National shame: Montreal still without external match of the Canadian, while Utah is already preparing to welcome his own
It is one of the biggest aberrations in the modern hockey era: Montreal, the cradle of sport, the city of the Canadian, has still never welcomed from the NHL outdoor match.
Meanwhile, Salt Lake City, a cityless city in hockey, could well daming the pawn to everyone. Utah! Before Montreal! How did we get there?
It must be said frankly: it is a shame. A shame for the National League, which deals with the Quebec metropolis as a simple prestigious branch, good to fill the arenas of others.
A shame for Geoff Molson, who seems more concerned about his packages at 195 dollars for selfies with Youppi than by the idea of offering a real gift to his base of supporters.
And a shame for the Montreal media, which have completely failed to put pressure for this event to become a priority.
While the other cities innovate, appeal and plan, Montreal sleeps with gas. And worse, she is satisfied to sleep.
When Gary Bettman introduced himself to Utah this week to unveil the name and the “Mammoth” logo, he not only praised the arrival of a new franchise.
He praised a city that acts, which plans, which offers concrete solutions to host major events.
Besides him, the co-owners Ryan and Ashley Smith did not spare the efforts to show the League that they are ready. They even have two potential stages on hand: America First Field (20,000 seats) and Stadium Rice-Ecles, capable of containing more than 50,000.
Already, the idea of an outdoor match is “on the radar” of the NHL, admitted Bettman. All this, in just a few months of existence. And Montreal?
Montreal has everything for her. The Percival-Molson stadium, with its breathtaking view of the city center, its unique location in the heart of Mont-Royal, its rich sports story.
And yet, Geoff Molson dares to say that there is no external stadium suitable in Montreal. Pardon? It is voluntary blindness, disinterest or incompetence.
Because if the Percival-Molson stadium is not “good enough” for the NHL, how to explain that it welcomes the Alouettes matches, concerts, major university events week after week?
In reality, it is not a question of infrastructure. It is a question of will. Geoff Molson has the means. He has power. He has the contacts.
What is missing is vision. Rather than being a leader, he has become a passive follower who waits for opportunities to fall on him.
While UTAH pushes files aggressively, Montreal gets over to apologies and immobility. And the worst part is that the NHL accepts it.
Even more insulting: two external games will take place in Florida next season. Yes, Florida. The winter classic will be played at the Miami Loandepot Park, while the Stadium series will see the Bruins face the Lightningau Raymond James Stadium.
These places may be sunny, they have at least had the courage and daring to force the hand at the NHL. Montreal watches the train pass.
And yet it would be a unique moment. A confrontation against Maple Leafs or Bruins at the Molson stadium. A ice rink surrounded by history, snow, snowy roofs, pure fervor.
We would hear the songs resonating in the mountains, we would see the flakes falling on the shoulders of supporters, wrapped in their retro chi chandans.
It would be magic. It would be pure marketing. It would be a breathtaking scene for TVs around the world. But no.
Instead, we are content with nostalgia and lukewarm advertising campaigns. We sell dreams in a box … without ever realizing it.
Geoff Molson likes to speak of “connection with the community”. He wants to “inspire young people”. Perfect. So why not invite them to live an external, free, immersive experience, alongside their idols?
Why not organize a week of activities around the match, involving schools, neighborhood associations, young minor hockey players?
There is a colossal radiation potential there. But you need courage. You need a soul. It takes a political and media will. We must say to the League: we are ready, we have the place, we have the story, we have supporters, we have a passion. And above all: we waited too much.
CH has already participated in four external games – in Edmonton, Calgary, Foxborough and Ottawa – but never as a host. Always invited. Always appearing. Never star. How to explain that a team with so much prestige, so many banners, so many supporters … have never been entitled to its event?
It is not inevitable. The Percival-Molson stadium is an obvious solution. What if we want to dream bigger, why not the plains of Abraham? Or the Jean-Drapeau Park with a temporary structure?
It is not the ideas that are missing. It’s audacity. Montreal could do something different, poetics, unique. A celebration of the city, its winter, its people.
A large sporting and cultural happening. And it would be good for the morale of the population, good for the economy, good for the brand image of the Canadian.
But for that, Geoff Molson must wake up. He must stop playing portfolio managers and become a sports organization leader.
He has to get out of his office, take the phone and tell Bettman: the next outdoor match is with us. And we start the preparations tomorrow.
And what about the media? Why no influential sports journalist pushes this idea from the front? Why RDS, TVA Sports, 98.5, La Presse or Radio-Canada do not mobilize their platform to make this dream a popular requirement?
Silence is an accomplice. It’s time to wake up the base. To rally the voices. To organize a petition. To harass the open lines. To ask each press briefing: when will we have our game outside in Montreal?
There is no longer any reason to wait. There is no longer a logistics pretext. There is no more excuse. If Utah can do, Montreal can ten times more. And if CH is really the people’s team, it is time for it to give it something symbolic and great.
Enough bogus marketing campaigns. Enough VIP packages with mascot. Enough hollow slogans. The time has come to deliver real.
An outside match in Montreal is not a whim. It is a debt to the biggest organization in the history of hockey .. and every day without action only worse.
