Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
The NHL still owns the Phoenix Coyotes, and as we all know, they're hoping to sell the team to a group that will keep the team in Glendale, Ariz. long-term.
They thought they found that owner in Matthew Hulsizer, but legal challenges to a proposed lease deal with the City of Glendale have put that sale in jeopardy, and as a result, the Coyotes-to-Winnipeg chatter is louder than ever.
This, uh, isn't going to help. The ad below was on the boards during Monday night's Game 3 between the Coyotes and Red Wings at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale.
Yes, that's an ad for the Canadian version of the NHL.com Shop... on the boards in Arizona... during a game against the Detroit Red Wings. This makes absolutely no sense.
For the record, we love our friends in Glendale (especially those at SB Nation's Five For Howling) and on a personal level, I've lost a team before. It sucks more than you think (in most cases, it's not just a sports team you're losing -- it's a huge part of your life), and I don't think any of us want to see it happen to anybody on a human level -- no matter what you think of a town as a hockey market.
This ad, though, can only be directed at certain people, of course. When you go to shop.canada.nhl.com from the United States, you get a nice little message reminding you that there's an American version of the site. This ad is not for fans in Phoenix. It's for fans in Winnipeg.
What other possible explanation could there be? If you have one, offer it up in the comments. Please.
Thanks to JJ from Winging It In Motown for using his DVR skills to grab the image for us.
5 comments
Travis Hughes:
Head Start? NHL Places Awkward Canada Ad On Boards In Phoenix
5
Apr 19
1
Apr 19
Comments
Many of the board advertisements are for television more than anything else and the game was on Hockey Night in Canada. I bet they had more viewers on HNIC than Versus.
Blogging on hockey at The Globe and Mail
by James Mirtle on Apr 19, 2011 11:47 AM EDT reply actions
Either way, it’s odd. Would we see this ad in Pittsburgh or New York, even if those teams were playing the Habs or Leafs on HNIC?
Visit the BSH Store :: Get us on Twitter :: facebook, too!
Broad Street Hockey - Covering the Philadelphia Flyers. Two goalies*, One Cup.
by Travis Hughes on Apr 19, 2011 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Check the number of eyeballs on the games in question. A late game in Phoenix is probably being watched by more people in Canada than in the U.S.
Blogging on hockey at The Globe and Mail
by James Mirtle on Apr 20, 2011 1:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Seems like an ad aimed at Canadians who are either watching on TV or at the game since there are a shit-ton of them in Arizona during the Spring.
Raising Arizona Sports at SB Nation Arizona twitter: @sethpo
by Seth Pollack on Apr 19, 2011 12:24 PM EDT reply actions
I’m seeing an Air Canada ad behind the net (which is the priciest board ad location) in Staples Center for LA-SJ. I realize it’s a bit different since Air Canada is a corporation paying money for the ad (you might call what we saw in Phoenix yesterday a “house ad”), but still, you’d think some American corporation would’ve found the space more valuable.
You’d think that, at least, if there were more Americans than Canadians watching the damn game.
by dzuunmod on Apr 20, 2011 1:01 AM EDT reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed