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From: jhr2@houem.UUCP (J.ROSENBLUTH)
Newsgroups: net.sport.hockey
Subject: Re: Hockey in Saskatoon
Message-ID: <412@houem.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 18-Nov-85 16:37:21 EST
Article-I.D.: houem.412
Posted: Mon Nov 18 16:37:21 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 19-Nov-85 03:47:29 EST
References: <474@bdmrrr.UUCP> <136@watmath.UUCP>, <1893@watdcsu.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ
Lines: 19

> What the NHL governors don't want to admit is that hockey just isn't
> popular in the South.  Atlanta, Birmingham, St. Louis, Denver, Kansas
> City (OK, that's actually West) all had teams.  Only St. Louis still does.
> The governors should try and sell the game where people want to buy
> it.  These means Canada and Northern U.S.

The Blues were always sold out in their first few years when they
had good teams.  After the novelty and talent faded, the seats were
empty and the team almost left town, only to be saved by Ralston-Purina
in the mid 70's.  In 1980-81, they were second overall in points and
the fans came back.  Every game from late December on was a sellout.
A couple of years later, the Blues were again a bad team with plenty
of empty seats, this time Harry Ornest coming to the rescue.

Hockey can be a success in St. Louis, but it takes a winner.  If a
franchise must draw even with a bad team (e.g. Toronto), then the Blues
ought to be in Saskatoon.

			Josh Rosenbluth (...!ihpn4!houxm!houem!jhr2)