NHL suspending season

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
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Jul 15, 2005
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They could have a full 20-21 starting on 1/1/21 and ending by 6/1/21. Then the playoffs with the finals ending by 7/31/21. They would just lose a month of the offseason in the summer of 21.

There’s a way to make this work starting this July.
 

RSN Diaspora

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Jul 29, 2005
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They could have a full 20-21 starting on 1/1/21 and ending by 6/1/21. Then the playoffs with the finals ending by 7/31/21. They would just lose a month of the offseason in the summer of 21.

There’s a way to make this work starting this July.
I hope you're right--I was asking someone in the business the feasibility of starting in the summer and while there is some optimism, the issue of shared arenas with NBA teams and other events like concerts is a bigger impediment than I had considered.
 

TSC

SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
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I hope you're right--I was asking someone in the business the feasibility of starting in the summer and while there is some optimism, the issue of shared arenas with NBA teams and other events like concerts is a bigger impediment than I had considered.
Depending on how strong the desire is to do it - I imagine they would include AHL and select college arenas as well in their plans to make it work.

Imagine a playoff game at the Dunk in Providence? Madness.
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
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The arena owners, The NHL, The NBA, the 2-3 major concert promoters, and Ticketmaster are going to work together to figure out how everyone can get their events in this summer. It’s in everyone’s financial best interests to be partners in figuring things out when the event restrictions are lifted.
 

genoasalami

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I can't see people in arenas any time soon, certainly not this summer. Now the question is, will the play in empty arenas?
 

The Napkin

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They might be better off having Bruins games at Warrior assuming the locker rooms can handle a second NHL team. Would have to figure a way to rig cameras on the window side of the ice but there are smart people out there. I have no idea what the Celtics facility looks like but they could play there as well. There aren't going to be fans in buildings this summer so the Garden availability isn't the issue.
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
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There are not going to be concerts this summer so that's not a worry at least.
This is probably the case. NHL and NBA can play games at small venues with just team/league staff their and put it on TV. That’s why I’m assuming finish the season/playoffs with no crowds in July-August, then start the next season in January and play late next season. If we can’t have crowds in arenas by January, sports will be the last thing that people are worried about.
 

RedOctober3829

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This is probably the case. NHL and NBA can play games at small venues with just team/league staff their and put it on TV. That’s why I’m assuming finish the season/playoffs with no crowds in July-August, then start the next season in January and play late next season. If we can’t have crowds in arenas by January, sports will be the last thing that people are worried about.
If they're not going to have fans, traveling the team around to different college arenas in New England would be an awesome idea. It's probably not feasible, but having playoff games in old barns like Matthews Arena, Gutterson Fieldhouse, and Alfond Arena would be pretty cool.
 

Haunted

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Aug 23, 2006
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I can't see people in arenas any time soon, certainly not this summer. Now the question is, will the play in empty arenas?
The music performance/touring industry is facing the same thing - even if it's "safe" to start having gatherings/events by the fall, are people going to attend in numbers that make it financially viable?
 

Red Right Ankle

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If they're not going to have fans, traveling the team around to different college arenas in New England would be an awesome idea. It's probably not feasible, but having playoff games in old barns like Matthews Arena, Gutterson Fieldhouse, and Alfond Arena would be pretty cool.
That would be fun, but I think the key requirements are probably:

1) Minimize travel
2) Minimize staff needed
3) Maximize ability to isolate teams

Therefore, it might be best to run it in one arena in a designated city for each conference with teams shacking up at a designated hotel or hotel(s) that are rented out exclusively to them. Stanley Cup played in one or the other city.

I'd probably pick Canadian cities since Canada appears to be handling the virus much better than the US overall and that will almost certainly continue. Also the ice will be better!