The NHL is taking hockey outdoors again this weekend—the Heritage Classic in Winnipeg—where the league will remind us that this is how the game was meant to be played. Apparently, generations of people who built indoor arenas were missing the point. We understand the original appeal. Put NHL players in an unusual setting, fill a football or baseball stadium, introduce special uniforms and give fans something different. The first few outdoor games offered a spectacle worth investigating. But how many times can the league unwrap the same present and expect us to act surprised?
For those asking the same question, here are 10 reasons to give the Heritage Classic—and whatever outdoor extravaganza follows it—a complete pass.
- The novelty has frostbite.
The first time you see an NHL rink sitting in the middle of a giant stadium, it’s interesting. Eventually, it becomes an NHL rink sitting in the middle of a giant stadium. Changing the surrounding seats doesn’t replenish the magic.
- The best seats are in your living room.
Hockey arenas are designed to bring spectators close to the ice. Football and baseball stadiums are purposed differently. Some outdoor spectators appear to be watching a hockey game, played by ants, taking place in another postal code. If you spend the afternoon watching the stadium’s giant screen, you’ve paid a considerable amount of money to watch television outside.
- Weather becomes the main character.
Will it snow? Will it rain? Will sunshine affect the ice? Is it too warm? Too cold? We tuned in for hockey and somehow enrolled in a meteorology course.
- The game can become secondary to the event.
There are entrances, ceremonies, musical performances, scenic shots and endless reminders of how special everything is. Somewhere in the proceedings, two teams are hoping to squeeze in a hockey game with the puck often covered in snow.
- Nostalgia is doing an awful lot of heavy lifting.
Yes, many players grew up skating outdoors. They also grew up carrying their own equipment and getting driven to games by their parents. We don’t need the NHL to repeatedly recreate all of it.
- The uniforms are another invitation to open your wallet.
Special occasion. Special jersey. Special opportunity to buy something resembling the jersey you already own. We look forward to the eventual announcement that an outdoor game has been postponed because they couldn’t sell enough ridiculously priced merchandise to justify the effort.
- The broadcast comes with compulsory goosebumps.
Expect repeated references to childhood dreams, hockey’s roots and the unforgettable experience unfolding before us. We would prefer to decide for ourselves whether we’re witnessing something unforgettable. Generally, the things we remember don’t require so many reminders.
- Enough Hellebuyck Talk
We’ve already heard enough talk about the backstabbing goalie who thinks one good performance (Olympics) versus multiple flops (NHL playoffs) earns him the right to dictate where he should play. Perhaps the $1 million he lost waiting to be moved has enlightened him to the fact he’s not as good as he thinks he is.
- Gary Bettman will be there
Almost assuredly, the always disingenuous Bettman will be interviewed before or during the game. That alone is reason enough to watch professional darts instead.
- Know when to stop
Outdoor hockey still has its place. A neighbourhood rink, a frozen pond, a few friends and somebody announcing that the next goal wins because nobody can feel their feet. That has a charm the NHL can replicate—sparingly. Instead, the NHL opts for overkill, as if finding a new location with a missing roof is something to repeatedly get excited about.
If a comedian keeps telling the same joke, it stops being funny. If a radio station keeps playing the same catchy song, we eventually change stations. And if you continually pretend that another outdoor hockey game is a magical event, the only goosebumps felt are generated by the cold.
Enjoy the Heritage Classic if it still appeals to you. We’ll save our enthusiasm for the league’s next great innovation: The Indoor Classic. No feigned excitement. Excellent sightlines. Fantastic camera angles. Instant replays. Predictable ice. No weather forecast required. And best of all…no Gary Bettman interview. That alone generates real goosebumps.
