Winter Classic 4

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

KPD said in today's Globe that the NHL originally talked to the Pats about using Gillette Stadium, but the issue of NFL playoffs obviously came up. However, he said the concept was well received by the Krafts, so don't be surprised if an outdoor game shows up there one day outside of New Year's.

Outside of New Year's as in a non winter classic outdoor game? I don't see that happening.

[RadioGaGa 162]

KPD said in today's Globe that the NHL originally talked to the Pats about using Gillette Stadium, but the issue of NFL playoffs obviously came up. However, he said the concept was well received by the Krafts, so don't be surprised if an outdoor game shows up there one day outside of New Year's.

Outside of New Year's as in a non winter classic outdoor game? I don't see that happening.

I think it will. This is the only thing about NHL hockey that the US media and non-hockey fans get excited about. CBC was talking about the number of Network Execs that were at the game...they can't all be part of 1 game...I EASILY see Bettman whoring this idea out to every open wallet to get more attention for the League.

In other Winter Classic news:

Glenn Healy made a good point (holy crap...I can't believe I just typed that). New Giants Stadium opens next year...the biggest market in the World....that could/should be the next WC location.

[Balzinsker 0]

Supposedly Calgary has been lobbying hard for an outdoor game, except they would probably rent some land and build a temporary stadium instead of just holding it in the local football stadium. Sooner rather then later one of the Canadian teams is going to get in on the outdoor theme, they are the elephant in the room at this point. Of course they would probably have it on a separate date, boxing day would be perfect, especially given the farce the WJC has become.

[Chadd 916]

KPD said in today's Globe that the NHL originally talked to the Pats about using Gillette Stadium, but the issue of NFL playoffs obviously came up. However, he said the concept was well received by the Krafts, so don't be surprised if an outdoor game shows up there one day outside of New Year's.

Outside of New Year's as in a non winter classic outdoor game? I don't see that happening.

I think it will. This is the only thing about NHL hockey that the US media and non-hockey fans get excited about. CBC was talking about the number of Network Execs that were at the game...they can't all be part of 1 game...I EASILY see Bettman whoring this idea out to every open wallet to get more attention for the League.

In other Winter Classic news:

Glenn Healy made a good point (holy crap...I can't believe I just typed that). New Giants Stadium opens next year...the biggest market in the World....that could/should be the next WC location.

I don't expect to see more than two. One in the US and one in Canada. The NHL is aware that too many games will devalue the event. The question would be if they could stop a team from doing it on their own.

I think the Jets are getting a new building next year too.

Supposedly Calgary has been lobbying hard for an outdoor game, except they would probably rent some land and build a temporary stadium instead of just holding it in the local football stadium. Sooner rather then later one of the Canadian teams is going to get in on the outdoor theme, they are the elephant in the room at this point. Of course they would probably have it on a separate date, boxing day would be perfect, especially given the farce the WJC has become.

They have said numerous times that the Calgary game would be several weeks after the current game.

[JR Boucicaut 3802]

Jets and Giants are sharing the new Meadowlands stadium. Equal partners this time around.

[bostonjuniorblackhawks 1]

It was exciting to be there, but I couldn't see anything lol. Fenway is a terrible place for a hockey game. IMO they should have the winter classic at football stadiums like the first winter classic. Of course it might possibly conflict with nfl playoffs...........

where were your seats? I'll be at the college game at Fenway next Friday. :)

Right field. Any seats that were low to the field has no line of sight to the ice. The higher your seats are, the better. I would bring a pair of binoculars if your seats are not too great.

[RadioGaGa 162]

I think the Jets are getting a new building next year too.

Is that classic Chadd wit again...or am I wrong in thinking that New Giants Stadium will be a shared facility the way the current one is.

[Chadd 916]

Jets and Giants are sharing the new Meadowlands stadium. Equal partners this time around.

Ahh, I remember them lobbying for their own, didn't follow it enough to see if they got it. Sharing the building would make it virtually impossible for the NHL to have a game there.

[Da Beez 0]

Supposedly Calgary has been lobbying hard for an outdoor game, except they would probably rent some land and build a temporary stadium instead of just holding it in the local football stadium. Sooner rather then later one of the Canadian teams is going to get in on the outdoor theme, they are the elephant in the room at this point. Of course they would probably have it on a separate date, boxing day would be perfect, especially given the farce the WJC has become.

McMahon stadium seats over 35,000, it would be foolish to rent land and build a temporary stadium in Calgary. Canadian teams have already been involved in the outdoor theme, the Oilers played the Habs in 2003 in the Winter Classic (Heritage Classic). It all comes down to which teams are most interesting to the greatest number of viewers. I would anticipate the next Winter Classic will include the Capitals and Rangers to take advantage of the popularity of Ovechkin and combine it with the population along the eastern seaboard.

