20 replies to this topic

[choyer]

It appears that NHL Winter Classic will be back and making a visit to the Windy City.

TSN has confirmed that the Chicago Blackhawks will take on the Detroit Red Wings next January in what has become the league's annual outdoor game.

Following the success of this season's Winter Classic in Buffalo, where a record 71,217 fans watched the Sabres take on the Pittsburgh Penguins at Ralph Wilson Stadium, a number of cities have been pushing for the right to hold the event.

There was talk that the New York Rangers were looking into the possibility of hosting a game at Yankee Stadium. With the baseball team moving into a new stadium next season, it would have been the final event held in the old ballpark.

It is not yet clear whether the game would be held at Wrigley Field, home of MLB's Cubs, or Soldier Field, home of the NFL Bears.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/st...=headlines_main

[YzerFan19]

Posted to the main site earlier today...

http://www.detroitho..._classic_ii.php



There is one disappointing thing about this, it probably means the traditional New Year's Eve game won't happen this year.

[drwmike33]

Posted to the main site earlier today...

http://www.detroitho..._classic_ii.php



There is one disappointing thing about this, it probably means the traditional New Year's Eve game won't happen this year.

Anybody know how much tickets were last years....so i can have a "ballpark" figure? heh that was a pun.

[YzerFan19]

Apparently this is still just a possibility. The NHL would prefer to use Yankee Stadium but needs an option in case that continues to be a problem.

[Pitts GM]

According to XM radio's NHL channel they had Gary Butman on with Bill Clement and Gary said that the game in Chicago was not true. He said that no games are set in stone. His coment was that there are "no more than 10 and no less 2 cities in the running". He also said that Yankee Stadum is not in or out of the running. He left it pretty open as to where the next one was at.

[YzerFan19]

The NHL officially announced today that the Red Wings and Blackhawks will meet at Chicago's Wrigley Field for the 2009 Winter Classic.

The game, to begin at 1:00 PM Eastern on New Years Day 2009, will be part of a home-and-home series that will see the Blackhawks visit Detroit on December 30, 2008.

The Red Wings' annual tradition of a New Years Eve game will be disrupted by the series. The Wings had played on December 31 in every non-lockout year since 1946, except for 1996.

[YzerFan19]

I'm watching the announcement press conference right now and it's painfully obvious that the focus is going to be on the 'Hawks alone. The Wings just happen to be the visitors.

And as I say that, Bettman mentions the rivalry.

Still p*ssed that the Wings won't get to host one of these now.

Thanks Gary. Ass.

[choyer]

From Buttman's point of view I guess it's better to have it in Chicago, although I definitley agree on wanting it in Detroit. The league will generate more revenue by having the Black Hawks host it, which is the only reason why they are promoting them more than the Wings. However, out of all fairness, I think that Detroit should be the host due to their continued success. I guess I feel like Detroit should be rewarded for how classy the entire organization is. I guess I can't complain though, at least we get to play in the game.

[YzerFan19]

From Buttman's point of view I guess it's better to have it in Chicago, although I definitley agree on wanting it in Detroit. The league will generate more revenue by having the Black Hawks host it, which is the only reason why they are promoting them more than the Wings. However, out of all fairness, I think that Detroit should be the host due to their continued success. I guess I feel like Detroit should be rewarded for how classy the entire organization is. I guess I can't complain though, at least we get to play in the game.

How would more revenue be generated by having the game at 40,000 seat Wrigley Field vs. 100,000+ seat Michigan Stadium?

[drwmike33]

From Buttman's point of view I guess it's better to have it in Chicago, although I definitley agree on wanting it in Detroit. The league will generate more revenue by having the Black Hawks host it, which is the only reason why they are promoting them more than the Wings. However, out of all fairness, I think that Detroit should be the host due to their continued success. I guess I feel like Detroit should be rewarded for how classy the entire organization is. I guess I can't complain though, at least we get to play in the game.

How would more revenue be generated by having the game at 40,000 seat Wrigley Field vs. 100,000+ seat Michigan Stadium?

It just comes down to that "well...what the hell is there to do in Detroit?" type thing. Not only that, but Detroit just isn't glamorous. You'd have wise asses making all kinds of snide comments like "Are the players going to wear bullet proof vests?" and stuff like that. Maybe they're afraid of not selling it out---bullsh*t I know because there's not a doubt in my mind that they'd sell it out, but the fact that the tradition is new, they're looking for a historical place. A place people will want to travel from near and far to go to. Tradition.

