I would think that the prospect of an NHL game becoming a superspreader event probably has to weigh on NHL teams as well. Require vaccinations and the only people you’re pissing off are anti-vaxx-type crazies (as I assume most people who are hesitant, but not for political reasons, are fairly comfortable with the fact that they may not get to do everything a vaccinated person has to do, as they still likely respect the virus). Those types are usually loud, but ultimately just loud idiots, so not a huge loss. Be the source of a super-spreader event, however, and you’re probably going to turn off both the vaccinated and the unvaccinated, as infections will likely impact both (though not equally) and people will start to think twice about whether they want to go to the next game.
Of course if Alberta is still not doing any tracing at that point, it might not matter for the Flames and the Oilers. But, if it is traced to a game that would be a really rough PR issue to deal with.
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