Winter Classic 3

[li7039 0]

Even though I am a die hard Flyers fan and I did attend this years Winter Classic, I think they should spread the wealth around.

The Flyers v. Rangers at Yankee Stadium would be awesome but it seems far more feasible for a Rangers v. Bruins match up at Fenway in which I will hop on tickets as soon as they are made available to the public.

i would think having The Rangers play in boston ruins the chances of NYC getting one. The isles and devils are not the biggest draws in attendance or ratings.

[Chadd 916]

Even though I am a die hard Flyers fan and I did attend this years Winter Classic, I think they should spread the wealth around.

The Flyers v. Rangers at Yankee Stadium would be awesome but it seems far more feasible for a Rangers v. Bruins match up at Fenway in which I will hop on tickets as soon as they are made available to the public.

i would think having The Rangers play in boston ruins the chances of NYC getting one. The isles and devils are not the biggest draws in attendance or ratings.

It's a marquee event and should only have marquee teams and/or matchups.

[jrhky36 1]

From my inside NHL Source, the 3 destinations for next year that are being considered are:

Minnesota

Colorado

and

Boston

There is also early talk of the NHL having 2 outdoor games next year b/c of no All-Star game.

i hope its wild vs stars at the new u of minn football stadium. i would enjoy seeing that game seeing as both teams are from the msp area. and hte players comming back to do the pre game stuff, bobby smith, dino ciccerli, neal broten, gil milosch, craig harstburg, lou nanne, steve payne, willie platte, jack carlson and the rest of the 1980 team that went to the finals.

my first choice is to bring it to comarica park in det and have the great lakes invitional (dec 30 and 31) and then the wings play the rangers or the bruins. but i know that will never happen seeing as det just played in it this year.

the league has to be careful about how many outdoor games are played each year. part of the draw to it is the fact its only played once a year and no other games are played on that day.

One is enough, any more than that is overkill.

If it is operational by the time the next WC rolls around, Target Field would be a good choice. Open-air stadium in downtown Minneapolis. They are set to open by Opening Day 2010.

twins/ vikings or gophers?

[Jason Harris 31]

A couple of articles I read in the Boston Globe this week stated that Fenway would likely be out of play for at least one more season, since it is believed there will be another offseason construction project in 2009. KPD also suggested in yesterday's Notes to wait until 2012, which would be Fenway's 100th anniversary. There's a great romanticism to that idea. Regarding the Monster seats, I said the same thing to Big D yesterday, although the irony is nobody wants nosebleed seats in a regular game.

As for who should be the opponent, I remember a decent rivalry against the Rangers in the early 70's -- in fact, my parents went to the Cup clinching game in '72, although I've always felt my Dad should have brought me instead of my mother, since she probably couldn't name three players! -- but the Canadiens always had far more of a Sox-Yanks or Celts-Lakers feel to it.

KPD had two other suggestions. One would be to utilize the new ice making equipment and essentially create a FanZone at each All Star game, maybe offering fans opportunities to skate with the Legends of the game. The second idea is hold next year's game in Vancouver, since the Olympics will be held there a month later, and NBC is broadcasting both. Weather could be dicey, however.

Last, I think it's best to limit it to one game a year. I think it would lose its luster otherwise.

[TCsnipes9 0]

From my inside NHL Source, the 3 destinations for next year that are being considered are:

Minnesota

Colorado

and

Boston

There is also early talk of the NHL having 2 outdoor games next year b/c of no All-Star game.

i hope its wild vs stars at the new u of minn football stadium. i would enjoy seeing that game seeing as both teams are from the msp area. and hte players comming back to do the pre game stuff, bobby smith, dino ciccerli, neal broten, gil milosch, craig harstburg, lou nanne, steve payne, willie platte, jack carlson and the rest of the 1980 team that went to the finals.

my first choice is to bring it to comarica park in det and have the great lakes invitional (dec 30 and 31) and then the wings play the rangers or the bruins. but i know that will never happen seeing as det just played in it this year.

the league has to be careful about how many outdoor games are played each year. part of the draw to it is the fact its only played once a year and no other games are played on that day.

One is enough, any more than that is overkill.

If it is operational by the time the next WC rolls around, Target Field would be a good choice. Open-air stadium in downtown Minneapolis. They are set to open by Opening Day 2010.

twins/ vikings or gophers?

If you're asking about Target Stadium, it is the Twins new ball park. The Gophers TCF Stadium will be ready to go next year, and the Vikings are still asking for a new home.

[interpathway 9]

the winning team could be the "Winter Classic Champion" or something of that nature. This would not count as regulation games I guess.

No team will agree to play in a tournament where injuries could easily occur if there is no chance at gaining standing points. There is just too much risk.

[firestud17 0]

good point. I wasn't thinking about that.

[fieldofdreams 0]

The 2010 WC will NOT be held at Fenway, like Jason said. There is too much construction going on over the winters. The WC's are designed SOLELY to boost TV viewership in the USA. That is why you will find teams based in the lower 48 playing in the games for the upcoming years. The NHL was looking at (old) Yankee Stadium for this past tilt, but felt the plumbing, infrastructure of the building wouldn't sustain the abuse that would be thrust upon it.

That being said, the league would be foolish not to put the next one in one of its biggest US Markets, the NYC metro area. Giants stadium is probably out, because it is in use EVERY weekend by either the Giants or the Jets. Citi Field and Yankee Stadium are the two prime choices, with YS most likely getting the nod simply because of traditon. The next few years, I would imagine the NHL taking the WC to MN, MI, or even MA.

