the Spengler Cup though. I realize that falls in the middle of the season, but its popularity in Europe would help this promotion much more than opening the season in Europe.
Agreed. The NHL should schedule a team to play in the Spengler Cup, even if it means a hectic schedule.
I lived 6 months in Prague studying aborad last year. AWESOME city, I would rec it to anyone...but if they are playing these games at T-Mobile Arena, that is a joke of an arena. It has a nice, new jumbotron but it's so beat down and from the outside on the 'namesti' it looks like a shack. It's also in the worst neighborhood in Praha, not that it makes a big differnece. Sparta Prague plays there and if I remember it hold about 13K. There's another arena where Slavia plays but I have never seen it but I imagine its even worse.
it will be in SAZKA arena - probably the most modern hockey arena in Europe (capacity for hockey is more than 17.000)
here is video - hockey match between HC Slavie and HC Pardubice in SAZKA arena
I lived 6 months in Prague studying aborad last year. AWESOME city, I would rec it to anyone...but if they are playing these games at T-Mobile Arena, that is a joke of an arena. It has a nice, new jumbotron but it's so beat down and from the outside on the 'namesti' it looks like a shack. It's also in the worst neighborhood in Praha, not that it makes a big differnece. Sparta Prague plays there and if I remember it hold about 13K. There's another arena where Slavia plays but I have never seen it but I imagine its even worse.
it will be in SAZKA arena - probably the most modern hockey arena in Europe (capacity for hockey is more than 17.000)
I have been to Prague, yes the T-Mobile arena (home to HC Sparta Praha) is an old barn, but the new Sazka arena (home to Slavia Praha) is a modern arena that is only a few years old and has luxury boxes.
Why Pens and Lightning? They should wait to see if Jagr retires and if he doesn't, bring the Rangers. Jagr + Czech Republic = Sell Out Stadium (yes stadium), lol.
You can send us Phoenix and Atlanta and the games will be sold out within a couple of days.
Many people from all about Europe will visit these games as they did in London the passed weekend.
Nevertheless I am quite surpised, that the NHL sends two more teams to Europe, cause it's an open secret, that at least one NHL-team (obviously the Kings) will open the O2-Arena in Berlin in 2008.
We've had a few updates about this in our local papers lately:
Quote:
PRAGUE UPDATE: While the Lightning are still on track to open next season in Prague, Czech Republic, things reportedly have changed on that front.
A report on the New York Daily News Web site Sunday suggested that the league is looking at sending four teams to Europe to start the season with the Lightning opening a two-game series against the New York Rangers in Prague while Tampa Bay's first reported opponent, Pittsburgh, would open against Ottawa in Stockholm, Sweden.
Lightning president Ron Campbell couldn't confirm the report Sunday, but word is the league is leaning this way with a possible announcement to outline the details still weeks away.
Pretty much just hear-say, but interesting anyway.
__________________ Boltprospects: Your online source for Tampa Bay Lightning Prospect News
word in NYC is that the Rangers are in after the promoter agreeing to pay the Rangers $2 million to cover losing a home game. But being there are 2 games to be missed at MSG, I wonder who is paying the Rangers the rest?
word in NYC is that the Rangers are in after the promoter agreeing to pay the Rangers $2 million to cover losing a home game. But being there are 2 games to be missed at MSG, I wonder who is paying the Rangers the rest?
Huh? Why would there be two home games missed at MSG ???
Wouldn't the two games be done as a home and home - one Ranger "home game" and one Lightning "home game".
The Penguins in Sweden makes a ton of sense. I mean, you know, with the only Swede in the entire system being Johannes "I peaked at 16" Salmonsson, and there is no way in hell he ever comes over.
At least with the Czech Republic there's a pretty huge Penguins fan base there (thanks to a decade of the Penguins acting as the Czech National Team).
First, the Penguins have Crosby and Malkin, which should be a draw to any follower of the NHL in Sweden. Second, it sounds like Pittsburgh will play Ottawa, and we have Alfredsson. So their will be a very good Swede in the game.
The Penguins could play in a cow pasture in Romania and be a good draw, I'm not doubting that.
I guess going for Penguins European connections would be a limited thing to grasp at. There's only 4 Europeans (technically 3 since Gonchar is from the Asian side of Russia...but whatever) and Salmonsson is the only prospect in our top 20 from the other side of the pond (how he's even ranked I'm not quite sure). The Penguins are only involved because of their drawing power, not because of connections, that's for sure.