The WJC is enormously popular in Canada, I can't imagine Bettman or anyone else in the NHL would attempt to market a Canadian Winter Classic to complete with the WJC, it's all about enticing American networks to show the game. I think the NHL would like it to be the equivalent of a football bowl game rather than competition for the WJC.

[Jason Harris 31]

Interesting quote from Bettman:

We want a community where the game can have an impact, first and foremost. In addition to a good market that we think will support the game, we need the right facility. And obviously, we have to be in a place where we think the weather will be OK. We actually have people studying the last four years of weather in a variety of markets and coming up with a statistical model as to what the likelihood is of temperature being at a certain level.

Regarding a Canadian game, I thought I read something a couple of weeks ago that implied the NHL is fairly certain they will be going ahead with two games a year -- American and Canadian -- although they wouldn't be on the same day.

Finally, about my earlier post about Gillette Stadium, KPD may be an idiot at times but he's fairly well connected. Here's what he wrote:

As for the Classic, the NHL again improved on its outdoor product and profile. Other than one niggling spot, a deteriorating faceoff dot that required constant love and affection from the maintenance crew, the ice surface was significantly better than what was in place in Orchard Park, N.Y., in 2008 or in Chicago in 2009. The ice held up. The weather was a nonfactor. No snow. No rain. Early in the first period, small patches of blue sky dotted the thick cloud cover. Game-time temperature: 39.6 degrees (not far from some of those chilly Sox home openers in April).

“It even got to be a little warm on the bench,’’ said Boston pivot Patrice Bergeron, “and we had to turn off the heat.’’

With NBC as its broadcast partner, the NHL now has this big-event thing nailed as a New Year’s Day staple, the day’s No. 1 college football bowl alternative. Only weather can bring it asunder and that will happen one day, for sure, because Mother Nature can’t be that much of a hockey mom.

But that said, the league could do far better for the paying customers when it comes to the game experience itself. In parks constructed for baseball, anyone in the first 20 rows of seats ringing the yard must rely on TV monitors to have any clue what’s happening on the ice. For the most part, their only real glimpse of the game is a head-and-shoulders look at the players as they skate up and down the ice. Those fans, some 20,000 or more yesterday, had to rely on whatever TV monitors exist in the park.

Fenway only had two big screens, one in center field and one adjacent to the roof boxes behind first base. Just not enough. It’s a bad experience made even worse by the blatant shortage of screens. Maybe the league could hit up its broadcast partner for help in that department. The Wall was just aching for a couple of giant plasma screens to be attached.

Truth is, football stadiums are far better suited to the ice game, but NFL venues can’t cede their turf in early December, as the Red Sox did, opening their doors to the ice-making machinery on Dec. 10. The NHL talked seriously with the Kraft family about bringing the game to Gillette Stadium, but ultimately Fenway won out, in large part because of its history and location in the city. Don’t be surprised, though, if we see a Bruins-Canadiens matchup staged down there in the Lighthouse in the Forest, even if it’s not a Jan. 1 game. The NHL knows it has a good thing going with its el fresco product and it also knows it has very willing customers here in the Hub of Hockey. More than 300,000 customers signed up for tickets when they went on sale in September.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Supposedly Calgary has been lobbying hard for an outdoor game, except they would probably rent some land and build a temporary stadium instead of just holding it in the local football stadium. Sooner rather then later one of the Canadian teams is going to get in on the outdoor theme, they are the elephant in the room at this point. Of course they would probably have it on a separate date, boxing day would be perfect, especially given the farce the WJC has become.

McMahon stadium seats over 35,000, it would be foolish to rent land and build a temporary stadium in Calgary. Canadian teams have already been involved in the outdoor theme, the Oilers played the Habs in 2003 in the Winter Classic (Heritage Classic). It all comes down to which teams are most interesting to the greatest number of viewers. I would anticipate the next Winter Classic will include the Capitals and Rangers to take advantage of the popularity of Ovechkin and combine it with the population along the eastern seaboard.

The WJC is enormously popular in Canada, I can't imagine Bettman or anyone else in the NHL would attempt to market a Canadian Winter Classic to complete with the WJC, it's all about enticing American networks to show the game. I think the NHL would like it to be the equivalent of a football bowl game rather than competition for the WJC.

Given the, uh, interesting past the NHL/NHLPA nd IIHF have had. I don't see them putting their event up against a marquee IIHF event.