I don't agree with it, but I understand it. Would you rather walk out of the game into wriggleyville or walk out into Ann Arbor? The answer is quite obvious if you know anything about wriggleyville.

It's not fair--nor will it ever be. The superbowl coming to Detroit was "amazing" by all standards. It was the first time in a while Detroit was chosen to "hold" something, atleast in my lifetime, anyway. Until Detroit turns around, and the world no longer views detroit as the armpit of the midwest, we're not going to see much of any change.

[YzerFan19]

All of the questions about safety in Detroit are moot if the game is at Michigan Stadium. Detroit isn't as bad as it used to be and it's not as bad as people say (especially by the stadiums) but in no way is Ann Arbor even close to Detroit.

[drwmike33]

All of the questions about safety in Detroit are moot if the game is at Michigan Stadium. Detroit isn't as bad as it used to be and it's not as bad as people say (especially by the stadiums) but in no way is Ann Arbor even close to Detroit.

That's true--but to a lot of people not familiar with the area will all kind of talk that way. An even if the Big House is as amazing as we say it is, it's no wriggley field.

[YzerFan19]

All of the questions about safety in Detroit are moot if the game is at Michigan Stadium. Detroit isn't as bad as it used to be and it's not as bad as people say (especially by the stadiums) but in no way is Ann Arbor even close to Detroit.

That's true--but to a lot of people not familiar with the area will all kind of talk that way. An even if the Big House is as amazing as we say it is, it's no wriggley field.

And not being familiar with Chicago, I say "What is there to do around Wrigley Field?"

[drwmike33]

All of the questions about safety in Detroit are moot if the game is at Michigan Stadium. Detroit isn't as bad as it used to be and it's not as bad as people say (especially by the stadiums) but in no way is Ann Arbor even close to Detroit.

That's true--but to a lot of people not familiar with the area will all kind of talk that way. An even if the Big House is as amazing as we say it is, it's no wriggley field.

And not being familiar with Chicago, I say "What is there to do around Wrigley Field?"

Some of Chicago's best bars are around wriggley. It's also not far from many of the other sites and stuff in Chicago.

[YzerFan19]

Sounds like fun for the whole family.

I'm not saying that Wrigley isn't a great place to have the Winter Classic. I'm just saying the Red Wings shouldn't play there because it means they won't get to host one of their own. That basically puts the game in Chicago at the expense of a possible Michigan Stadium game. I don't know why the league would say that it's worth it.

And if Chicago needs the Wings to sell out the game (I don't think they do but that's one of the things I've heard said), they don't deserve to host it in the first place.

[klaitinen]

I'm going to have to agree the game should have been held in Detroit. Being a border city you get alot of us Canucks down for the game and like Clark said.. put that baby in Mich Stadium and were pushing a 100k crown in attendence.

[drwmike33]

HA!

I love that people are saying the Hawks need the redwings in order to sell out the crowd. That's bad ass.

To be honest, I think the NHL needs to focus on good healthy hardcore rivalries for these events...not to say the blackhawks rivalry isn't still alive and well, but Maybe a Rangers/Islanders Game...Wings/Aves...philly/pens...Flames/Oilers...

Maybe even set it up so that there is a stanley cup rematch or something, as a reward.

Do something no other league does!

Oh wait...that'd be asking way too much of that clown Gary Bettman.

[YzerFan19]

MacLeod has posted a press release confirming that the Red Wings and the Blackhawks will wear "unique" jerseys at the Winter Classic:

The NHL Winter Classic 2009 jerseys will be unveiled during the broadcast of the game between the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, Oct. 25. WGN-TV and FSN Detroit will broadcast the game, which begins at 7:30 p.m. CT (8:30pm ET) and marks the first time the two clubs will meet this season. The Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings each will wear a unique, one-time-only jersey while playing in the NHL Winter Classic 2009 at Chicago’s historic Wrigley Field on New Year’s Day.

That they're being described as "unique" and not "throwback" has me a little worried. I want to see both teams wear their 1991-92 alternates. I also wouldn't mind seeing the Wings in a version of their 1926-27 sweaters.

[YzerFan19]

I lucked out and was able to pick up two tickets to the Winter Classic when they went on sale today. Someone who won the drawing to have the opportunity to buy tickets knew they wouldn't be able to go and let me buy in their place.

Just gotta figure out the travel now.

[Johnny Polaris]

I lucked out and was able to pick up two tickets to the Winter Classic when they went on sale today. Someone who won the drawing to have the opportunity to buy tickets knew they wouldn't be able to go and let me buy in their place.

Just gotta figure out the travel now.

Errr... Artic Cat, maybe?