Bittersweet as it is that the Calgary Flames made the Stanley Cup Finals - becoming the first Canadian team to do so in ten years - ABC has to be sweating bullets over Calgary's matchup against first-time finalists Tampa Bay. They'll be airing the Finals from Game 3 on, and probably wondering the whole time how they got stuck with two small market teams in the NHL championship...and a non-U.S. one to (a)boot.
How exactly do you market hockey in Florida? NASCAR's in full swing, after all, and it's offseason for all those Yankee tourists. I guess the Lightning could always do like the old movie theaters used to and advertise their air-conditioning.
Or just play the games at Hooters, where I understand many Floridians spend their free time.
Maybe Jessica Simpson's tits could improve the ratings. (See, e.g., story below). That's gotta work for something, right?
Marketing Hockey in Florida is easier than you'd think. Hell, a good number of my co-workers are former college hockey players from Penn. and Mass. South Fl, especially Tampa/St Pete/Ft Meyers is to old yankees what the mythical elephant grave yard is to, you know, elephants. They come here to die. Let's not leave out all those from Quebec and Ontario that are still wintering...could explain why there two NHL teams here in FLA. I just wish the touristas would time their leisurely drives home outside of my rush hour. Game on! Ooh, my wings are here....
Money in the Bank: Tampa Bay in 6. I have spoken.
I remember the sub-1 ratings on some weekends for hockey on ABC in Houston. It was absolutely brutal.
Disney exiled NHL to ESPN starting next season.