[jrhky36 1]

If you're asking about Target Stadium, it is the Twins new ball park. The Gophers TCF Stadium will be ready to go next year, and the Vikings are still asking for a new home.

the best place would have been the old met stadium in bloomington. where the mall of america now stands. the old met center was across the parking lot. i remember going to alot of star's games there in the late 70's esp 79-80. what are they going to do to the roller dome? i also remember going to my first college football game at u of m (on campus) they were playing mich.

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

Id love a Rags Vs Caps at New Yankee Stadium

[interpathway 9]

Hell I think alot of people would love to see Caps vs. any team. Ovechkin's emotion brought outside? Amazing for sure.

[cptjeff 0]

Id love a Rags Vs Caps at New Yankee Stadium

That's probably what it'll be. It will be at the New Yankee Stadium- Yankees and the NHL have already been talking, the only reason this one wasn't at the old Yankee Stadium was that the pipes weren't winterized. And the Caps are the NHL's new favorite team and a fairly big market.

Add to that that having the game in New York Draws fan interest way, way up in the largest market in North America- much more so then if it was an away game. Which is why you shouldn't hold your breath for the rangers to be playing in Fenway. Fenway will probably get the 2011 game, but don't expect the rangers to be playing in it, or the Habs. Flyers or somebody like that are a much better bet.

Big bad Bruins v. Broadstreet Bullies would be fun though.

[JR Boucicaut 3804]

I wouldn't count the_game out.

[stick9 896]

Why Fenway...why not Gillette Stadium? The Pats should have the 2010 SB wrapped up by then.

[chippa13 1844]

Is that really a question?

[stick9 896]

It's kind of rhetorical. Most automatically assume the game would be played at Fenway. In reality, Gillette is probably better suited for that sort of thing.

[hockeysc23 0]

It would prob never happen due to the unpredictability of the weather but could you imagine a game at FedEx Field (redskins stadium and largest NFL stadium)? 91k fans would be awesome.

[-knowlzey- 0]

I really wish they'd add seats to the ground level because it looked like the people sitting at the home run seats wouldn't be able to see a damn thing.

[Chadd 916]

I really wish they'd add seats to the ground level because it looked like the people sitting at the home run seats wouldn't be able to see a damn thing.

You won't really be able to see much at ground level without elevating the seats and doing that blocks out the lower permanent seats.

[greech 4]

It's kind of rhetorical. Most automatically assume the game would be played at Fenway. In reality, Gillette is probably better suited for that sort of thing.

The problem with Gillette is the seats are so damn far from the field, especially when there will be a rink on top. Hell, BC's Alumni Stadium would be better with ~50k in seats and its right on top of the action.

[Chadd 916]

The crowned fields at most football stadiums could cause problems again like the game in Buffalo.

[cammerz12 0]

I want to say i heard something about the Rogers Centre (Toronto Argonauts & Toronto Blue Jays) having a retractable roof and the possibility of the game being there. I personally would like to the the Original 6 teams play first. Chicago and Detroit, New York/ Boston vs. Toronto. But there's the problem with targeting the U.S. audience

[RadioGaGa 162]

I want to say i heard something about the Rogers Centre (Toronto Argonauts & Toronto Blue Jays) having a retractable roof and the possibility of the game being there. I personally would like to the the Original 6 teams play first. Chicago and Detroit, New York/ Boston vs. Toronto. But there's the problem with targeting the U.S. audience

If it's cold the roof at Rogers Centre (Skydome) can't be left open. The roof runs on (essentially) train tracks...The panels could be damaged if ice built up on the tracks. They were talking about it when the Bills played here and people wanted the roof left open for a more Buffalo-esque atmosphere/advantage. The RC people said it can't be done.

[cptjeff 0]

Football stadiums are also a problem because of the timing. The ice was crappy at the Buffalo game in part because they didn't have time to let it set up (that and other factors mentioned here) Football teams might be playing the week before, and very possibly the week after if the team makes the playoffs. And depending on when New Years falls, you have issues.

Baseball stadiums allow lots of time to set up and do everything right. It's that or get a college football stadium that's not hosting a bowl game. But NFL stadiums are probably out.

[eric42434224 1]

A couple of articles I read in the Boston Globe this week stated that Fenway would likely be out of play for at least one more season, since it is believed there will be another offseason construction project in 2009. KPD also suggested in yesterday's Notes to wait until 2012, which would be Fenway's 100th anniversary. There's a great romanticism to that idea. Regarding the Monster seats, I said the same thing to Big D yesterday, although the irony is nobody wants nosebleed seats in a regular game.

As for who should be the opponent, I remember a decent rivalry against the Rangers in the early 70's -- in fact, my parents went to the Cup clinching game in '72, although I've always felt my Dad should have brought me instead of my mother, since she probably couldn't name three players! -- but the Canadiens always had far more of a Sox-Yanks or Celts-Lakers feel to it.

KPD had two other suggestions. One would be to utilize the new ice making equipment and essentially create a FanZone at each All Star game, maybe offering fans opportunities to skate with the Legends of the game. The second idea is hold next year's game in Vancouver, since the Olympics will be held there a month later, and NBC is broadcasting both. Weather could be dicey, however.

Last, I think it's best to limit it to one game a year. I think it would lose its luster otherwise.

Yes, I read that article too, but they mentioned that they are considering the Havard Football Stadium, which could work well as the first row of seats start 10 ft up.