Home Ice

by pingu on Apr 12, 2008 5:47 PM MDT

Home crowds reputedly don't make much difference to the outcome of a game.

Now, before you jump down my throat, I'm not saying that home ice isn't an advantage, its just not in the way people think. I recently read an article (an English one, but covering many sports including the NHL) that had delved into what gives teams an advantage at home.

The argument goes as follows - teams which have just moved to a new stadium do not have as good a record as they normally do at home. It seems that a good record at home is more due to the players being used to the stadium than due to the home fans getting behind them. In a new arena, the away team are just as used to the surroundings, and thus perform on a more level playing field.

I'd love to test this theory out on the Avs' record after moving to the Pepsi Centre, but I can't seem to find a game by game breakdown of anything preceding the 2000-01 season. So, for now this theory is somewhat untested.

Just thought I would throw that out there. Of course, it doesn't mean the Avs don't have an advantage at the Can (the altitude alone has to be important), and I don't expect anyone at the game to shout any less. Perhaps the message should be that they shout a little louder to make sure that the they make a difference.

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Word

Not sure the Avs would make a good example since they were so good right when they moved to Denver and still really good when they moved from the Pepsi Center from McNichols. Honestly, it would be tough to screen all the other factors from a team's performance to determine if the transition from one stadium to another had a perceivable effect.

But, like you said, it really doesn't matter.

For everyone at The Can for games 3 and 4, stay loud the entire game. It can't hurt.

by Joe Dunman on Apr 14, 2008 8:17 AM MDT reply actions

Effect

Denver wouldn't be the best team to study anyways, because of the "Mile High"aspect. Denver teams routinely have an advantage because of the elevation.

Even though it's significantly overstated, there is an effect there so Denver team's record will naturally be better at home.

A better team to look at will be someone like the Hornets when they were in OKC compared to when they were in NO. Even then, they have Chris Paul now and didn't in OKC.

by Jibblescribbits on Apr 14, 2008 2:33 PM MDT reply actions

tis true..

There are certainly many factors affecting a team's performance. I guess there will never be a way to separate each possible factor, given that there are so many of them, and that no team is the same as another. Plus, there is the added confusion of personnel changes from one year to the next.

Having looked up who the Hornets were (apologies, I'm English); that might be interesting, though the ordeal of the hurricane may also have affected the team - I expect the players lived in New Orleans.

Even with the mile high effect, you could still compare a Denver team to itself in a previous season. Though even if there does appear to be a statistical difference, it doesn't mean the theory is correct. I fail to believe dressing Scott Parker can have the effect on the ice which you could conclude from the team's record with him in the team.

Still, I do wish I could be there myself to shout. :(

by pingu on Apr 14, 2008 5:14 PM MDT reply actions

Yes

Agreed. The New Orleans situation is a bit drastic, especially since they are so much better this season.

You could compare a Denver team to itself I suppose. Especially if there's a clear-cut case of one stadium being louder than another. It would have to be in seasons where the teams are similar in record, and just moved from one loud stadium to a different not as loud.

The only one that comes to mind is the Broncos moving from Mile High to Invesco, but they only play 8 home games a season, which is too small a sample size to draw anything from. Maybe a successful baseball team or a basketball or hockey team.

by Jibblescribbits on Apr 14, 2008 5:22 PM MDT up reply actions