09-20-2007, 08:51 AM
thehip420 Wrote:Apparently 25,000 of those tickets were held for Penguin fans, Leaf fans and of all things Blue Jay season ticket holders. Sure it sold out quick but Gary Bettman isn't trying to get more fans in the Buffalo/Pittsburgh cities I'm sure his goal was to get views across the U.S to tune in and I just can't see that happening with the College football games going on.
That's not entirely accurate. 42,000 seats were put on sale and sold within 30 minutes on Tuesday. Penguins and Blue Jays season ticket holders had access to a special block of those tickets (the Jays due to their relationship with the Bills). There was no special treatment for Leafs' fans. The remaining 30,000 tickets are being held back for Sabres and Bills season ticket holders, and the NHL.
Source: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070918.wsptsabre18/GSStory/GlobeSportsHockey/home">http://www.globesports.com/servlet/stor ... ockey/home</a><!-- m -->
As for the decision to hold it on Jan 1, it is actually NBC that pushed for that date, as they do not hold any college bowl rights and want something to compete with it. I agree it seems risky, and ratings aren't likely to be particularly good. It should be noted however with the invention of the BCS, there are now only 2 major bowl games on Jan 1 (the Rose and Sugar), but they both take place later in the day. The hockey game will have to compete with four lesser bowls scheduled for the early afternoon.
Of bigger concern is what the weather will be like in Buffalo on January 1...