Quote:
Originally Posted by browna
That was because of the lockout, no? Nhlpa sanctioned, not NHL.
They started to go to the Olympics because the money for the league and the PA was there, thanks to the agreements in place with the various Olympic committees and the media rights holders, and the Olympics fell roughly mid NHL season, so there was no apathy from fans, players were in shape etc, which meant everyone came out ahead for making money.
And, the PA or league didn’t have to organize their own tournament…in the offseason no less when the appetite for hockey is waning.
1998 was really a trial run for Salt Lake. Western Europe for the first time in 16 years will be desirable again next Olympics. And this year the schedule times look favourable…10am MT, or 9pm.
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That never made sense. Why would you not want full control and to organize your own event? And play in NHL arenas? Or European ones. Like the Globe Arena.
Vancouver is the only NHL rink (or even major European league rink) the pros have played the Olympics in.
Nagano
Salt Lake
Turin
Sochi
Pyongyang
Beijing
Milan
???
That's just a disaster.