Winter Classic 4

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

As an avid hockey fan, Id love for them to do two games. But realistically, i hope they don't. It would take something out of the event. The one game gets hyped pretty good, i don't want that attention split in two.

[dsjunior1388 81]

As an avid hockey fan, Id love for them to do two games. But realistically, i hope they don't. It would take something out of the event. The one game gets hyped pretty good, i don't want that attention split in two.

Agreed. one game a year, (regular season, not all star game) keep it exclusive and you keep the hype machine going. Don't mess with the formula.

[Rocketking 0]

Really? I think it could be very possible. However, on the topic of other teams getting their shot, I'm all for it, but I have no interest watching a game between, say the Yotes and Kings as a "Winter Classic." Talk about poor ratings.

Yeah - forget the Dogs, but a Kings and SJ or Ducks game would be pretty dam awesome.

LA & SJ particularly have a rabid fan base, but the odds of getting an outdoor venue to work could be more than humanly possible to accomplish.

[K9 Unit 1]

stick a clear roof over the rink :lol:

[Neal 41]

Really? I think it could be very possible. However, on the topic of other teams getting their shot, I'm all for it, but I have no interest watching a game between, say the Yotes and Kings as a "Winter Classic." Talk about poor ratings.

Yeah - forget the Dogs, but a Kings and SJ or Ducks game would be pretty dam awesome.

LA & SJ particularly have a rabid fan base, but the odds of getting an outdoor venue to work could be more than humanly possible to accomplish.

In 91, the Rangers played the Kings outside Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. According to all I've read, the ice wasn't bad. The real issue was the horde of grasshoppers that were attracted to the lights.

[Rocketking 0]

Really? I think it could be very possible. However, on the topic of other teams getting their shot, I'm all for it, but I have no interest watching a game between, say the Yotes and Kings as a "Winter Classic." Talk about poor ratings.

Yeah - forget the Dogs, but a Kings and SJ or Ducks game would be pretty dam awesome.

LA & SJ particularly have a rabid fan base, but the odds of getting an outdoor venue to work could be more than humanly possible to accomplish.

In 91, the Rangers played the Kings outside Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. According to all I've read, the ice wasn't bad. The real issue was the horde of grasshoppers that were attracted to the lights.

That was Frozen Fury 1 and they have been doing it ever since although not in the parking lot.

Its a pretty nice excuse to head to Vegas in fall if your a Kings or Avs fan.

Speaking of the Avs, having the Winter classic in Denver with LA would totally rock.

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

Really? I think it could be very possible. However, on the topic of other teams getting their shot, I'm all for it, but I have no interest watching a game between, say the Yotes and Kings as a "Winter Classic." Talk about poor ratings.

Yeah - forget the Dogs, but a Kings and SJ or Ducks game would be pretty dam awesome.

LA & SJ particularly have a rabid fan base, but the odds of getting an outdoor venue to work could be more than humanly possible to accomplish.

In 91, the Rangers played the Kings outside Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. According to all I've read, the ice wasn't bad. The real issue was the horde of grasshoppers that were attracted to the lights.

That was Frozen Fury 1 and they have been doing it ever since although not in the parking lot.

Its a pretty nice excuse to head to Vegas in fall if your a Kings or Avs fan.

Speaking of the Avs, having the Winter classic in Denver with LA would totally rock.

That would be cool... in like 5 years when the two teams are actually good. Its about showcasing talent, which the Avs do not have. LA is on the rise though.

[Rocketking 0]

That would be cool... in like 5 years when the two teams are actually good. Its about showcasing talent, which the Avs do not have. LA is on the rise though.

The Avs are just starting the rebuild process and LA is just coming out of it IMO.

I know I'm kind of biased (30 year Kings fan) but I think LA is going to do more than just turn some heads this season.

But to make a Winter Classic interesting with them in it, they have to be a strong playoff contender IMO or else there will be little viewing audience outside of Cali.

[Steve_v3 289]

It's not official but there will be a couple of College games the week after the B's & Flyers play at Fenway.

BU VS. BC at Fenway

[Jason Harris 31]

From today's Boston Globe:

Tomorrow at noon, the NHL will release ticket information on nhl.com for the Jan. 1 Winter Classic (Bruins vs. Flyers) at Fenway Park. Purchases will be by lottery later in the month or early September. According to John Collins, the league’s CEO, the lottery subscription reached 250,000 for last season’s game in Chicago, a number that could be easily reached, if not exceeded, here in the Hub of Hockey. A decent seat at the Fens likely will run upward of $300, and the average probably will be north of $200. To get in on the lottery, get to nhl.com/winterclassic after noon tomorrow.

[Jason Harris 31]

From today's Boston Globe:

The Winter Classic between the Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers on New Year's Day at Fenway Park is sure to be one of the most anticipated local sporting events of the winter. This afternoon, the NHL released information on how and when tickets will become available to the general public.

Registration for the general public random ticket drawing will begin Tuesday, Sept. 15, at noon online at www.nhl.com/winterclassic. Registration will continue through Monday, Oct. 5, at 11:59 a.m. Registrations received after the deadline will not be accepted. There is no fee.

