Turtleboy: Can Minor League Hockey Even Work in Worcester?

Friday, February 06, 2015

Turtleboy

The American Hockey League recently announced that the Worcester Sharks would be relocating to the one place that comes to mind when you think of hockey. Nope, not Canada – California!! This marks the second minor league hockey team that has jumped ship from the Woo in the past decade, joining the now defunct Worcester IceCats as distant memories of what once was. But could minor league hockey ever work in Worcester?

I was recently contacted by a nice Worcester guy who is trying to start a movement to get another minor league hockey team in Worcester. However, instead of going after San Jose (Sharks) or St. Louis’ (IceCats) minor league affiliates, they wanna see them go after the white wale – the Bruins. The problem is of course that the Bruins minor league affiliate plays in Providence.

Look, this is a nice idea and all, but it’s an uphill battle. From the outside Providence looks a million times better than Worcester. That’s what happens when one city is led by Mafia and the other one is led by whoever is next in line from the West Side. The ticket sales speak for themselves. Worcester is ranked 27th in the AHL in average attendance (3,365). Providence is ranked 4th (7,925).

Here’s the thing though – it doesn’t need to be this way. Worcester’s population is slightly larger and much more blue collar. Hockey is a blue collar sport. There’s no reason the DCU Center shouldn’t have 6,000 drunken Irishmen at every single game. You just have to find a way to convince these people to come to the games.

I see ads for the Sharks everywhere – in the Telegram, Worcester Magazine, etc. They probably spend thousands per month on these, and for what? I’ve never once been inspired to go to a game when I see them and I love hockey. I’m not a marketing expert, but it seems like a buy three beers get one free night would be a great way to get people in the door. Do something. Anything except an ad telling me to buy tickets for the big game against the Admirals. Who are the Admirals? Why do I care? Give me a reason to go to the games and I’ll go, and so will thousands of others.