Gary Bettman tries to cover up worst All-Star draw of all time, but the joke is on him because people definitely noticed
The Florida Panthers have always struggled with attendance unless it's the playoffs or the Leafs or Connor McDavid or another superstar is making their one visit to Sunrise. Sitting at 27th in the league this season for attendance, Gary Bettman was hoping that numbers would increase for the All-Star weekend.
Unfortunately for him, it was dress like a seat night at FLA Live Arena. When the skills competition started last night, half of the lower bowl was almost completely empty. Now of course, viewers couldn't see just how empty it was because that side was the broadcasting side. As Bettman tried to cover up what he will call a "successful" weekend.
Well, not only did the event itself lack attendance, but it was noticeably cheesier than in years prior. Not only did fans notice, but even some NHLers who were not present at the event chose to chime in on social media.
About midway through the skills competition, fans in the upper bowl were asked to move down to fill the essentially empty lower bowl (I was one of them). It made things look better on tv, but it didn't change the fact that about half the arena was still empty.
Bettman continues to behave as though hockey is thriving in certain markets, while the upper half of the revenue generating teams in the league continue to foot the bill and prop up these struggling markets. It's embarrassing, really.
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 4 | 598 ANSWERS Gary Bettman tries to cover up worst All-Star draw of all time, but the joke is on him because people definitely noticed Should the NHL's struggling markets be off-limits for special events? | ||
| Yes | 459 | 76.8 % |
| No, they have to boost interest somehow | 139 | 23.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
