OT: Fenway Park to host 2010 NHL Winter Classic

by ambrosiadreams on Jul 15, 2009 9:26 PM CDT Comment 27 comments

Following last year's success at Wrigley Field, the NHL has decided to hold the 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park in Boston, where the Bruins will host the Philadelphia Flyers. After holding an outdoor game in Edmonton in 2003, the NHL decided to build on that success and on January 1, 2008, held its first annual Winter Classic in Buffalo, NY.

Last year's Winter Classic was very special to me, as I'm sure it was to many of you, as I am a big fan of the NHL and loved seeing Wrigley Field showcased like it was. I'm sure the fans in Boston feel the same way, and I'm excited for MLB to be able to integrate another of it's cathedrals into the NHL and its fans and players.

Shall we start an over/under now as to how much a Green Monster seat will be for this game?

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Green Monster seats will be at a huge premium...

… as based on the diagram I saw where the rink will be, those will have among the best views. Probably close to what the best seats at Wrigley sold for last year, $325.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Jul 15, 2009 9:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Green Monster seats will be more than that

They sold for close to $1000 per seat for World Series games. I think they will sell on the secondary market for over $500

As a Flyers fan, I’m heading up there for this game. I’ve already gotten a call from my Flyers account rep to upgrade from my partial ticket plan to a full season plan so I have a chance to get tickets to this game. I can’t afford a full season plan just for a chance.

How did they handle the ticket sales for the game at Wrigley last January 1st? The Bruins have come out and said that all full season ticket holders will get seats to this game. That’s the right thing to do. How many tickets did the Cubs get, the Red Wings get and how many were sold to the general public?

If I can’t tickets through the public sale, I’ll wait to see the prices on the secondary market. I’m sure they will come down closer to the game. The best seats look to be the Monster seats and the rooftop boxes.

by PhillyCub on Jul 15, 2009 9:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

for general fans

it was pretty much secondary market. the hawks season ticket holders got tickets, the red wings got x amount, and quite a few cubs season tickets holders got tickets as well.

I don’t believe there were many openly available tickets available.

It's not about money. It's about winning and getting over the hump. We've had the appetizer now, but we left the main course on the table.
-rod beck

by laidbackliam on Jul 15, 2009 10:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I believe the Red Wings got about 5,000 tickets to sell...

… mostly to their own season ticket holders, I believe.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Jul 16, 2009 5:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow that's really cool!

by ak123 on Jul 15, 2009 10:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It appears the idea of a 'second'

game that same day, in Canada — has been scrapped. That concept was being tossed around in concert with a game at Fenway.

I’d wager the 2011 will be have to be in Canada, (Toronto) and then to Yankee Stadium for 2012.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Jul 15, 2009 11:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

They have also discussed trying to do it...

… in a Western city, possibly Denver.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Jul 16, 2009 5:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've suggested before...

…having a game at the Big House in Ann Arbor. Think Red Wings fans would pack that place?!

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Jul 16, 2009 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

they are having a

college game there in December 2010. Michigan vs Michigan State, which will surely set the record for highest attendance at a hockey game, with over 110,000. I seriously doubt the NHL would allow the wings to be involved

by stadiumguru on Jul 16, 2009 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting note about the college game.

But what does this have to do with the NHL? That’s a sincere question.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Jul 16, 2009 6:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well,

the college game has nothing to do with the NHL. I was just pointing it out because it will be an outdoor hockey game. If UM and MSU wanted the Wings to be a part of their show, I doubt the NHL would allow them to do that, since it would be taking away from the Winter Classic hype.

by stadiumguru on Jul 16, 2009 10:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They could really go West

and play one in Las Vegas……now, that would spin a few heads. The LV ECHL team has played an outdoor game, I believe. Bikinis next to the boards.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Jul 16, 2009 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Was anything mentioned?

Just win the next game...!

by blackhawk24 on Jul 16, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That was a blast

That was a blast the game. I was just IMing with a Red Sox/Bruins fan who’s a friend of mine through another internet group and she is really excited.

I had to delete my twitter account. But you can still find me at fanfiction.net under puckish prosecutor.

by cubstoseriesby100 on Jul 16, 2009 5:46 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

When is the Winter Classic...

…going to determine who gets home ice in the SCF’s?

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Jul 16, 2009 8:49 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Could you imagine though

an 11-9 ASG shootout determining SCF home ice??? This is one (perhaps the only) where Bettman can’t be as big of a pinhead as bud light.

Just win the next game...!

by blackhawk24 on Jul 16, 2009 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

don't be so sure...

after all, they put in a shootout for the regular season games. Was that on Bettman’s watch or before?

