2011-12 NHL Season

[Kramerica Industries]

Good old Eric Desjardins.

I forgot all about that game, but I'm sure I'd get a ton of NHL 2002 flashbacks had I watched. Lindros, LeClair, Desjardins, etc.

If only Roman Cechmanek was there...

[FiddySicks]

Lake Tahoe would be a cool place for a Sharks Winter Classic. Maple Leafs-Red Wings at the Big House would be a really cool way to get 100,000+ people at a hockey game, but I'm worried that if they played each other, the universe would collapse upon itself and create the Tampa Bay Lightning.

I've been pushing that for quite awhile now, and I would LOVE to see my hometown host a Winter Classic, but unfortunately I don't think it's logistical at this point. Only Squaw Valley would be able to really make it work at this point and that's even a really big stretch. South shore, which is my part of the lake, is the big hockey spot up here and while they could probably stretch their resources to the breaking point and make it barely work, there's still that pesky problem with having nowhere to play and constructing a temporary arena would be a nightmarishly bad idea. It would certainly be the most unique Winter Classic that would ever happen, and no place would ever be able to top it in terms of backdrop, but at this point were just not ready. Maybe after the $100 million + development plans get finished at the Vail resorts and Squaw, but certainly not now.

And we certainly have the weather for it. It's always below freezing in the winter but it never gets much colder than that. It's always dry and mild. It would certainly be nicer than freezing balls in Detroit, Philadelphia, Boston, or freaking Pittsburgh.

[BigEd76]

[FiddySicks]

I like the idea of the winter classic, but who in their right mind would pay what it costs for such awful seats?

[NEW.ERA]

Those site lines look bad. I'm almost certain if the Eagles weren't playing at home this week, would have been at the Linc.

[The_Admiral]

Yeah, if you're going to keep doing these in baseball stadiums, you have to run the rink along the grandstand and not just plop it in the middle of the diamond. That's why I hope Michigan Stadium gets the next one; they'll do it right.

[Kramerica Industries]

If the Eagles were playing their last two games on the road, then there might've been the possibility. I mean, they did manage to squeeze in Pittsburgh last year even with the Steelers ending up being a team that hosted two playoff games shortly after the Classic. But their last home game was on December 23 (a Thursday game), so there was time to work on the construction of the rink.

Football stadiums in general are better for the one-off hockey games anyway given the symmetry of a football field and stadium, in contrast to the uneven-ness of baseball facilities. And unlike Fenway Park of Wrigley Field, CBP isn't an ancient, historic ballpark.

[NEW.ERA]

I don't buy into the playing in a historic park thing. I'm sure those games played in Chicago and Boston would have been much better suited for Soldier and Gillette.

[Kramerica Industries]

They would've been. I'm saying that they were likely played in the baseball stadiums instead just because of the allure that Fenway and Wrigley have. Citizens Bank doesn't hold nearly the same - this was likely done out of necessity instead. I would think the NHL and NFL communicate on the matter of the Winter Classic, otherwise there wouldn't have been games played in the past in Buffalo or Pittsburgh, but I won't speak with an air of certainty.

I think we all agree the Linc would be a much better place. And there would be higher profits as well from the higher seating capacity at the Linc as well.

[The_Admiral]

No, Wrigley Field was still a better place for the Winter Classic than Soldier Field. Football games aren't even best suited for Soldier Field.

[BigEd76]

From the AP:

[NHL Chief Operating Officer John] Collins addressed other topics on the future of the Winter Classic:

? The NHL isn't likely to stretch much beyond the Midwest for future Winter Classics because it likes the 1 p.m. EST window on Jan. 1 or 2.

? The NHL has considered Citi Field, MetLife Stadium, the Yale Bowl, and even West Point as potential sites in New York/New Jersey. Detroit is in the mix as potential future site.

? Canadian teams could become part of the Classic.

[NEW.ERA]

Good to see Canadian teams getting in on the action, by Canadian teams they mean Toronto or Montreal obviously which is kinda sad.

Anyways Jets/Leafs. MTS Centre, HNIC, bloody electric!

[goalieboy82]

From the AP:

[NHL Chief Operating Officer John] Collins addressed other topics on the future of the Winter Classic:

? The NHL isn't likely to stretch much beyond the Midwest for future Winter Classics because it likes the 1 p.m. EST window on Jan. 1 or 2.

? The NHL has considered Citi Field, MetLife Stadium, the Yale Bowl, and even West Point as potential sites in New York/New Jersey. Detroit is in the mix as potential future site.

? Canadian teams could become part of the Classic.

Toronto vs Red Wings in 2013 or 2014 in Detroit is what i think might happen.

[Shumway]

After looking at this, I think my seats for Friday's Hershey/Adirondack AHL game should be pretty decent. I'm a section or two over from the Philles' dugout, about 20 rows up. I'd imagine I'll be able to see everything. If not, I spent less for those tickets than I would one Flyers' game at the very top of the Wells Fargo Center.

[ninersdd]

Good to see Canadian teams getting in on the action, by Canadian teams they mean Toronto or Montreal obviously which is kinda sad.

Anyways Jets/Leafs. MTS Centre, HNIC, bloody electric!

I miss HNIC on NHL Network every week.

[HedleyLamarr]

After looking at this, I think my seats for Friday's Hershey/Adirondack AHL game should be pretty decent. I'm a section or two over from the Philles' dugout, about 20 rows up. I'd imagine I'll be able to see everything. If not, I spent less for those tickets than I would one Flyers' game at the very top of the Wells Fargo Center.

All depends on how steep the slope is in the lower-level seats. Baseball parks weren't meant to host hockey games. As such, I can't imagine any of the lower bowl seats being good to watch the game. Upper deck (or that middle deck) seats between the dugouts and fair poles has to be ideal for hockey games played in baseball venues.

[Maz]

And yet, last year, they only sold half the lower bowl for the alumni game, didn't broadcast it live on TV, and half the fans, including myself, missed half of it, because they had only one gate open that they opened five minutes before game time.

[BigBubba]

What would be the point of going to the game if you had the seats from the pic above? You can't see the backs of the jerseys, let alone the puck.

[Funky Bunky]

What would be the point of going to the game if you had the seats from the pic above? You can't see the backs of the jerseys, let alone the puck.

The experience. How often do you get to watch an NHL game played outside?

... and don't forget, the view is better in real life. Pictures make things look even smaller.

[Shumway]

After looking at this, I think my seats for Friday's Hershey/Adirondack AHL game should be pretty decent. I'm a section or two over from the Philles' dugout, about 20 rows up. I'd imagine I'll be able to see everything. If not, I spent less for those tickets than I would one Flyers' game at the very top of the Wells Fargo Center.

All depends on how steep the slope is in the lower-level seats. Baseball parks weren't meant to host hockey games. As such, I can't imagine any of the lower bowl seats being good to watch the game. Upper deck (or that middle deck) seats between the dugouts and fair poles has to be ideal for hockey games played in baseball venues.

I'd imagine I'll be high enough to see over the boards at least. While I obviously want to be able to see the game, the experience alone for under $30 should be great. Plus, I'll probably have a beer or a dozen in me

Side note: Someone I work with knows someone who actually has ice time at Citizens Bank Park next Saturday. I think he gets an hour or so for somewhere in the neighborhood of $8,000.