NHL Winter Classic does even better in ratings than '08
Now it's REALLY official: The Winter Classic is the best thing to happen to the NHL in years.
Even without the novelty of snow in Buffalo for the inaugural game, Red Wings vs. Blackhawks at Wrigley Field bettered the TV ratings in 56 major markets compared to last year.
The 2.9 percent of homes in "overnight ratings" topped last year's 2.6 and was the best such rating for a regular-season game in 13 years.
Those figures are a fraction of what NBC will attract for its two NFL playoff games today, but for hockey, they are excellent.
"Year one was an extraordinary experience; year two was the establishment of what promises to be a great tradition," NBC Sports president Ken Schanzer said in a news release.
Click below to see the top 10 markets, headed by Chicago and Detroit, of course. (New York ranked 14th among the major markets with a 3.0 rating. Pretty good.)
Top 10 Metered Markets (rating/share):
1. Chicago 11.8/21
2. Detroit 10.5/20
3. Buffalo 10.1/20
4. St. Louis 5.3/10
5. Pittsburgh 4.4/8
6. Denver 4.2/10
7. Providence 3.5/7
8. Indianapolis 3.4/6
9. West Palm Beach 3.3/6
10. Orlando 3.2/5
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Comments (6)
I suppose my watching here at the house put San Diego at 11.
Enjoy.
http://njfrogman.blogspot.com/2009/01/some-great-photos-of-nhls-winter.html
Something doesn't add up with Boston not listed yet Providence is #7. The reason might be because SE Massachusetts residents are considered in the Providence market.
More in Orlando than Tampa or New York.. Time to move the Lightning or Islanders to Orlando
Stan Mikita's got a great story. I remember reading a young adult biography of him which detailed his life as a refugee from the Soviets.
It was great to see this legend at the Winter Classic. It's even better for hockey to see the Blackhawks come back from terrible ownership. There's hope for the Islanders, yet.
Was disappointed to see that the Stan Mikita's Donuts in "Waynes World" was just a fictional setup of Tim Horton's, makers of the best fast hot chocolate in the Northern Hemisphere.
thank god the winter classic does well. I'd die before i watch college football on new years day over lovely outdoor hockey.
New Yankees Stadium in 2010!