Outdoor hockey in Florida seems just crazy enough that some casuals might tune in. But it seems that the days of the Winter Classic being a must-watch event on the sports calendar are long gone.
This year's Winter Classic between the Blues and Blackhawks shifted to New Year's Eve in a move that did not pan out for the NHL.
The annual outdoor game will face less competition than in prior years.
After the 2020-21 season didn't feature outdoor games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NHL is bringing two of those games back for 2021-22.
The Winter Classic didn't do great numbers this year, but the inclusion of a long pregame in the broadcast numbers was part of that.
The Winter Classic ratings bounced back a bit this year, but still are a long way from their peak. There's plenty that could be done to improve the event.
Yes, this may have been the 12th-most-watched NHL broadcast on NBC ever, but it's still the least-watched Winter Classic.
