[News] Auston Matthews tests positive for COVID-19

[RM14]

I doubt the league would want it, but why not Calgary and Edmonton at this point?

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by RM14

I doubt the league would want it, but why not Calgary and Edmonton at this point?

What reasons we're there for Calgary not being considered in the first place as a hub city? (Other than the Covid numbers)

[agulati]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

What reasons we're there for Calgary not being considered in the first place as a hub city? (Other than the Covid numbers)

The dome being as old as it is. I think the number of dressing rooms is probably an issue as well. The new arena in Edmonton can house multiple teams at one time, minimizing cleaning requirements between games.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

What reasons we're there for Calgary not being considered in the first place as a hub city? (Other than the Covid numbers)

Probably having the oldest out of date arena in the entire NHL has something to do with it.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Edmonton may "win" by being the only city left in the race

LA and Nevada blowing up plus Vancouver dropping out helps their bid a lot.

At least the players can be assured that they're quite safe in AB. You'd have to try pretty hard or be extremely unlucky to contract the virus with only a couple hundred active cases in the area.

Just don't expect to see mountains from your window lol.

[DownhillGoat]

Dat river valley though

[direwolf]

The Oilers' ministry of propaganda are gonna cream themselves if they get chosen. The hype machine will reach unbearable levels.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by direwolf

The Oilers' ministry of propaganda are gonna cream themselves if they get chosen. The hype machine will reach unbearable levels.

That should mean the oilers play at the other site though.

No home ice for any team.

Are they prepared to be hockey fans and discuss other teams and series, and not just homers?

[Buff]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

That should mean the oilers play at the other site though.

No home ice for any team.

Are they prepared to be hockey fans and discuss other teams and series, and not just homers?

There isn't going to be fans...

[greyshep]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

That should mean the oilers play at the other site though.

No home ice for any team.

Are they prepared to be hockey fans and discuss other teams and series, and not just homers?

I kinda doubt that will happen. I think that was only speculation anyways or was that officially mentioned somewhere?

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Buff

There isn't going to be fans...

Talking about the media and staff in the building.

Can they be fans of the game and discuss other series happening in their hub and live without discussing mcdavid every second sentence?

[Flamenspiel]

Looks like it’s Toronto and Vegas for the hub cities, there has been a number of sites posting the information. Good that it’s not Alberta, all we need is some more Covid-19 clusters.

[Toonage]

Which sites? Not seeing anything official, yet, from the trusted/usual sources.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Flamenspiel

Looks like it’s Toronto and Vegas for the hub cities, there has been a number of sites posting the information. Good that it’s not Alberta, all we need is some more Covid-19 clusters.

Vegas just seems like a foolish decision given the state of outbreak there. Definitely optics about not wanting to host it all in Canada. I think it could have been done reasonably safely with them isolating as a group in their hotels upon arrival.

Could have used the influx in dollars it would have provided to Alberta.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Which sites? Not seeing anything official, yet, from the trusted/usual sources.

Chicago Tribune 30 mins ago saying they are a finalist. Soooooo, I can’t find this either.

[Toonage]

^ Yep, and referencing McKenzie's report of the 4 remaining cities. Nothing official yet.

[Tron_fdc]

I find it a little absurd that they are going to try and do this in the USA, and in a densely populated city.

What they need is somewhere remote, with low Covid cases, and with decent infrastructure. So why not put it all into one state or province? Take Alberta for example. The government wants to work with them, and we have a number of cities with good infrastructure to support their "bubbles".

Lethbridge, Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton, Ft Mac all have arenas capable of pulling this off, along with a low population density, low covid numbers, and serviceable infrastructure. BC could do the same with Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna, Penticton and Kamloops if their government was willing to work with the league. All these arenas are within a 1 hour flight of each other, have low Covid numbers, can house 4 teams playing every other day, and would be a pretty amazing place to play a tournament. Especially the Okanagan.

It doesn't make sense for the league to try and put the players into places like Nevada or California (or anywhere in the USA, really) because of the way they are treating Covid. It really seems like the league is making a bad decision with US cities, and they're going to pay for it when players inevitably test positive and they get shut down.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Which sites? Not seeing anything official, yet, from the trusted/usual sources.

Dater 2 days ago on Twitter?. Yesterday was Arthur Staple saying the same thing. And today John Shannon leads the way. Unless it all falls apart like Vancouver, this will be the 2 cities IMO.

[Scroopy Noopers]

I’m getting really tired of everyone tip toeing around the USA, trying not to offend them.

[dissentowner]

If the West is playing out of Toronto that will be awesome! I can go see the Flames play...oh right, damn!