Winter Classic Hits New Lows for Viewers and the NHL Needs to take Action

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TJ Tucker
January 5, 2024 (1:40 PM)

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Photo credit: King 5 News

It's seen as a way to grow the game, especially in the United States. Long story short, it's not working and it's time for NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to take action.

On New Year's Day, the Seattle Kraken took on the Vegas Golden Knights in an outdoor game at T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners baseball team. The league hyped the event, players got involved, and the Kraken and Golden Knights went all out to get eyes on the game. It didn't work. In fact, the latest Winter Classic was the lowest rated in the event's history. Here's a full list of ratings for the Winter Classic since the first one in 2008.

2024 Winter Classic TV Ratings:
1.10M: Golden Knights vs. Kraken (TNT, truTV)

Winter Classic Viewership History:
2008: 3,750,000, PIT vs BUF, NBC
2009: 4,440,000, DET vs CHI, NBC
2010: 3,680,000, PHI vs BOS, NBC
2011: 4,500,000, WSH vs PIT, NBC
2012: 3,730,000, NYR vs PHI, NBC
2014: 4,404,000, TOR vs DET, NBC
2015: 3,470,000, CHI vs WSH, NBC
2016: 2,780,000, MTL vs BOS, NBC
2017: 2,557,000, CHI vs STL, NBC
2018: 2,480,000, NYR vs BUF, NBC
2019: 2,970,000, BOS vs CHI, NBC
2020: 1,970,000, NSH vs DAL, NBC
2022: 1,360,000, STL vs MIN, TNT
2023: 1,780,000, PIT vs BOS, TNT
2024: 1,110,000, VGK vs SEA, TNT

It's safe bet there were at least 1,100,000 Canadians watching the World Juniors game against Czechia where Team Canada was eliminated from the tournament. These numbers are just plain awful, and the NHL needs to fix it or risk tarnishing the name of the event for years to come.

"Easily the lowest-viewed Winter Classic to date. In addition, for the first-time since its inception, the Winter Classic will not be the most-watched regular season game for the NHL."

Previously on Bladeofsteel

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Rangers' Artemi Panarin Explains Why he Can't Attend This Year's All-Star Game

Outrage after Veteran Canadian Player in his 30s teaches lesson to 18-year-old in a tilt

POLL
5 JANVIER \| 646 ANSWERS Winter Classic Hits New Lows for Viewers and the NHL Needs to take Action Should the NHL ditch the Winter Classic?
Yes	294	45.5 %
No	296	45.8 %
Not sure	56	8.7 %
LIST OF POLLS