Photo: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
According to a source to the Toronto Star, Alberta’s Lake Louise — with its famous Rocky Mountain backdrop — has been discussed internally by the NHL as a possible game location for opening day.
The NHL is currently set to begin the 2020-21 season on January 1, 2021, with training camps starting the first week of December.
According to the Star, the NHL — which has staged outdoor games on New Year’s Day since 2008 — is going full throttle to prepare for a potential New Year’s Day launch, canvassing teams on COVID protocols, the possibility of limited live crowds in certain cities, and the availability of hotel rooms close to arenas.
The discussions are in the preliminary stage and the Lake Louise outdoor game scenario, while postcard beautiful, would face several hurdles, starting with the state of the COVID-19 pandemic when play resumes.
Lake Louise is also a popular destination even in troubled times, which could make booking hotels in the area around Christmas time a challenge.
Editorial note: We like it when the NHL thinks “outside the box.” More please.
By Jon Sorensen
