Columbus Blue Jackets Announce Preseason Schedule
Finally! The Columbus Blue Jackets have come BACK to Nationwide Arena (obviously read like The Rock’s ring into speech) Mark your calendars! The Jackets have released their preseason schedule (via the team’s website) which begins Monday September 21st when the Jackets host the Pittsburgh Penguins in their first home game since April 10th’s win against the Buffalo Sabers. The preseason goes till Saturday Oct 3rd where the Jackets host the Nashville Predators.
Monday, Sept. 21 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ETTuesday, Sept. 22 vs. St. Louis Blues, 7 p.m. ET AND at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m. ET (split squad)Thursday, Sept. 24 vs. Minnesota Wild, 7 p.m. ETSaturday, Sept. 26 at Pittsburgh Penguins, 4 p.m. ETTuesday, Sept. 29 at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m. ETFriday, Oct. 2 at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. ETSaturday, Oct. 3 vs. Nashville Predators, 7 p.m. ET
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Interesting enough the Jackets won’t play any games in Cleveland which is the 2 hour away, site of new affiliate Lake Erie Monsters. This is a terrible decision not to help promote Jackets hockey in Cleveland where they have a chance to make a big splash. The Jackets ranked 24th (out of 30) for team attendance averaging only 16,176 per game (capacity is 18,500), a slight upgrade from the previous season of 14,698 bad enough for 27th in the league (via ESPN), and best in their past 5 seasons. But 24th in the league isn’t exactly something to pound your chest about.
The Jackets have a great opportunity to grow their market in both Cincinnati and, more importantly, Cleveland. These markets are ideal and ripe since they lack a professional hockey presence and are only a manageable 2 hour commute. Cleveland especially with the affiliate of the Monsters now, has the easiest transition if they nurture it correctly.
The people in Cleveland are hard core sports fans across the board and generally support their sports teams. The Jackets could become one of them, even if it doesn’t add a huge fan in seats boost, it could help with TV ratings (which equals $$$$ for higher advertising spots) and an increase in merchandise movement. Once the fans love the Monsters, some of their favorite Monsters move up to the Jackets which then locks in more loyal fans for a cycle that keeps paying dividends.
More from Blue Jackets News
- Blaming Columbus Blue Jacket Players for Babcock Fallout is Unfair
- The Mike Babcock Experiment in Columbus Has Failed
- Blue Jacket Prospects Win Traverse City Tournament: Who Stood Out?
- Mike Babcock Resigns as CBJ Head Coach: Reaction
- New Claims Bring Higher Level of Concern to Babcock Situation
What seems like a simple no-brainer must be a lot harder to process than what meets the surface. For the last 2 years, the NBA Finals’ Cleveland Cavs came and played a preseason game down in Columbus, without an affiliate in the city. Do the Blue Jackets really think they’re too good to go up to Cleveland or down to Cincy?
The Blue Jackets missed a golden opportunity to help further their brand and that hurts on a day as glorious as finding out when we can see our Nick Foligno captained Blue Jackets next in action.
UPDATE: It looks like Cleveland might not be forgotten after all….though I have to believe adding the Monsters wasn’t a last minute decision, why not coincide the addition with a game? Cleveland is a great market to be included into either way and Cincy is no slouch either. It’s not just about this season, but the past few seasons. The Jackets need to start increasing their Ohio foot print and shouldn’t hide behind the excuse that it was already scheduled. They should have had a preseason out of market game scheduled regardless if they had an affiliate or not in Cleveland or Cincy.
@UnionandBlue Was mentioned at LEM-CBJ press conference that schedule was set for this year already - door was left open for next year.
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) June 2, 2015