[shoeshine boy 242]

It was exciting to be there, but I couldn't see anything lol. Fenway is a terrible place for a hockey game. IMO they should have the winter classic at football stadiums like the first winter classic. Of course it might possibly conflict with nfl playoffs...........

where were your seats? I'll be at the college game at Fenway next Friday. :)

Right field. Any seats that were low to the field has no line of sight to the ice. The higher your seats are, the better. I would bring a pair of binoculars if your seats are not too great.

thanks. we'll be in right field as well but closer to the foul pole in the sections that are 2 levels. I think we're either next to last or last row up. of course, the weather forecast SUCKS (temp wise) for that game. :(

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

Found these pictures on HFBoards. What about adopting clear boards like this. I know someone will bring up the advertising drawback, but there are buses and trains with special ads that are clear from the inside, but on the outside are visible. This would help out the people in the lower sections. Not sure how viable this actually it, but it might be worth looking into.

[bostonjuniorblackhawks 1]

thats good if your at a stadium like that. For the people in right field that had low seats, they still wouldn't see very much.

[Chadd 916]

thats good if your at a stadium like that. For the people in right field that had low seats, they still wouldn't see very much.

These games aren't about being able to see, they're about being there and being able to say that you were there.

[bostonjuniorblackhawks 1]

thats good if your at a stadium like that. For the people in right field that had low seats, they still wouldn't see very much.

These games aren't about being able to see, they're about being there and being able to say that you were there.

Thats what my uncle told me lol. I paid 250 for my ticket, so I'd like to be able to watch the freaking game. Football stadiums are the way to go, but I don't see that happening unfortunately.

[JR Boucicaut 3802]

Found these pictures on HFBoards. What about adopting clear boards like this. I know someone will bring up the advertising drawback, but there are buses and trains with special ads that are clear from the inside, but on the outside are visible. This would help out the people in the lower sections. Not sure how viable this actually it, but it might be worth looking into.

Shades of the St. Paul Civic Center...LOL

[JPB_69 0]

Supposedly Calgary has been lobbying hard for an outdoor game, except they would probably rent some land and build a temporary stadium instead of just holding it in the local football stadium. Sooner rather then later one of the Canadian teams is going to get in on the outdoor theme, they are the elephant in the room at this point. Of course they would probably have it on a separate date, boxing day would be perfect, especially given the farce the WJC has become.

Was talking about this with friends, what about a double header (afternoon & evening game) on Hockey Day In Canada?

[K9 Unit 1]

NBC Sees Drop In Winter Classic Ratings Amid Positive Reviews

NBC earned a 2.6 overnight Nielsen rating for the Flyers-Bruins Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on Friday, down 10.3% from a 2.9 for the Red Wings-Blackhawks matchup last year, and even with the inaugural Penguins-Sabres Winter Classic in '08.

not surprised, its the one game in the year that i rather see more skill and lackluster defence than grit and big hits

[chippa13 1844]

The ratings drop had one reason and one reason only, zero star power. Lucic would have been a great guy to market the event to the fringe fans but his health prevented that one. I can picture the cross promotion ads between the Sox and B's.

The first has the action cutting between Lynn racing to the wall and Lucic with closing on Leafs player until finally Lynn hits the wall and Lucic smashed the glass. Then you've got Lucic pounding whomever with Varitek going at A-Rod. Trust me, if you're in my head, these would have been gold.

[Chadd 916]

The ratings drop had one reason and one reason only, zero star power.

The solution is obviously more Sidney Crosby, he's the only star in the NHL right now.

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

The ratings drop had one reason and one reason only, zero star power.

The solution is obviously more Sidney Crosby, he's the only star in the NHL right now.

What about that Alex guy? <_<

But i really like Chippa's ideas. Loving the Lucic/ Lynn. Could also do some Big Pappi HRs and Zedno Slappers.

[Chadd 916]

The ratings drop had one reason and one reason only, zero star power.

The solution is obviously more Sidney Crosby, he's the only star in the NHL right now.

What about that Alex guy? <_<

But i really like Chippa's ideas. Loving the Lucic/ Lynn. Could also do some Big Pappi HRs and Zedno Slappers.

Sorry, Sid is the only star in the NHL constellation right now. No others need apply.

[DarkStar50 679]

A. Isn't he on the team that has just lost 5 in a row?

B. With 30 teams in the NHL, there will never be enough "stars" to go around so that every team has an elite and extremely marketable player.

[Chadd 916]

A. Isn't he on the team that has just lost 5 in a row?

You guys have been around here how long? I guess I need to include a smiley with my sarcasm, even the really obvious stuff from now on. The NHL needs to do a better job of marketing all of the top players, not just the anointed one. I find it hard to believe that the next winter classic will have anyone other than the Rangers and Capitals. After that it will be interesting as there are no other "household names" among casual fans of the sport.