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Leaf Rumours

MLSE, NHL discussing outdoor, all-star games

NEW YORK -- You didn't expect Maple Leafs officials just to sit around on their blue-and-white butts while their provincial rivals from Ottawa get all the accolades, did you?

Indeed, there will be a lot of justified chest pumping in the Nation's Capital Wednesday when commissioner Gary Bettman is expected to officially announce Ottawa as the deserving site of the 2012 NHL all-star festivities.

Ottawa proved to be a very worthy host of the 2008 NHL draft, an event where Senators owner Eugene Melnyk was reportedly promised an all-star game down the road.

Promise fulfilled.

Of course, while Ottawa will be basking in the hockey spotlight in 16 months as part of the team's 20th anniversary celebration, Richard Peddie, president of Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment Ltd, continues to lobby Bettman in an effort to bring an all-star game, draft and outdoor game to Toronto.

Peddie revealed Tuesday that he and Bettman held discussions on those events two weeks ago over lunch at the Real Sports Bar & Grill. According to Peddie, further talks are scheduled for next month.

"We have an annual meeting with Gary to talk about Maple Leaf-related things and that's coming up in October. At that time we will present him with a potential agenda," said Peddie who, along with Leafs general manager Brian Burke, was here in New York to attend the NHL board of governors meeting.

The Air Canada Centre, home of the Leafs, played host to the 2000 all-star game and the 2002 entry draft.

The Leafs have been pushing for a winter classic to be held at BMO Field, citing the surrounding buildings on the CNE Grounds would provide the perfect venues for a festival-like atmosphere around the event. But back in January, a high-ranking NHL official expressed concerns to the Toronto Sun about BMO's modest 20,500 capacity.

"We want this thing to be a real spectacle," the official said.
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http://www.torontosun.com/sports/hockey/2010/09/14/15351936.html
 
Yeah, I also dislike the idea of doing it at BMO. If you can't do it bigger and better than everyone else, then don't do it at all IMO. Skydome (apparently not possible bc of the roof) or bust.
 
You can probably add 5,000-10,000 temp seats to BMO.

I don't see a problem with a smaller, more intimate atmosphere.

Probably makes for a better experience for everyone.
 
I like the BMO idea. At the big stadiums the fans are always so far set back it looks ridiculous. Plus who wants to sit 500m from the ice - it's pointless. BMO would make a better atmosphere, better setting than the big stadiums and better TV.
 
ITs about the almighty dollar though and why settle for 20,500 when you can seat minimum 50,000 people at the same ticket prices. It just makes more sense to the league IMO.
 
what is BMO field?

would the fans be closer to the action?
ie: smaller field than a football field ?
 
worm said:
what is BMO field?
Click to expand...

soccer stadium where TFC plays


Toronto-BMO-Field-Soccer-Bleachers-1.jpg
 
MLSE will fucck it up somehow. The Rogers Center(dome) is an awful place. Soulless.
 
How many people were in Boston this year? Fenway only holds like 38k for baseball. Can't imagine they added too many more temp sears for the game
 
New York Rangers GM Glen Sather gave coach John Tortorella a vote of confidence on Sunday, telling the media (as per the Bergen County Record's Andrew Gross) that Torts is "absolutely" the right guy for the job.

Now, it would be news if Sather didn't say that, but this brings up an interesting situation. Sather may be on the way out after this season -- many suspects Mark Messier may take over as GM, with Sather keeping his role of president. So perhaps it won't be Sather's decision to make come next summer.

Plus, if the Rangers struggle this season, the heat will most likely be on Sather, more so than Tortorella.
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If Torts ever did become available, he'd be a perfect fit in Toronto imo. His personality + coaching style fits the team and city.
 
I dunno. Tortz might be too much for the Toronto media.

Personally I see Wilson proving himself when he finally got decent goaltending, and I also see Gilmour joining the Leafs' assistant coaches in a few years.
 
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