  Jerome81 Member Username: Jerome81 Post Number: 993 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 64.142.86.133 |
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/ news/story?id=2445183 Should Detroit make a bid to get this? Might make some sense. It is Hockeytown. | ||
Motorcitymayor2026 Member Username: Motorcitymayor2026 Post Number: 809 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 24.231.189.137 |
Detroit should definitely bid for this. It would be a great addition to downtown Detroit | ||
The_aram Member Username: The_aram Post Number: 4872 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.41.124.8 |
It's a better fit in the Twin Cities, honestly. Yeah, Detroit hockey fans are admirable. But it's an entirely different world of obsession up there. | ||
Canuckr Member Username: Canuckr Post Number: 32 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 69.246.17.24 |
That would be great here.. However The_aram is right, it would be a better fit in the Twin Cities.. | ||
Livedog2 Member Username: Livedog2 Post Number: 235 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 24.223.133.177 |
The_aram is absolutely right about the Twin Cities being at "an entirely different world of obsession up there." I coached and played with the Men's Senior Major "A" Championship Team for the State of Michigan in the 1973-74 Season. We thought we were such a great team because we all grew up together, played hockey togther as kids, went off and many of us played hockey with some of the best programs in collegiate hockey in the U.S. and were the champions of our state. The U.S. championship was played up in St. Paul, MN. We had beaten all of our opponents in this U.S. championship playoff really bad. But, the Minnesota entry was beating all of their opponents even worse than we were. Finally, the championship game between us and the Minnesota team was that called South St. Paul played for all the marbles. They beat us something terrible. The final score was 11-1 and we were incredulous that they were so much better than us. I remember after the game their coach came over an d congratulated me and us on a good game. They said we were the best team to play them in probably 5 years and I was dumbstruck! You also have to remember the the heart of the U.S. Olympic Gold Medal Team in 1960 were players from Minnesota that happened to also be brothers. Then their kids came along 20 years later in 1980 and did the same thing they did in 1960 which was to beat the unbeatable Russian Hockey Machine and win the Gold Medal in 1980. That's Twin Cities Hockey! The_aram is absolutely right about the Twin Cities being at "an entirely different world of obsession up there." I coached and played with the Men's Senior Major "A" Championship Team for the State of Michigan in the 1973-74 Season. We thought we were such a great team because we all grew up together, played hockey togther as kids, went off and many of us played hockey with some of the best programs in collegiate hockey in the U.S. and were the champions of our state. The U.S. championship was played up in St. Paul, MN. We had beaten all of our opponents in this U.S. championship playoff really bad. But, the Minnesota entry was beating all of their opponents even worse than we were. Finally, the championship game between us and the Minnesota team was that called South St. Paul played for all the marbles. They beat us something terrible. The final score was 11-1 and we were incredulous that they were so much better than us. I remember after the game their coach came over an d congratulated me and us on a good game. They said we were the best team to play them in probably 5 years and I was dumbstruck! You also have to remember the the heart of the U.S. Olympic Gold Medal Team in 1960 were players from Minnesota that happened to also be brothers. Then their kids came along 20 years later in 1980 and did the same thing they did in 1960 which was to beat the unbeatable Russian Hockey Machine and win the Gold Medal in 1980. That's Twin Cities Hockey! 1960 Olympic Gold Medal Hockey Team  1980 Olympic Gold Medal Hockey Team  Livedog2 | ||
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner Post Number: 101 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
I'd say no. Hockey is an international sport. The Hockey Hall of Fame is in Toronto and that covers all of Hockey. Some lame hockey hall of fame of USA would fail in comparison. There may be a reason why the museum folded. Remember, none of the Russians form the Red Wings would be eligible, heck half to 2/3rds of each hockey team would be ineligible. | ||
Mr_onion Member Username: Mr_onion Post Number: 177 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.205.46.219 |
Hockey is behind Poker and Reruns of my MR ED,, its a sport that has passed its prime sad to say,, Hell Nascar is even Bigger ,, SHut the doors and throw away the key. | ||
The_aram Member Username: The_aram Post Number: 4873 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.41.124.8 |
great stories, Livedog. my experience with Minnesota hockey fans comes from being at the NCAA tournament regional in Grand Forks, North Dakota this past March. Minnesota was playing Holy Cross in the first game, and Holy Cross pulled off one of the greatest upsets in tournament history, knocking off the 1-seed Gophers in one of the greatest hockey games I've ever seen. Now, granted, this is pretty crushing for Minnesota fans. However, the vast majority of them stayed for the second game, North Dakota vs. Michigan. Why? Solely to cheer AGAINST North Dakota. It was like nothing I've ever seen before. They weren't cheering for Michigan- they were wishing death on NoDak. That's pretty cool. Let 'em have the US Hall of Fame. they deserve it. | ||
