• Calgary Herald, Monday, February 21, 2011 10:30 AM

Calgary Herald columnist Stephen Hunt argues that the outdoor NHL Heritage Classic games are the best way to market NHL in cities where there are teams but not fans.

"Every time the NHL plays a game outdoors, Americans (outside of Boston, Detroit, Minneapolis, Chicago and -- believe it! -- San Jose) notice hockey. Otherwise, not so much," he writes. He suggests marketers in other areas use NHL's tactic: The Oscars could be held on James Cameron's fictional planet Pandora, with nominees depicted as those giant blue humanoids, the Na'avis. Or hold the Grammys at Woodstock in a downpour with the audience on various drugs.

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