Hockey in a Baseball Diamond Sucks

Does anyone else love the idea of the NHL Winter Classic, but absolutely hate that it was played in a baseball diamond last year, and is slated to be again this year? Look at the picture above and you can probably see why I think this is a stupid idea.

One of the beauties of hockey is being close to the action, so you can witness the speed and sounds first hand, not have to rely on the jumbo-tron to fill you in. Hockey on a ball diamond takes all that away due to the position of the ice in relation to the stands. Look at those poor guys out in center field! Think they have a good view of what’s going on? How about the guys that are behind home plate?

Now, let’s take a look at what really works:

and

Hockey is much better in football stadiums, especially NFL over the CFL (due to field width, and how close the fans are to the action. So why does the NHL insist on throwing these games out into the ball parks? Due to the nostalgia of Wrigley Field or Fenway Park? Who gives a flying one. This is about our game, not theirs and whatever may have taken place on those diamonds. As long as the games are going to be played outside, put them in the football stadiums and get the fans experiencing the game the way it was meant to be. Hell, go out to Lambeau Field next season next year over a ball diamond in an NHL city. You’re telling me that people wouldn’t travel to that game. OF COURSE THEY WOULD.