Livedog2 Member Username: Livedog2 Post Number: 237 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 24.223.133.177 |
And, let Henry Boucha of the Detroit Red Wings and Warroad, Minnesota hockey fame manage it!  Livedog2 | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 2607 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.47.100.44 |
As much as I love the sport of hockey I do know that in the United States, for the most part it's a niche sport. It's a wonderful sport for those of us who grew up around it, played it and can understand some of the nuances of the game. This Hall of Fame wherever it is just won't be much of a tourist draw just based upon its lack of a serious following here in the US. Compare this to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto and that place is a major mecca & tourist draw there just because it is a major sport there. | ||
Jerome81 Member Username: Jerome81 Post Number: 995 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 64.142.86.133 |
Of course Toronto is and will be the mecca. If there is to be a US hall of fame, there are really only 2 states it should be. Minnesota or Michigan. I don't disagree that Minnesota should most likely have it. But I was thinking that Detroit might be the ONLY other place that could have a legit claim to it. | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 2611 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.47.100.44 |
I was even thinking possibly Lake Placid, the site where the Miracle on Ice team won wouldn't be a bad spot to have the US Hockey Hall of Fame. Why not have it a part of the rink where the American program had some of its greatest glory? | ||
Bob Member Username: Bob Post Number: 972 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 205.188.116.137 |
The saddest thing was when they moved the North Stars to Dallas and there was no NHL team in Minnesota. Minnesota is the on place that beats us in terms of obsession of hockey. And hockey is a nitch sport, partly because it is played best and has it popularity in cold climates that actually have ice outdoors during certain times of the year. | ||
Bvos Member Username: Bvos Post Number: 1437 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.238.170.39 |
Minnesota is definately the place to have the US Hockey Hall of Fame. People live and breath hockey there much like kids used to live and breath baseball here. Winter in MN is the best time of the year to be a kid (or adult for that matter). Every city has several outdoor hockey rinks set up in their parks. Pick-up games happen all day and night, no matter how cold it gets. All the high schools, both public and private, have hockey teams. That's where the best talent is found in MN, not in the private traveling teams. The cheerleading teams come to the hockey games, not the basketball games in MN. The whole state is like that, not just the Twin Cities. I think the best place for the US Hockey Hall of Fame would be in the Twin Cities somewhere. The second best place would be Detroit. The reason the current (now former) US Hockey Hall of Fame has such little attendance is because it's out in no man's land. It would be like having it in Gaylord if it were Michigan. A move to downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul (the best choice) would put it on the map and get it lots of attendance from folks visiting the Twin Cities. | ||
Fnemecek Member Username: Fnemecek Post Number: 1644 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 69.219.103.109 |
Yeah, Minnesota has the kind of obsession where they don't bother showing up to NHL games. The Detroit Red Wings routinely beat the pasts off of the Minnesota Wild when it comes to paid attendance. While we're at it St. Louis and Philadelphia have both beaten Minnesota in attendance figures and done so for the past 4 seasons in a row. Plus, last in the season that we have full attendance figures for (2003-04), Tampa Bay came close to beating them in terms of paid attendance (759,776 vs 730,634). Tampa freakin' Bay! And Tampa's attendance figures are rising whereas Minnesota's are pretty much flat. I'm sorry, but if you are having trouble competing with Tampa for attendance in hockey then you're not even worthy of visiting the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame let alone having it in your city. | ||
Xd_brklyn Member Username: Xd_brklyn Post Number: 148 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.88.89.94 |
Has anybody been to the US Hockey Hall of Fame? We were just there last summer because Eveleth is near Hibbing, Bob Dylan's hometown, but we didn't go in because the lobby was just this large vacuous space with nothing to draw you in. The whole concept looked like one of those pork barrel projects localities create to get federal or state funding. Kind of depressing. I guess what you would be buying is just the name and rights to call your project the "US Hockey Hall of Fame". If any city buys this Hall of Fame they would no doubt be starting from scratch. (Message edited by xD_brklyn on May 15, 2006) | ||
