3 Reasons Why the NHL Should Go Back to Lake Tahoe for a Special Outdoor Game
With the 2024 Stadium Series matchup coming up, it's fun to think about which other venues can host this event. Here's why Lake Tahoe deserves consideration for an outdoor event.
1. It Can Be Successful With Fans in Attendance
The NHL Outdoors doubleheader is a great idea in theory. Hockey wouldn't be played in a gigantic football stadium or baseball park. You could play hockey in natural elements, bringing players back to their roots. While the doubleheader didn't have fans because of the pandemic, this event would be successful with fans in attendance.
Take the American Century Championship, for example. The golf tournament at Lake Tahoe, which has been a boon for famous athletes such as Mario Lemieux and Stephen Curry, has been a massive draw. In fact, last year's tournament drew a record crowd of 76,810 fans across the event.
With those gargantuan numbers, there's no reason why you couldn't pass up such an event. Fans would get to enjoy a scenic view that would make Norman Rockwell blush, along with their hockey game. How cool would that be if a sea of Golden Knights fans traveled for this event?
With the standard NHL rink being 200 ft by 85 ft (60.9 m by 25.9 m), it would be the ideal fit for Edgewood Tahoe Resort (6,135 m). The possibilities are endless regarding the location, which the NHL can have fun with. You can capitalize on the popularity of the Vegas Golden Knights, as well (I'll get more on that later). It's a win-win for Gary Bettman.
2. Lake Tahoe Has Plenty of Sports History
As mentioned earlier, Lake Tahoe has been home to numerous sports events. Aside from the American Century Championship and the aforementioned NHL Outdoors games, the legendary lake has also been the spot for the 1960 Winter Olympics.
Held in Squaw Valley (now known as Olympic Valley), the event saw the United States hockey team win an unfathomable gold medal. They knocked off the Soviet and Canadian teams en route to the top of the podium. In fact, it was the first time the U.S. won a gold medal in the sport at the event. It seems like magical things happen for the United States in hockey. Mind you, this was before believing in miracles was cool.
With its Olympic pedigree and hockey history behind it, the NHL would be wise to capitalize on this opportunity. Why not relive it with a memorable outdoor game given the significance of history in the league?
3. The Golden Knights Draw Big Crowds
Opposing NHL fans will complain that the Vegas Golden Knights get too much favortism from Gary Bettman. Whether it's his motley crew of ref stooges or various hockey events, there's always a conspiracy behind the supposed "bias." However, there are some stats that warrant the Golden Knights getting plenty o' love.
For example, the Vegas Golden Knights have the highest capacity of any home team in the NHL at 103.5% this season. The Knights are also fifth in total attendance for the season at 471,116. There's plenty of reason to believe Vegas is a great draw, especially after winning a Stanley Cup.
If the NHL does go back to Lake Tahoe for an outdoor game, it can replace its Stadium Series game and plug the Golden Knights in their outdoor festivities. It's a long shot considering the popularity of the Stadium Series. However, it would be nice to see again given the "Gold Standard".
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