Comments on: I Miss Hockey.

By: Greg M

Greg M — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:06:37 +0000

I agree 100%. I would certainly attend one of these outdoor affairs.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:44:08 +0000

I knew nothing of seating capacity for the two stadiums, so thats interesting. I just know that Detroit is among the favored teams in the league (says the bitter Devils fan). I was not at all surprised they went that direction instead. (I wish they’d considered playing off the New York-Boston rivalry though. That would have been awesome.)

When the initial Yankee talks started I read a lot about the baseball fans freaking out. I don’t know how much that weighed in on the final decision, but I hope they’ll bring an outdoor game our way in the future anyway.

By: Greg M

Greg M — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:54:58 +0000

Well that stinks, I would have like to watch the game at the stadium. Although I don’t think the draw could have been the deciding factor since Wrigley only holds around 35,000 fans as opposed to the 56,000 plus that can be seated at Yankee Stadium.

I would have to think that a matchup of the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers would have been a big draw considering the mutual sports hatred between the two cities.

Anyway Wrigley is a great ballpark in its own right and the game will be pretty sweet.

Not to mention, I did a little more research, and it appears there was massive uprising from baseball fans that it would be a travesty if the last event hosted at Yankee Stadium was anything other than a Yankee baseball game.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:39:21 +0000

The NHL narrowed it down to Wrigley and Yankee as hosts for the Winter Classic, and Wrigley won.

My understanding of the situation is that the Classic was to be played between two Original 6 teams — one of Detroit or Chicago would have been brought in to face the Rangers and Yankee. I think the league probably figured the draw would be bigger for the combination of Detroit AND Chicago, with the defending champs going up against another bunch of young upstarts in Chicago (much like the Penguins).

So in short — eliminated. haha. The NHL bought a portable rink though, so we may see one at the new Yankee Stadium in the coming years.

By: Greg M

Greg M — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:27:45 +0000

Sarah, considering the game being played at Wrigley, has there been any other word about a game being played at Yankee Stadium before it gets torn down?

Or has that idea been eliminated?