Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle
You are missing who they are trying to get to watch. Yes, Canadians watched the summit series, the Russians likely did also, but that's it. Very few Americans have a clue as to what the Summit Series even is.
The NHL going to the Olympics was about one thing, and one thing only, selling the game to the Americans who do watch the Olympics. And specifically, the whole effort and starting in 98 was to iron out the kinks so that the NHLs best players were on the ice on 02 when the States were watching even more so and at prime time while they hosted the Olympics. Nathan's the only reason the NHL is there, and it was a smart choice, to milk the Salt Lake games for everything they were worth to the US audience when they hosted the games.
Following that, Vancouver hosting so closely after likely made they keep it going as it represented another opportunity to show case the NHL to the US fans at a prime time viewing games. Being in Russia likely has more to do with appeasing the Russian players and managing that element of them wanting the chance to play in their home games after the US and Canadian players just recently got the opportunity.
Now, not sure the same need exists to keep sending the players, to sell the game, especially to locations like Korea. The interest might peak again for the NHL should another North American games comes around, but until then there is next to no benefit for the league in being there, and I agree they should go back to the World Cup and copy what soccer does.
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I agree but they could have done this after the US won the 1996 world cup. Americans won so Americans are excited. Host the next world cup in the US and get a tv deal out if it. It's your own tournament in your own time zone every time and you don't have to be at the mercy of the IOC putting the tournament in Sochi, Pyeongchang, Qatar or the Moon.