Hey people... I'm new to the forum, but I wanted to toss in my 2cents(I know your not interested). I'm a canadian who likes the wings(though not my favorite team) and I found this declaration of hockeytown being dead disturbing.
First, the many responses here prove hockeytown isn't dead, imo. Second, you guys still draw more than any other american market, so hockeytown USA is alive and well.
I'm sure all your suggestions for why the opener didn't sell out are all true. The economy, red wing fans definitely being spoiled, european players, the success of other sports teams in detroit, etc... but one of my theories is... and I'm not sure how much hockey media you get there.... the national media in the states only seems to mention hockey when someone gets hurt or when they want to bash its popularity. We get a lot of your tv up here and anytime hockey is mentioned its one of the two. Up here the media treats hockey like a religion, and you can imagine the frenzy that stirs. When do you guys ever see the national media talking about another team? Its a tragedy considering how great the sport is. It should speak for itself. Is there a rivalry anymore? If the national media even paid a fraction the attention the canadian media does to hockey this would not be an issue, at least in my opinion. And blame that on the nhl perhaps, or blame it on the lockout, but my feeling is that plays a huge role in the apathy of all the great american hockey markets.
Hoceky is too deeply ingrained in detroit for it to die out, which makes this a phase, and that guys article stupid.
