San Jose Sharks players slam 'cold and dark' Winnipeg as worst NHL city to play in

[zamler]

Winnipeg is hardly my favorite go to place, but people calling it a dump don't have a clue what an actual dump of a city is like. As for the comment zero class I hope it turns into bad karma for the Sharks.

[PepsiFree]

Maybe people calling Winnipeg a dump just have higher standards.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

I was in Winnipeg for the first time a couple months ago. My only impression of the city was that it's as if no new building have been built since 1988. Outside of the new football stadium(which was very nice BTW), everything looks really used and quite frankly, dirty.

I wouldn't want to live there and don't blame the Sharks for not enjoying their visits.

[tfi racing]

Great. Have even hockey fans have become so so soft,so fragile,so sensitive that simply mocking a city is so offensive that they feel the league needs to become involved,fines need to be levied,players need to be censured or even better yet physically assaulted by other hockey players and/or fans? Relax Francis,it's all just fun and games,this PC holier than thou white knight crap is just really getting out of hand...

[crapshoot]

Originally Posted by tfi racing

Great. Have even hockey fans have become so so soft,so fragile,so sensitive that simply mocking a city is so offensive that they feel the league needs to become involved,fines need to be levied,players need to be censured or even better yet physically assaulted by other hockey players and/or fans? Relax Francis,it's all just fun and games,this PC holier than thou white knight crap is just really getting out of hand...

Maybe relax just a tiny little bit.

[crapshoot]

I've never been a fan of people with a voice slamming cities like this. I remember actor Paul Bettany coming to my little swedish city to record a movie a bunch of years ago and murdered the city in an interview. Why do someone feel the need to do that? I really don't see the point or the need for pulling crap like that, rather I think it's just being a whiny little prick behaving that way. I've never been to Winnipeg so I don't know too much about it, but I know that people live there, and I'm sure the majority of residents are perfectly fine and comfortable with the city.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by crapshoot

I've never been a fan of people with a voice slamming cities like this. I remember actor Paul Bettany coming to my little swedish city to record a movie a bunch of years ago and murdered the city in an interview. Why do someone feel the need to do that? I really don't see the point or the need for pulling crap like that, rather I think it's just being a whiny little prick behaving that way. I've never been to Winnipeg so I don't know too much about it, but I know that people live there, and I'm sure the majority of residents are perfectly fine and comfortable with the city.

Thats called having low standards.

[crapshoot]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Thats called having low standards.

Yeah, I get that point, but I really don't see why famous people feel the need to voice their crap about it. My brother lives in such a freezing dark ####hole of a town in northern sweden. He loves the snow, and he loves snowmobiling and hiking, so the "standards" suits him just perfectly. Why would anyone have an issue with something like that? Sure, it's not for you, so go live by the beach in bay area or wherever, but why the need to complain and moan about it in every which way in the media like a silly little spoiled prick? Made me like the Sharks players a whole lot less to be honest.

Also, I never quite understood why hockey players of all people, most of them raised in a freezing environment, would have an issue with snow, ice and cold. It makes absolutely zero sense to me.

[The Cobra]

It's one thing to say it's pretty cold there, that's a fact.

But to say it's a dump?

Compared to most US cities, Canadian cities (including Winnipeg) are anything but dumps.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Compared to most US cities, Canadian cities (including Winnipeg) are anything but dumps.

Millionaire hockey players in the U.S. live pampered lives in affluent enclaves. Like most rich Americans, they've become good at ignoring the poverty around them. However, put a gun to their heads and I'm sure every one of those Sharks players would admit they'd rather raise a family in Winnipeg than in the non-gentrified parts of Oakland.

[Rtown]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Millionaire hockey players in the U.S. live pampered lives in affluent enclaves. Like most rick Americans, they've become good at ignoring the poverty around them. However, put a gun to their heads and I'm sure every one of those Sharks players would admit they'd rather raise a family in Winnipeg than in the non-gentrified parts of Oakland.

There's the rub. Maybe it's the prairie boy in me but I'd live in Winnipeg 100/100 before I'd live in San Jose. There's been twice in my life where I've been concerned about my safety visiting North American cities. Once was the south side of Chicago and the other was leaving a Sharks game, driving through SJ/Oakland late at night.

Like someone else mentioned. It's one thing for fans to rag on each other's cities and teams, that's what makes rivalries fun. But when professional athletes call someone's home a dump. That's pretty classless.

[Yrebmi]

Originally Posted by Zoller

To be fair Winnipeg is easily the worst nhl city

Edmonton being a pretty close second

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I watched Remenda cover games for years in San Jose. He's easily the worst color man in the league. Followed closely by Brian Hayward in Anaheim. Just embarrassing.

Rant - I see these type compares all the time, and find them contradictory. If one is easily the first, then there can not be a close second. /rant

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Millionaire hockey players in the U.S. live pampered lives in affluent enclaves. Like most rick Americans, they've become good at ignoring the poverty around them. However, put a gun to their heads and I'm sure every one of those Sharks players would admit they'd rather raise a family in Winnipeg than in the non-gentrified parts of Oakland.

Meh, that pretty much doesn't exist anymore. Oakland is undergoing a renaissance as the less affluent, but still pretty affluent, members of San Francisco are moving there to escape skyrocketing housing prices.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Meh, that pretty much doesn't exist anymore. Oakland is undergoing a renaissance as the less affluent, but still pretty affluent, members of San Francisco are moving there to escape skyrocketing housing prices.

I wouldn’t say that’s necessarily true, but I also would laugh at the suggestion that areas that have yet to be “gentrified” are automatically undesirable for anyone.

Oakland, regardless of how gentrified the area is, is nicer than Winnipeg.

Though I’m not even sure what that has to do about a conversation regarding Winnipeg and San Jose.

[Erick Estrada]

The players were asked a question and answered. I don't think it's news that most NHL players would prefer not to play in Winnipeg. That said I don't think Minneapolis is anything special and is basically the Winnipeg of the US as it's cold in the winter and full of mosquitos in the summer.

[Northendzone]

so I would say based on what? you are an nhl player visiting for a road game. you fly in on a charter plane, land, go to hotel sleep go to rink, go out for dinner, fly out.

the rinks in both cities below are newer than the rink here?

Originally Posted by Zoller

To be fair Winnipeg is easily the worst nhl city

Edmonton being a pretty close second

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Maybe they are right, and maybe they are wrong. I do think they way they commented on it is rather classless.

It is one thing for fans of rival teams to degrade cities like that, but to have NHL players in the media doing that I think is a bit crass. It makes me wish that some of these players end up being traded to Winnipeg down the road.

not only commenting as they did, but making a special video to do so. hope the jets beat them the next 20 times they play.

like you say true or not, it just wasn't needed, or that funny.

[Jiggy]

It seemed pretty tongue-in-cheek. Not sure why people would get up in arms about it.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

You're kind of annoying on this topic, and speak for yourself please.

Winnipeg is no good.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Zoller

To be fair Winnipeg is easily the worst nhl city

Edmonton being a pretty close second

I think the downtown arena area in Winnipeg is actually pretty decent. It's way more walk able and accessible than Calgary's arena which is way off the beaten path as far as bars and restaurants are concerned.