Heritage Classic

[RadioGaGa 162]

[from tsn.ca - Ice Chips]

The Maple Leafs are finalizing plans for an outdoor regular season game to be played around New Year's Day 2008 at their new 20,000-seat BMO Field. "I have spoken to commissioner (Gary) Bettman and he likes the idea," said Richard Peddie, president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd. - Toronto Sun

Any thoughts on an opponent? I say Montreal, Ottawa or Buffalo would make the most sense.

[kosydar 0]

They should do it with Montreal. I'd hate to see the Leafs get tooled in an outdoor game they're hosting.

[D3nZ 0]

I would keep it more of a Canadian thing, no offence to the people in the states. And since Montreal played in the first one, I would go for the Sens. But all that problem and you would only be able to host 20,000 people is too small of an amount. Why not the Rogers Center where they could host more than double that amount? Can they open the dome in the winter or are all the hydrolics frozen??

[kosydar 0]

Good call on Montreal playing in the first one, I forgot about that. I

[steve66 45]

I think the easy answer why they want to use their new facility is purely money. The Maple leafs sports own that facility, therefore they get a bigger cut of the action, they promote their new facility with their greatest asset, be too good to pass up and have to mess about with Rogers Centre logistics.

As for opponent, should be the Habs, but the Sens games are getting pretty interesting. Perhaps even Detroit, cross over in to the US market and keep it original 6 at the same time?

[Eazy_b97 1]

This has been in the works for a long time now. I think they started to put this into play around the time the Oilers started their outdoor game bid.

I want to say NYR is the team they will face, or wanted to face, but don't quote me on it.

[kosydar 0]

I know the Rangers were talking about having a game in Yankee Stadium this season, but I think the plans fell through.

[Chadd 916]

Good idea, bad location. 20k is no larger than the ACC and to have it outdoors with a "normal" sized crowd just seems wrong to me.

[DarkStar50 679]

Yeah a football size stadium makes for a much better viewing experience for the fans! Also, the higher up in the stands your seat is, the more the wind chill adds to the enjoyment of the game. "Hey I'm freezing my potooty off and I can't see the friggin' puck! This is awesome!" The idea of a hockey game in a football stadium is simply about the money.

[Chadd 916]

Yeah a football size stadium makes for a much better viewing experience for the fans! Also, the higher up in the stands your seat is, the more the wind chill adds to the enjoyment of the game. "Hey I'm freezing my potooty off and I can't see the friggin' puck! This is awesome!" The idea of a hockey game in a football stadium is simply about the money.

It also allows more people to be part of the "event" and not just the corporate box holders and regular season ticket holders.

[RadioGaGa 162]

The venue they are considering is the new football (re: Soccer) stadium that will be home to the new Toronto FC of the MLS