Avalanche Stadium Series gimmick is skating on thin ice

Like many of you, I was at the very first World Series game held at Coors Field. It was cold and the Rockies stumbled to a 10-5 loss before the team would eventually stagger face first onto the asphalt of what was an otherwise miraculous playoff run. But despite the outcome of that game, I have a good memory of being there. And if there isn’t another World Series game in Denver ever again, I can at least claim I was there that one magical night that baseball’s crowning event came to Coors Field.

Another memorable event is coming to Coors Field this weekend as the NHL Stadium Series rolls into town for the very first time. The Stadium Series, a Homer playing Krusty the clown like version of the Winter Classic – the NHL’s premier outdoor game – has now branched out into other cities other than the usual places like Chicago, Boston and New York.

I said back in August that “I figured it would have to be a cold day in hell before I’d shell out $450 to watch hockey at Coors Field. Now it may just have to be a cold day in February.” Now it looks like a warm day in February and I’m thrilled to be shelling out to attend this inaugural game. But is it a sustainable sporting event? Will it capture everyone’s attention the next time around or will interest fade due to overexposure?

I’m absolutely sure this game will be a success mainly because we are supposed to be blessed with great weather this weekend. When the Stadium Series game was announced last year, we were buying tickets knowing that it could very well have been 10 degrees and snowing sideways. But with a high of 70 this Saturday, I should be able to stay shirtless until at least 10pm. Ladies (and gentlemen) you are welcome.

Regardless of the weather, an outdoor hockey game just seems like a blast and I can’t wait to drink a few a beers and try to figure out who has the puck from the outer reaches of the Party Deck where my seats are located. The allure of being at the first regular season NHL game in Coors Field seems like something I can look back fondly on.

But will I go again?

Granted, I haven’t been yet but the answer right now is no.

For one, they’ll need to lower the price. Having to buy tickets for both events, I spent close to $350 on four tickets for standing room only on the Roof Top. I know that doesn’t seem like an egregious amount but compared to watching it for free in HD on my couch, it stings a little. And after this season when the novelty has worn off a bit, it will be difficult to coax that kind of money out of people again. The alleged “good” seats were initially selling for upwards of $450 or more EACH, so I can’t imagine this rolling around next year and getting the same turnout.

They’ll have to resist the urge to beat it into the ground. When the Avs and the NHL approached Dick Monfort about making some money at Coors Field while the Rockies were just getting started in Arizona, he probably spun in a circle on the ground like Curly from the Three Stooges.

You can be sure Monfort will try to get this event back in his ballpark every single year but fortunately I don’t think that’s how it works. The NHL spreads it around to various locations every season but you can never underestimate a sports league’s willingness to milk fans of every last drop of money. So if it’s a success this year, look for it again very soon. And that would be a shame because the uniqueness of it will wear off quickly. Imagining Dick Monfort lustily counting your money will also help with this.

Coors Field is a delight during the baseball season and it will be great to get over there for an event well before Rockies season has started. But I think the seating will also turn some people off from future attendance. The Minnesota Wild/Chicago Blackhawks Stadium Series game was played in the University of Minnesota football stadium where every seat was similar to how it would be for an indoor hockey game.

But at Coors Field only the seats in the upper regions of behind home plate will be truly good viewing. I’m guessing my Party Deck view won’t be bad because of how high it is, but imagine how dismal it will be to watch the game from just beyond the center field wall where you are the farthest from the action and not up high enough. Getting people to cough up good money for that again may be a bit much to ask.

Again, for this first ever event, people will gladly shell out to be there for the first time. I know I am. But down the road, unless the Avalanche have improved considerably from its “hanging by a thread” playoff hopes, I’m guessing the Stadium Series may feel less like this Saturday’s 70 degree day and more like the chilly one when I watched the first Coors Field World Series get off to its inauspicious start. Either way, I’m going to Coors Field on a warm day in February and there’s no chance the Rockies lose. That seems like a win.