ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ

The Blues are trying to make it happen.

Blues president and CEO Chris Zimmerman said this week the organization is trying to lure a PWHL neutral-site game to Enterprise Center. The Professional Women’s Hockey League is in its first season of existence with six teams in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, New York, Boston and Minnesota.

This season, the league will stage neutral-site games in both Detroit and Pittsburgh.

“That’s certainly something we want to be looking at as they move into next year,� Zimmerman said. “Women’s hockey is without question the fastest-growing part on the participation side. It’s really important to us. We’ve got a lot going on here locally trying to build girls and women’s hockey. Pretty excited about that.�

Zimmerman said he attended a PWHL game while in Toronto for last week’s All-Star Game.

Ottawa defender Jincy Roese is from O’Fallon, Mo., Boston forward Taylor Girard played collegiately at Lindenwood before transferring to Quinnipiac, and Minnesota goaltender Nicole Hensley also played collegiately at Lindenwood.

The Blues have tried to bring a host of different hockey events to the St. Louis area in recent years.

Centene Community Ice Center will host an NCAA Regional this spring. Enterprise Center will hold the Frozen Four next season. The Blues even made a hard run at hosting the 2026 World Junior Championship before it was awarded to Minnesota.

On a smaller scale, the ACHA will host its championships at Centene in 2024, 2025, 2027 and 2028, with the option to add 2026, as well. This summer, the Blues will host the annual prospect tournament with the Wild and Blackhawks.

On the tube

As local television rights continue to go through upheaval, the Blues are preparing for different options, even without knowledge of where the carousel will land once the Diamond ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ Group — the parent company of Bally ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ — bankruptcy hearings are finished.

“I think the big thing for us is what’s going to be the best way to get the most eyeballs to our games?� Zimmerman said. “And get them there in a good way. We’re learning about how people can use those old things called antennas again and over-the-air and what that’s going to mean.

“I would absolutely not, nor do I think many people are in a position to say how it ends. Fortunately for us, we have one of the strongest viewing audiences of any U.S. NHL team.�

Some NHL teams like Arizona and Vegas already have switched to an over-the-air model after they were forced to find alternative options.

“Where you’re going to find it, where you’re going to get it, free, not free, direct to consumer, streaming, all of those things — they’re both in transition,� Zimmerman said. “Probably the way it may be the next couple of years. It may not be in year three, four and further. I just think there’s going to be so much change in the way we deliver sports to our fans.�

The Blues are televised on Bally ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ (previously Fox ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ), but the channel has been more difficult to watch as fewer cable or satellite providers offer the channel.

Zimmerman said he thinks there is “a very good chance of having much wider access going forward.� Amazon even reportedly showed interest in stepping in to broadcast games via Prime.

“I think the fact that Amazon has shown interest, it has stepped into it, I generally view that as a good thing,� Zimmerman said. “Amazon obviously has massive reach. Whether or not that’s where the dance ends, I’m not sure yet. I think it’s a reflection of how committed and how much people value our product.�

• Zimmerman said he was happy with where the business side of the organization was, noting the team has only had one game that was not a sellout this season. The Blues have averaged 18,077 fans per game at Enterprise Center, while 18,096 is a sellout.

“Coming off a non-playoff year and the team being somewhat in transition, our fans have been fantastic,� Zimmerman said. “They’ve been behind us. All the work that we’ve done in the building, it’s old news now, but it really changed the experience here and it’s helped us be way more competitive.