We’ve seen some very poorly received promotions at sporting events, but this one never should’ve been approved.
On Wednesday, the Columbus Blue Jackets cancelled a “Russian Heritage Night” group outing for dozens of fans less than 24 hours before it was set to take to place.
The outing, which had been scheduled to take place when the team hosted the Washington Capitals on Thursday night was scuttled after an advocacy campaign run by a Ukrainian non-profit group in Ohio.
The United Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio (UUO) had voiced concern about the appropriateness of the event given the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
According to reports, letters of protest were written to roughly 20 of the Blue Jackets’ corporate sponsors, NHL league management and Ohio’s governor as part of the campaign after becoming aware of the event.
In a response to The Ukrainian Weekly, Blue Jackets communications manager Glenn Odebralski confirmed that “the group ticket outing involving Russian Heritage Network will not be held.”
Another employee at the team’s office also replied on the day of the game that: “It’s not happening … it’s not on tonight’s docket.”
Alex Braverman, a chief co-organizer of the Russian Heritage Network, told the outlet that the decision to cancel the event was ostensibly to protect “the safety of the players.”
“(The Blue Jackets) promised to send explanation to fans, but so far just refunded the fee with no explanation,” he added.
According to matchtv.ru, a Russian sports broadcaster, more than 50 fans had purchased tickets within the Russian group.
The outlet added that a Russian dance troupe was supposed to perform and it had been called off before the team cancelled the tickets. As part of the package, a group fan photo was scheduled to take place with Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko after the game.
The cancellation of the ill-conceived event was widely praised on social media.
“You’re telling me no one in the whole org thought this would be a bad idea?” one user on reddit commented on a post about the cancellation.
“Wait, this was real? I honestly thought it was a hoax,” another user commented.
“How someone approved this as a good idea is actually beyond me. Someone must be quietly getting fired for a fiasco like this,” a third person wrote.
NHL goaltending legend Dominik Hasek applauded the cancellation, posting on X that the decision was a “tiny but very important victory, that helped save lives.”
However, he also added a harsh criticism of the league for allowing the idea for the event to even get off of the ground.
“Unfortunately, NHL remains, along with ATP Tour and WTA Tour, the biggest advertisement for Russian imperialist war and crimes in the world of sports (and is responsible for the lives lost and maimed in Ukraine).
“This (war advertisement) will remain the case as long as those Russian citizens — hockey players, who have not publicly condemned Russia’s aggressive war are allowed to play (and of course they must act accordingly). And thanks to everyone for the support.”
This is not the first time that Hasek has spoke out against the NHL for its supposed support of Russia. When the Russian Heritage Night was first reported last month, he ripped the league for allowing it to take place.
“The NHL has definitely gone crazy,” he wrote on X. “In addition to its long-term support of the Russian war and Russian crimes in Ukraine, it has come up with a new Russian project.
“I hope that during this December game, at the stadium and on TV will show 1) millions of dead Ukrainians in the 1930s due to a famine deliberately supported by the Kremlin. 2) Russia’s start of WW2, when in September 1939 they invaded Poland together with Germany and subsequently massacred about 40 thousand Poles there (the Russians did it).
“The long-term killing and oppression in Eastern European countries from 1945-89, Hundreds of thousands of dead and maimed Ukrainians in the Russian imperialist war from February 2022 until now.
“This is just a brief overview of Russian actions that the NHL can use in the Columbus – Washington game to better familiarize fans with Russian culture.”
As for the actual game, the visiting Capitals scored a 2-1 victory in overtime with Belarussian native Aliaksei Protas scoring both goals.