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Jul 16, 2009 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

probably whenever they finally schedule it with a team from each conference!

"That’s what I love about my skip, man. He’ll tell you that you suck...I know I suck. We know we suck...Yeah, we suck. But we’ll see who sucks at the end."
- Gary Sheffield

by DrGalazkiewicz on Jul 18, 2009 2:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

When will Dallas get one?

I could possibly get a ticket to that game then

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on Jul 16, 2009 8:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Nothing says Winter Classic...

…like Dallas.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Jul 16, 2009 9:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

IF they really wanted to do it right

it’d be the Habs playing, not the Flyers. Bos/Mtl is about as big as you can get in the NHL. Plus it’s two more original 6 teams.

Hey, I’d be for a Rangers @ Maple Leafs game on 1/1/11. That’d complete the original 6 teams winter classic natural hat trick.

Just win the next game...!

by blackhawk24 on Jul 16, 2009 10:26 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I'm surprised a Canadian team

isn’t involved in this game. However, that leads me to believe (for political purposes, to keep certain factions of the NHL happy) the next game has to be in Canada, and it has to be in Toronto.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Jul 16, 2009 10:55 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

NBC will never have a Canadian team in this game

Their ratings would tank if they had the Habs, Leafs or any other Canadian team.

The NHL wanted the Caps in this game to showcase Ovechkin. But NBC wanted the Flyers because the Caps/Rangers playoff games last spring had really poor ratings and the Flyers get better ratings. NBC won out and I’m glad. Flyers have a must stronger fanbase than the Caps.

Rumor is the Rangers will host this game in 2011 at the new Yankee Stadium against the Caps.

by PhillyCub on Jul 16, 2009 12:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

And here inlies the problem; NBC short-sightedness and the no-balls NHL

A perfect chance to get Americans to open their eyes to the most iconic NHL team (marketing chance), playing another original 6 team (another marketing chance) in one of baseballs’ shrines (yet another marketing chance). 2/3 ain’t bad. But for 1/1/09 they went 3/3. The Wings aren’t as iconic as the Hab but were the defending champions and the odd-on favourite to win it again for a repeat.

There’s a built-in amountt of viewership by using Fenway, just like Wrigley was this past January. The NHL capitalized on the original-6 and could do it again.

Then there’s the chance in 2011 to have the Leafs play the Rangers at the new Yankee Stadium and use the ultra-popular NYC and yet another original 6 matchup but I fear they’ll swing and miss again. Another opportunity would be for that game to be in Toronto.

I’m disappointed in the thought a 2nd game could be falling through the cracks in Canada. It’s worth the try for an Edmonton/Calgary game after the one at Fenway. It won’t have the viewership like Fenway but the NHL has to learn how to show off their unique-ness. There’s 6 Canadian teams and IMO there should be 8 or 9.

Then again, the Blackhawks secured 1/1/09 by a one Mr. John McDonough.

Just win the next game...!

by blackhawk24 on Jul 16, 2009 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly!

You know what I remember most about the first (modern) outdoor game in Edmonton? That picture of the Montreal goalie (Jose Theodore) wearing a little toque (sp?) over his goalie mask during the match. It just absolutely captured the moment…

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Jul 16, 2009 2:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The CBC has equal rights to this game, with NBC

And the Canadian faction will DEMAND a game. It will be played in Toronto. Book it.

CBC telecasts 10x the games NBC does, and actualy pays rights fees. It’s not ‘rent-a-network’ as the NHL does with NBC.

Beyond any shadow of a doubt, there will be a game to appease Canadians. And, as I posted earlier, Phillycub, Yankee Stadium will host a game very soon. My bet is 2012.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Jul 16, 2009 6:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Canada should have an outdoor game

You’re right. CBC actually PAYS the NHL, unlike NBC. They should demand an outdoor game involving Canadian teams. However that goes against Gary Bettman’s vision of the league and that’s why Canada might wait for an outdoor game.

Why won’t Bettman let the Coyotes move to Hamilton Ontario? It goes against his vision of expanding the game in the US, especially in the South and West. There are a lot of teams in financial danger other than the Coyotes. Hamilton can support that team better than Phoenix.

Bettman doesn’t care about Canada. He wants the NHL to get to the NBA’s level of popularity and that won’t happen catering to the Canadian faction. Bettman doesn’t realize that the NHL will never get to that level and it is a regional sport.

Rumor is the Canadiens will play the Caps at the “Big O” in November as part of the Canadiens 100th anniversary celebration.

by PhillyCub on Jul 16, 2009 9:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs