Of course they do. It's why they hosted the Global Series in Stockholm. And previous year was in Prague and Finland. Next year is in Germany and maybe more. The NHL isn't just concerned with kids playing hockey but fans that follow the NHL specifically over other domestic leagues.
Agree, this isn't about people paying attention and spending money on Hockey. It is about people paying attention, like watching games, highlights on YouTube and spending money on the NHL. If sponsors, see eyes on the NHL, they'll want to be a partner with the NHL.
Yep, will be the next best on best after Milano! Calgary will see the lion's share of the economic boost and traveler interest from all the NHL sponsors and fans, which will be a huge part of the NHL's $$ portfolio as they sign up multi year partners. No doubt the mountains played a huge part in that, and why the NHL likely wanted the entire first 7-9 days in Calgary versus Edmonton. Everything is guaranteed and set in stone for matchups, the only thing you can properly plan for.
I do wonder how some of the teams are going to be able to field rosters unless there is an agreement with some euro leagues
And they need stars. Anecdotally I see a decent number of kids in Edmonton jerseys/hats/shirts in the neighborhood. It's hard to make new fans when there's two generational talents a few hours drive vs the Flames that are bottom in scoring. Rebuilding is the only way to get that talent, whether it's top picks or taking enough draft shots that someone surprises.
Absolutely. Alberta as a whole could host the winter Olympics without much infrastructure needing to be built. Ceremonies at Commonwealth, skiing at Winsport, the Nordic Centre, and Lake Louise, hockey games split between Scotia Place and Rogers Arena, maybe Curling at Centrium in Red Deer. All connected via high speed rail! Only other possibly worthwhile permanent facility is a 5-8k UCalgary arena where the Surge could play out of afterwards...maybe even the Hitmen after we get a PWHL team. We both also have areas that would be great Olympic villages like West District in Calgary and whatever Edmonton's East Village is called (area around Quarters Station).
Must build something here... hopefully soon. Saying that I would be hesitant to actually do it myself. No one really lives that close to here so it would be hard to sustain a retail business along Stampede Trail. Game nights would do well but there needs to be something that gets people to the area every night and day.
It really is no different than EV, any area that you are redeveloping currently doesn't have the mass you want...if it did it wouldn't be "redeveloping. IMO, BMO/stampede is the single greatest asset the area has for all all day foot traffic, SP provides evening traffic. Will the "first" development require some patience? For sure, but I also dont think this is going to be 17th ave with small business shops one after the other...you'll likely see 3-4 food options, a fitness element, maybe a grocery option. Is stampede trail important, yes...but to me the lot to the north of SP is hyper critical to square off the area and shift the foot traffic east
The ideal is probably a Mixed use development similar to Maple Leafs Square in Toronto. Similar distance to the arena, it has a Le Germain hotel, Longos (grocery store) in the basement, Sportchek, LCBO, bank on the main floor, a MLSE restaurant, and offices/some residences on top.
