Tourism Impact of NHL Winter Classic (Essay Sample)

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Tourism Impact of NHL Winter Classic
The National Hockey League (NHL) Winter Classic is among the most popular hockey games played annually. The game attracts high attendance, viewership both on the traditional media platforms and social media, as well as profits. According to Dalum, the NHL Winter Classic focuses on taking hockey back to its roots by having the game played outdoors (3). The tourism industry benefits greatly from activities that draw a high number of visitors to a particular destination. Sports events encourage the non-traditional tourist, a person who would not normally participate in other tourism events, to travel. The NHL Winter Classic has had positive impacts on the tourism industry since its inception by pulling large crowds to a region and enhancing the image of the destination through the media coverage accorded to the sport.
Major events are associated with increased travel which promotes tourism activities in a region. Sports lovers travel from across the globe to get a glimpse of their favorite game or team playing. The tourism industry profits from this influx of visitors because while enjoying the event, the sports enthusiasts use the accommodation and restaurant facilities within the area. Boonsiritomachai and Phonthanukitithaworn state that sporting events enhance tourism and travel in a destination especially when such games are organized during the off-seasons (2). The NHL Winter Classic encourages travel at the beginning of the year when tourism activities are minimal. The positioning of the game at this period allows different tourism stakeholders including tour operators, travel agents, and hotel owners to enjoy an extended peak season. Additionally, many employment opportunities for the locals arise from the ice hockey game which further strengthens the standing of the tourism industry within the country. As a people-based sector, the tourism industry is heightened by any activity that encourages travel.
Sports events promote the identity of a place and ensure the formation of a positive destination image through extensive media coverage. Games such as the NHL Winter Classic attract the attention of local, national, and international media. The game is marketed as a hallmark affair whose aim is to create awareness, appeal, and revenue for the National Hockey League (Dalum 3). The attention given to the area in which the game is hosted helps to create a positive image of the region. Tourism stakeholders use the platform provided by the occasion to showcase the unique products and services associated with the destination (Boonsiritomachai and Phonthanukitithaworn 2). Moreover, the NHL Winter Classic creates a nostalgic feeling among the game lovers by showcasing hockey in its original form (outdoor). As one of the most-watched outdoor professional hockey games, the NHL Winter Classic encourages sports nostalgia-motivated travelers t