Jimelnino Member Username: Jimelnino Post Number: 448 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 68.248.42.22 |
The thing about Minnesota hockey is they are more into High School (where it rivals football) and College than they are Pro hockey. That doesn't really mean anything when talking about the Twin Cities prospect for the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, but it does account for the bad attendance at Wild games. Don't forget that the team hasn't been great either, and the one time they made a good playoff run people were very excited. | ||
Fnemecek Member Username: Fnemecek Post Number: 1646 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 69.219.103.109 |
Great! So build the high school or NCAA hockey hall of fame there. And put the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in a place where the NHL has a bigger presence - like Detroit, St. Louis, Philadelphia or, ahem, Tampa Bay. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1240 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225 |
Leave it in Toronto where it belongs. Detroit is Hockey Town? Only in our own eyes. And only during the regular season. | ||
Fnemecek Member Username: Fnemecek Post Number: 1649 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 69.219.103.109 |
The NHL Hall of Fame is, always has been and probably always will be, in Toronto. However, there's also a U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame that is currently in Eveleth, Minnesota. That's what the article was about - and this thread. | ||
_sj_ Member Username: _sj_ Post Number: 1346 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 69.220.230.150 |
Incorporate it into the new Home of the Red Wings. | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 2621 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.47.100.44 |
Okay, how many people would this actually draw? I'm not so sure a USA Hockey HOF would draw that many fans. I'd sure as heck would visit the NHL HOF but just the USA HOF? Would it be THAT interesting to visit and could it even maintain any traffic & revnue flow from tourism?? I'm not saying it isn't valid but in the US, I don't think hockey's got a rabid following to make this a premier tourist desitnation. For that matter, how many of us have even visited other HOFs like the football one in Canton, basketball in Springfield, and the baseball in Cooperstown?? And these are considered the MAJOR sports in the USA! | ||
Detroitstar Member Username: Detroitstar Post Number: 36 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 65.42.16.138 |
For the record, the HHOF in Toronto is not just for the NHL, but all hockey from amatuer/college to international/olympics and professional leagues from around the world. There are exhibits for all types of ice hockey. | ||
Kenp Member Username: Kenp Post Number: 22 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 216.93.121.82 |
I visited Lake Placid a few years ago. They have tours of the arena that hosted the famous Olimpic hockey win against USSR. Its a nice tourist town, a perfect place for the US HOF. | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 2622 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.47.100.44 |
My sentiments exactly Kenp! Why not offer it up to that town where it's touristy and help them along? I understand the historical significance of each of the HOFs in each city because they were considered the birthplaces of each sport. But for a sport like hockey that definitely did not have its origins here in the US, why no take it to its most fabled spot in Lake Placid? | ||
Umstucoach Member Username: Umstucoach Post Number: 26 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 64.12.116.204 |
Nationally, for some reason, most people associate hockey with Boston in my opinion. It would probably be best in Minneapolis where youth and amateur hockey is most popular than anywhere else. Minnesotans in terms of professional sports (except for football, but that is different all together) have always been rather "particular" in what they choose to support. It would be cool to have it here in Detroit. This state also has a great tradition in hockey. It wouldn't be a huge tradition, but it's anothing thing to see when people are in town and because it doesn't have that big of a following in the United States, I think that it would be better served where there are more people, therefore leaving larger metropolitan areas probably the best area for it | ||
Pdtpuck Member Username: Pdtpuck Post Number: 29 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 208.251.168.194 |
a little late for the prom here, so to speak, but I just got back from vacation (from Minnesota, even!). I've been to both halls...the US one in Eveleth & of course, the TRUE hockey hall of fame in Toronto, and xd_brklyn is right...they should definitely start from scratch as the US hall of fame BLOWS GOATS compared to Toronto!!! Also, people & players who are in the US HOF who many less-informed persons feel should be in Toronto already are, anyway, so I've never seen a need for a specific-U.S. HOF. Next thing you know, people will be wanting a "Central Kansas Native All-Sports Hall of Fame," or a "People Born & Raised in Vermont Legend Gallery..................." Maybe that's why attendance is so low....hockey fans know that the true hall of fame in Toronto is the better place to go! |
