As a hockey fan that primarily watches games on TV and gets to maybe 2-3 in person NHL games per year, I would love the additional access that the skating cameraman provides.
If I was primarily an in-arena fan, I could definitely understand the reminder of the increased commercialization of the game. Generally in-arena you can get much more access than a fan on TV. Its easier to hear the sounds, and track whats happening behind the play or on benches. But if that starts to flip and you get more access from the couch than the arena, I wonder if that may start to affect the gate in some of the less attended markets.
One of my best friends and I drove down from Arkansas for the PWHL game, and it was so much fun to watch. I don’t have a team that I root for, so it was fun to just soak up a fun game of hockey. Almost felt like falling in love with the sport all over again. Outside of game play, I think you could tell they were expecting less people. The merch being on the concourse with its line interfering with the already long lines for the limited concessions was a mess to navigate. I also did find it discouraging from some of the northern media that cover the PWHL to be so disparaging about the turnout compared to other stops without the context of it being the weekend after Christmas…
After the game last night, I went back to find (and re-read) your piece in March about attending the PWHL game in Detroit. I saw that I commented about you asking Brad Alberts to get one in Dallas. Not sure if he had any pull in getting it here but if you were able to mention it to him then, thank you! My daughter loved watching “two girls” play hockey (I presume she meant teams).
As a hockey fan that primarily watches games on TV and gets to maybe 2-3 in person NHL games per year, I would love the additional access that the skating cameraman provides.
If I was primarily an in-arena fan, I could definitely understand the reminder of the increased commercialization of the game. Generally in-arena you can get much more access than a fan on TV. Its easier to hear the sounds, and track whats happening behind the play or on benches. But if that starts to flip and you get more access from the couch than the arena, I wonder if that may start to affect the gate in some of the less attended markets.
One of my best friends and I drove down from Arkansas for the PWHL game, and it was so much fun to watch. I don’t have a team that I root for, so it was fun to just soak up a fun game of hockey. Almost felt like falling in love with the sport all over again. Outside of game play, I think you could tell they were expecting less people. The merch being on the concourse with its line interfering with the already long lines for the limited concessions was a mess to navigate. I also did find it discouraging from some of the northern media that cover the PWHL to be so disparaging about the turnout compared to other stops without the context of it being the weekend after Christmas…
Didn't Radek Faksa also live by himself at a younger-than-we+Americans-think-is-acceptable age?
After the game last night, I went back to find (and re-read) your piece in March about attending the PWHL game in Detroit. I saw that I commented about you asking Brad Alberts to get one in Dallas. Not sure if he had any pull in getting it here but if you were able to mention it to him then, thank you! My daughter loved watching “two girls” play hockey (I presume she meant teams).
Congrats on the book deal!!!