Johnstown wins Hockeyville USA

[upnorth]

I don't understand all of the negativity surrounding this. Johnstown was in the national news, mentioned during a national NHL playoff broadcast, gets $150,000 for repairs/upgrades, gets to host a Pens/Lightning pre-season game which will benefit local business owners and be broadcast nationally (more national pub) and maybe most importantly bonded a group a locals who came together do achieve something positive in an otherwise decaying town.

Now we have folks complaining that $150,000 is a drop in the bucket, the arena has been mis-managed, nobody cares, Average Joe won't be able to get a ticket, etc. Whether you personally care or not makes no difference. This is a very positive event for the community.

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming of shootings, drug deals, GJASD students run amok, the latest BMCHS PR buffoonery, continual post-Murtha decline, inept city leadership, decaying infrastructure and financial crisis. Feel better now?

[Jrs237]

As someone who regularly uses the War Memorial, I can honestly say that any money towards that place is good money. Whether it's 150 or 150,000 dollars it is money that is needed and will be used for good causes.

There was a cooling unit that was broken at Planet Ice. At one of my games, the bottom right corner of the ice was complete slush; you wanna talk about scrummy, nasty hockey, that's what you want to see. When the puck hit that corner, it completely stopped. I know that planet ice doesn't get any money from this but maybe an uptick in popularity. The funds towards the war memorial will help, more people will be interested in Hockey. And as a result, because it's so difficult to rent out ice time at WM, people will start going to Planet Ice more and more.

What I'm trying to say, is that the money is well deserved, the publicity is great, but again, that moment that Jtown saw the results is one that I will never forget being apart of. Believe me.

[Manfred]

$10 beers at the War Memorial, when is the last time you were there?

Take it as a glimpse of the immediate future. It's called inflation. It's called re-couping the costs of operation. It's called having the concessions controlled by an entity other than the War Memorial. Not a good arrangement. As I've mentioned before, take off the rose-colored glasses for a dose of reality. Kind of like winning $1000 on the lottery and finding you have to pay $600 in taxes.

[say_oww]

Between Cambria and Somerset county the population is approximately 200,000. So Hockeyville attracted 3500 at a rally, and 7000 facebook likes - which I'm sure isn't just from the area.

Without even realizing it, you guys answered my question. Who cares? Less than 5% of the "local" population.

BTW - I happen to represent the less than 0.001% of the region watching the NBA playoffs everyday. Hooray for me!!!

[Crimson's Ghost]

I doubt all 200,000 people in the two counties have a Facebook account, but that's neither here nor there.


I've been watching the NBA games too. Can't believe the Warriors had a 21 game home winning streak snapped. Didn't realize the streak was that long.

[say_oww]

That's my point! Well played Crimson.

I'll start an NBA thread in case anyone wants to chime in.

[knowitall]

Johnstown is Hockeyville.

Now what?

I remember going to watch Penguin preseason games at the War Memorial in the early 80s. I don't think they sold out.

[Crimson's Ghost]

Were the Penguins all that popular at that point?

[knowitall]

It was pre Lemieux. You could watch an NHL game on tape delay on WJNL, channel 19. It may have been the late 70s. I remember them playing the Blues and Whalers.

[Manfred]

In those days, the Jets / Chiefs were better than the Penguins.