Columbus Blue Jackets are upset at the announcement of simulasting games
Columbus Blue Jackets radio broadcaster and beloved figure to the Blue Jackets fan base, Bob McElligott, who called games for 17 years, was told his contract was being renewed. When the news broke, Blue Jackets fans took to social media to vent their frustration. Caught in the crossfire, unjustifiably so was President of Hockey Ops/GM Don Waddell. Fans have viewed the move as penny-pinching.
The Buffalo Sabers, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, and St. Louis Blues are organizations that simulcast their games; they are now joined by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Fans of teams that offer simulcast generally rail against the broadcast as the visual cues leave radio listeners confused.
Inside the Rink was able to ask Blue Jackets TV play-by-play announcer Steve Mears if simulcasting games alters how he and color analyst Jody Shelly will call games. Mears replied, “It’s just happened, and we haven’t discussed anything just yet. But I will say that there is, in my opinion, already a radio element to doing hockey on TV just due to the speed of the game.”
That in part, may be true; however, more factors must be expounded on. For example, asking someone to look at the replay while listening on a radio would sour some fans. If there is a fan listening who has issues seeing or can not see at all, those fans rely heavily on the discriptions that a radio broadcaster details.
The reason fans were wrong in placing blame on Don Waddell is that the President of Hockey Ops and/or GMs do not have anything to do with broadcasters. That is handled by team business executives, partner radio stations/ networks, and it is a collaborative effort.
The Blue Jackets front office needs to meet with fans and attempt to show compassion as fans continue to voice their displeasure.