Those selected in the drawing will be notified by Oct. 20 of their opportunity to purchase one pair of tickets (seated together). Prices range from $50 to $350.

Season-ticket holders for the Bruins and Flyers will be notified later this month regarding details on their chance to purchase tickets.

[Jason Harris 31]

From today's Boston Globe:

As expected, Fenway Park will host a doubleheader of a different sport this winter.

Legendary men's college hockey rivals Boston University and Boston College will faceoff in the nightcap of a two-game set on Jan. 8, 2010, following a matinee between the University of New Hampshire and Northeastern women's teams.

The Huskies and Wildcats, two traditional women's college hockey powers, will start the festivities at 4 p.m, with BC and BU -- the last two NCAA men's champions -- meeting for the 248th time in the programs' histories at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public at noon on Thursday, Sept. 17. Prices start at $5 and tickets will be valid for both games.

[Jason Harris 31]

Not quite Winter Classic news, but I found it interesting to read the Chief Operating Officer of the Sox is pushing the idea of having a European Premier League game at Fenway.

It's amazing the marketing job that group has done, most of it positive, but one day we'll be pulling the Waste Management Inc. levers on the urinals.....

[Steve_v3 289]

Not quite Winter Classic news, but I found it interesting to read the Chief Operating Officer of the Sox is pushing the idea of having a European Premier League game at Fenway.

It's amazing the marketing job that group has done, most of it positive, but one day we'll be pulling the Waste Management Inc. levers on the urinals.....

The Red Sox ownership will do anything for a buck.

Now that the Yankees are going to have a college bowl game next season it won't be long until the Sox announce one at Fenway.

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

Not quite Winter Classic news, but I found it interesting to read the Chief Operating Officer of the Sox is pushing the idea of having a European Premier League game at Fenway.

It's amazing the marketing job that group has done, most of it positive, but one day we'll be pulling the Waste Management Inc. levers on the urinals.....

The Red Sox ownership will do anything for a buck.

Now that the Yankees are going to have a college bowl game next season it won't be long until the Sox announce one at Fenway.

Not to mention the World Series. ;)

[Jason Harris 31]

Interesting blurb in today's Notes section of the Boston Globe:

The NHL will move its Winter Classic hardware into Fenway Park Dec. 10 and will have its pristine sheet ready for skating by Dec. 18, two weeks before the Bruins take on the Flyers in the celebrated Jan. 1 game, with the old ballpark’s left-field wall acting as backdrop and 35,000-plus fans eating and drinking up every minute of it.

Meanwhile, a cavalcade of other events, including a four-team Hockey East extravaganza Jan. 8, will play out on the Emerald Bandbox’s icy tableau before the plug is pulled on the ice-making machinery. Part of the celebration has the Red Sox and Bruins poised to rent out the sheet for corporate events and pickup hockey games, just like your local rink.

However, it all comes with one significant, expensive twist. That one-hour ice rental at a local rink in and around Boston typically would cost upward of $300. At Fenway, the going rate will be $7,500 or $10,000 for each one-hour session. That is not a typo. The going rate will be as high as 33 times more than what a prime-time hour would cost at one of the area’s better rinks. And according to Sam Kennedy, executive vice president and COO of the Red Sox as well as president of Fenway Sports Group, there has been no shortage of folks lining up to reserve the time.

“But this is not a financial windfall, by any stretch of the imagination,’’ said Kennedy. “I think it would be wrong to portray the Red Sox as being out to make a bundle on this.’’

No doubt there are considerable underlying costs the Red Sox must absorb in having a rink stretched out on Fenway terra firma for non-NHL use. The league is charging Fenway $16,000 per day to keep the rink up and running on the days when the Red Sox and/or Bruins will be able to use it for entertaining and marketing purposes.

“Frankly, I don’t know their plans,’’ said John Collins, the NHL’s CEO, when asked how he felt about the league’s sheet being rented at $10,000 an hour. “Other than our event on [Jan. 1], we’re the vendor supplying the rink and covering our costs. They can do what they want with it. It’s not part of our deal. We’re not collecting any money off of it.’’

The Bruins, according to the club’s marketing chief, Amy Latimer, have a fraction of the ice-time inventory that the Red Sox have at their disposal. However, she confirmed that the Bruins will price their ice in lockstep with the Red Sox, and likewise target a corporate audience that might not blink over the price the way, say, a men’s senior hockey league looking to have its boys take a skate in the hallowed ballpark would.

“We just found out a few days ago what hours we’ll be able to use, and there aren’t many,’’ said Latimer. “This won’t be a widespread marketing campaign for us. It will be more geared toward our corporate partners.’’

However, the Red Sox have been marketing their available hours to area hockey leagues as well as corporate sponsors and entities. Figuring a club would suit up 15 players, that would leave a group of 30 to share a tab of $7,500 or $10,000, or $250-$333 per skater. That’s not a beer-league game but a champagne-and-caviar special. Oh, sweet Caroline.

