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NHL could play neutral site games in North Dakota if the season resumes

By Mike Zawisza

FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA - MARCH 30: The American International Yellow Jackets and the Denver Pioneers line up for the singing of the American national anthem before the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey West Regional Championship Final at Scheels Arena on March 30, 2019 in Fargo, North Dakota. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA - MARCH 30: The American International Yellow Jackets and the Denver Pioneers line up for the singing of the American national anthem before the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey West Regional Championship Final at Scheels Arena on March 30, 2019 in Fargo, North Dakota. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /
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The NHL and NHLPA are apparently hard at work trying to figure out a plan that would allow them to resume the season. This latest idea would have them playing playoff series at neutral sites.

Prior to the NHL placing the season on pause due to the coronavirus pandemic, the league had kicked around the idea of playing out the rest of the season in empty stadiums. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman says the NHL may be circling back to a similar idea.

According to an article by Friedman, the NHL and NHLPA have been brainstorming neutral sites at which to play games if and when the season can resume. The NHL isn’t alone in this type of thinking. The NBA has already kicked around a similar idea, looking into the possibility of resuming the season in Las Vegas. In his article, Friedman says the NHL would be going a less flashy route, specifically mentioning North Dakota as a spot that both the league and players union have looked into.

Though it may raise an eyeball at first, the “Peace Garden State” makes a good deal of sense as a potential location for the rest of the season to be played. Ralph Engelstad Arena, home of the University of North Dakota Men’s Hockey team, is a world class venue.

Dubbed the “Taj Mahal of Hockey”, the REA has hosted some major hockey events in the past, including the 2005 World Juniors, 2006 NCAA Men’s Division I Ice Hockey Tournament and 2018 World Under-18s.

Sportsnet’s John Shannon also tweeted that Manchester, New Hampshire has been thrown around by the NHL as a potential site as well. Manchester is home to the SNHU Arena, which used to host the now defunct Manchester Monarchs of the ECHL.

Perhaps most importantly, both areas have a lower population density than most NHL cities which would help curve person-to-person contact. Though not mentioned by Friedman or Shannon, it seems like a safe bet that the games would be played in the empty arenas to help quell the potential resurfacing of virus as well.

Obviously, there are many facets other than the actual games that would have to worked. These concerns could include housing for players and officials, establishing broadcasts rights, whether or not fans will be refunded their playoff tickets and providing food and other provisions. ESPN’s Emily Kaplan also mentioned in a recent article the headache and logistical nightmare of getting players that went back overseas cleared to come back to North America.

Though this proposed plan still has elements that need to be worked out, it is encouraging (if not also head scratching) that the league remains focused on resuming the season if and when things start to return to normal.

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