More is better. In a country that worships at the altar of overindulgence and pageantry with events like the Super Bowl and World Series, staking a substantial claim on the sports landscape is not done with subtlety. It's time for the league to go big or go home and it can be done without going over the top. Let's face it, the Super Bowl is rarely a "great game," the commercials have become less funny each year and the half time shows have been just as disappointing. When the NHL takes it outside, it's still competitive, it's exciting and it's probably one of the best pieces of programming you can find on New Year's Day. If you build it, they will come.
For the 2011-2012 season, the league needs to pull out all the stops and offer two American games outdoors. First, New Year's Day will kickoff with the Devils hosting the Rangers in the New Meadowlands stadium. Immediately following that, NBC will send it over to Ohio where the Red Wings will face the Blue Jackets in the Horseshoe at Ohio State. Now I'll be the first to admit my bias, being a fan of New Jersey and Columbus, but these games make sense and here's why:
Both matchups feature an original six team with a very strong fan base facing a divisional rival with talent that could use some help in the attendance department. You give these less financially successful franchises the chance to host with two extremely popular venues and they will attract new fans. As the Devils have assembled a team with the star power of Brodeur, Parise and Kovalchuk, it only makes sense for them to be recognized on a grander stage. They are too good to not be hyped up the way the league does so with Washington and Pittsburgh. With the likes of Nash, Mason and Hjeda, Columbus also has the makings of a stellar club worth watching. Showcasing these lesser known stars against Zetterberg and Datsyuk makes for one hot ticket. If the league wants all of its franchises to prosper, it needs to give them a shot at the big events. The smallest markets need to get those all-star games and host those drafts. Both these matchups are extremely marketable and have the potential to be very good contests.
So I put the question to you: If you ran the league and had to put together a New Year's Day doubleheader for the Winter Classic, what matchups would you choose and where would they be played?