“Sure, whatever, they’ll get it,’’ said Chris Casilli, a lifelong Red Sox fan and ardent recreational hockey player who lives in Somerville. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime deal. Out of my range, but if I had that kind of scratch, I’d give it a whirl. It’s like, ‘If you build it, they will come . . . and if they do, they will pay, Ray.’ ’’

Dave Ford won’t pay. Another recreational hockey player, Ford, a 31-year-old computer software salesman who lives in South Boston, was intrigued by the idea of playing hockey at Fenway. Until he saw the pricing.

“I’ll go to one of the public skating sessions,’’ he said. “But the rest of it, including the game, I’ll sit on my couch and watch on TV. It’s a debacle. Sickening.

“I’ve got friends who are Bruins season ticket-holders, and they’re selling their [Winter Classic] tickets to cover the cost of their entire season. The whole thing has turned into a total cash grab.’’

Peter Manderino, commissioner of a local recreational hockey league, Stinkysocks Hockey, initially hoped to secure some hours at Fenway for his 300 or so active players.

“But when I saw that $10,000 price,’’ mused Manderino, “and figured maybe 20 people divvying that up, that’s $500 apiece. Just not realistic. Even if we went to 30 players at the $7,500 an hour, that’s $250 each. We took a pass.’’

According to Kennedy, the pricing for the one-hour sessions will cover, in part, the hours of public skating (dates and times to be announced soon) that Mayor Menino’s office will stage at the ballpark, as well as the practice sessions related to the Hockey East tournament.

Kennedy referred to it as the “Robin Hood theory of pricing,’’ which, he said, is prevalent during the baseball season at Fenway - as patrons of the EMC Club and State Street Pavilion pay premiums for their luxury seating, allowing prices to be more reasonable in the bleachers and grandstand.

“I can tell you that the interest [in one-hour rentals] has been overwhelming,’’ said Kennedy. “The price has not been a deterrent whatsoever. Hey, I still play beer-league hockey, so I hear you loud and clear over how some people might compare these prices. But this is geared, really, to our corporate base.’’

[Steve_v3 289]

Interesting blurb in today's Notes section of the Boston Globe:

“But this is not a financial windfall, by any stretch of the imagination,’’ said Kennedy. “I think it would be wrong to portray the Red Sox as being out to make a bundle on this.’’

The Red Sox are just so generous to take this financial hit in order to help out local hockey players.

It's not like this ownership group has ever takes advantage of their fans. :lol:

[Jason Harris 31]

A series of graphics detailing the process used to create the rink at Fenway.

[RadioGaGa 162]

A series of graphics detailing the process used to create the rink at Fenway.

http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?id=53979

[PurplePenguin45 0]

Not quite Winter Classic news, but I found it interesting to read the Chief Operating Officer of the Sox is pushing the idea of having a European Premier League game at Fenway.

It's amazing the marketing job that group has done, most of it positive, but one day we'll be pulling the Waste Management Inc. levers on the urinals.....

The Red Sox ownership will do anything for a buck.

Now that the Yankees are going to have a college bowl game next season it won't be long until the Sox announce one at Fenway.

I am hoping a bowl game isnt the ONLY thing the new Yankee Stadium will be hosting next year... Classic '11?!

Oh yeah and another world series, hehe. ;)

[chippa13 1844]

Not quite Winter Classic news, but I found it interesting to read the Chief Operating Officer of the Sox is pushing the idea of having a European Premier League game at Fenway.

It's amazing the marketing job that group has done, most of it positive, but one day we'll be pulling the Waste Management Inc. levers on the urinals.....

The Red Sox ownership will do anything for a buck.

Now that the Yankees are going to have a college bowl game next season it won't be long until the Sox announce one at Fenway.

You've got a choice, would you like to have the Kansas City Royals and cheap tickets or a team that can compete with the Yankees year in year out and pay through the nose.

[dsjunior1388 81]

From today's Boston Globe:

As expected, Fenway Park will host a doubleheader of a different sport this winter.

Legendary men's college hockey rivals Boston University and Boston College will faceoff in the nightcap of a two-game set on Jan. 8, 2010, following a matinee between the University of New Hampshire and Northeastern women's teams.

The Huskies and Wildcats, two traditional women's college hockey powers, will start the festivities at 4 p.m, with BC and BU -- the last two NCAA men's champions -- meeting for the 248th time in the programs' histories at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public at noon on Thursday, Sept. 17. Prices start at $5 and tickets will be valid for both games.

What are the odds either of these games are on TV? I doubt NBC would but is versus?

[Jason Harris 31]

I'm pretty sure I've seen them advertised on NESN, which is available as part of DirecTV's sports package.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

OT But NESN HD feed is beautiful...The best one for hockey right now IMO.

[Sid 3]

I don't know how the NHL dropped the ball on this one. Fenway parks and you choose the Flyers? The Yankees and the Red Sox rivalary is the biggest in baseball. The hype would have been hugh! Have baseball players from both teams drop the puck and more. I sometimes wonder what they are thinking when promoting the game?