You Can’t Outdraw Grandma

A grandmother can be a polarizing figure as the matriarch to an entire family tree. She can either be the friendly, cookie-baking and sincere grandmother we all remember from the 1980s cartoon “Heathcliff” or she can be an irritating and borderline evil figure equal to any number of antagonist Disney characters.  Some can’t wait to see grandma while others would much rather repeatedly slam a car door on their tumb.

Either way, whether it be eagerly driving 60 mph on a country road to get there, or painstakingly trying to force a fever to get out of it we all must see our grandmothers on Easter Sunday if they are still alive. Both of mine are now gone from this world but like most everyone out there I too had them and can relate. If grandma is still here, then we must go. No excuse short of being on your own deathbed will suffice as seeing grandma on Easter Sunday is as much a ritual as eating Hot Cross Buns and chasing the easter bunny.

With that in mind, why the hell did two NAHL series end on Easter Sunday? Let me make this point to all amatuer sports promoters out there…YOU CAN’T OUTDRAW GRANDMA. In Mahonony Valley they announced less than 400 and in Topeka, a crowd of 1,000 was listed and in both places the actual crowd was likely lower than that. This was for a fifth and decisive game and though playoff crowds tend to be a little lower in some towns for various reasons (less lead up time, no group sales, no freebies) neither organization helped themselves with playing the game on Easter Sunday.

Now some of you delusional people will argue that a fifth game should be enough to draw regardless of the day however, let’s not forget what we are dealing with here. This is the NAHL…not the NHL. Don’t forget that “A” in the league. These are smaller towns, smaller fan bases and NAHL games aren’t an “event” that people will step over there own grandma to attend, nor plan trips around. 

But other events are on Easter Sunday? Well, your right but you also make my point. The Masters is a once a year event that people plan trips around. The NBA and NHL are played in large cities with large population bases and going to one of these games is also an “event” not to mention postseason races are ongoing.

Hell, I went to the Kansas City, Yankees game on Easter Sunday and there was barely 15,000 in attendance. Yes, it was cold and damp but the Yankees come to KC once a season and the game would’ve brought in 25,000 plus if it was on any other Sunday.  See, even baseball can’t ourdraw grandma.

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