Hockeytown
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Hockeytown is a nickname for the city of Detroit, Michigan, which arose in 1996 thanks to a marketing campaign by the city's NHL franchise, the Detroit Red Wings. The nickname, over time, has gained national and international recognition. The "Hockeytown Cafe" in Detroit is named for this nickname.
According to Sports Illustrated, Saint Paul, Minnesota can also be called Hockeytown, due not only to the NHL team (Minnesota Wild) but also its college, high school and youth programs.[1] Warroad, Minnesota has also been called Hockeytown, USA over four decades prior to the Red Wings' use of the name.[2] As of the 2006–2007 season, there has been a grassroots movement in Buffalo, NY (home to the NHL's Buffalo Sabres) to label Buffalo as "The New Hockeytown" due to the overwhelming fan presence outside HSBC Arena during games, as well as, throughout the community.[3][4] Despite this, "Hockeytown, USA" is still a registered trademark of Ilitch Holdings, Inc., the parent company of the Red Wings, and the Red Wings will continue to use the name for the foreseeable future.[5][not in citation given]
[edit] References
- ^ In Search of... Hockeytown U.S.A., Sports Illustrated, December 4, 2007
- ^ Fee, Kevin (May 10, 1999) Detroit Snatches `Hockeytown' Name from Warroad, Minn. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
- ^ See, Buffalo really is the new Hockeytown, SportingNews.com, October 4, 2007
- ^ Hockeytown Blues, Yahoo! Sports, November 1, 2007
- ^ [1], Detroit Free Press, December 14, 2007