2016 Winter Classic

[elocomotive]

It's going to be the Canadiens at the Bruins at Gillette Field (Patriots' stadium).

I'm all for historic rivalries being in the mix, but why not some place new like Minnesota, Denver, or St. Louis. Some place that has not been part of the game yet that has die hard fans.

It seems clear they are pretty much going to keep the Classic in the Northeast and use the Stadium series for smaller markets and Western markets.

What do you guys think?

 

[Rex Racer]

Bruins/Canadiens rivalry is as big as it gets and I am obviously very into it, but you couldn't pay me enough money to drive to Foxborough to sit in Gillette Stadium so far away from the action that the players will look like dots on the horizon.

I will watch from the comforts of home and I hope it's cold with a light snow falling. Those conditions conjure up the memories of pond hockey games from our childhood the best.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

It's going to be the Canadiens at the Bruins at Gillette Field (Patriots' stadium).

I'm all for historic rivalries being in the mix, but why not some place new like Minnesota, Denver, or St. Louis. Some place that has not been part of the game yet that has die hard fans.

It seems clear they are pretty much going to keep the Classic in the Northeast and use the Stadium series for smaller markets and Western markets.

What do you guys think?

Minnesota's gotta be pissed off. I couldn't give less a shit but of all the places left to do one of these, how the hell hasn't Minny gotten one yet?

Assuming the NYD game will be in Toronto in 2017 or 2018 (whichever season they decide to designate their centennial) it could be years before Minny gets it. Dumb.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

I hate it when they do it in active NFL stadiums. Use a baseball or college stadium so that they don't need to rush to create the ice and have it come out shitty.

It's not unreasonable to assume that the Patriots will be in the playoffs next year and likely hosting at least one home game.

 

[forty_three]

I hate it when they do it in active NFL stadiums. Use a baseball or college stadium so that they don't need to rush to create the ice and have it come out shitty.

It's not unreasonable to assume that the Patriots will be in the playoffs next year and likely hosting at least one home game.

So the next year can be at Harvard, then the year after at Boston College, then at Boston University...

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

So the next year can be at Harvard, then the year after at Boston College, then at Boston University...

Don't short-change Northeastern.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

So the next year can be at Harvard, then the year after at Boston College, then at Boston University...

Wait, none of those are anywhere near Pittsburgh.

 

[forty_three]

Wait, none of those are anywhere near Pittsburgh.

The Penguins will get to play in all of them. Don't worry.

 

[TxHeat]

Minnesota's gotta be pissed off. I couldn't give less a shit but of all the places left to do one of these, how the hell hasn't Minny gotten one yet?

Assuming the NYD game will be in Toronto in 2017 or 2018 (whichever season they decide to designate their centennial) it could be years before Minny gets it. Dumb.

The league screwed the Minnesota thing up big time. Mike Modano going into the hall should have had Dallas at Minnesota.

 

[pixburgher66]

Giving another city a second host is just dumb. This will be, what, the 8th edition? Yeah, will have been 10 different teams in these 8 games. Pittsburgh, Detroit, Philly, Boston, Chicago, Washington have all had two; New York, Buffalo, Toronto, Montreal with one. So that's less than a third of the league, which of course they've attempted to amend with stadium series games which merely waters down the product. So yeah, the solution is clearly to let a city HOST again.

 

[awaz]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Im cool with Boston/Habs ... i think they have to do rivalries at this point or no one is tuning in to watch

As for Minni ... I had heard (was it on these boards? ), that the NHL is worried about putting it in Minni or Denver on Jan 1st because of the possibility of sub sub sub zero temps/impassable winter storms that make travel to there at risk

Denver/minni still might get one of those other "branded" outdoor games (which i forget the names of since i dont really care ... "The NHL Super lovely terrrific Outdoor classic series") in Feb/March

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

It's going to be the Canadiens at the Bruins at Gillette Field (Patriots' stadium).

I'm all for historic rivalries being in the mix, but why not some place new like Minnesota, Denver, or St. Louis. Some place that has not been part of the game yet that has die hard fans.

It seems clear they are pretty much going to keep the Classic in the Northeast and use the Stadium series for smaller markets and Western markets.

What do you guys think?

I care just enough to come into this thread to post that I don't care all that much.


I like half the Winter classics half as much as I should like, and I like half of them half as well as they deserve.

I didn't watch the last one and probably won't in the future unless Detroit plays.

 

[Cyder]

It's going to be the Canadiens at the Bruins at Gillette Field (Patriots' stadium).

I'm all for historic rivalries being in the mix, but why not some place new like Minnesota, Denver, or St. Louis. Some place that has not been part of the game yet that has die hard fans.

It seems clear they are pretty much going to keep the Classic in the Northeast and use the Stadium series for smaller markets and Western markets.

What do you guys think?

I guess I should just be happy it isn't the Penguins or Caps again. Bettman can't get him enough of Cindy and Ovie.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

Im cool with Boston/Habs ... i think they have to do rivalries at this point or no one is tuning in to watch

As for Minni ... I had heard (was it on these boards? ), that the NHL is worried about putting it in Minni or Denver on Jan 1st because of the possibility of sub sub sub zero temps/impassable winter storms that make travel to there at risk

Denver/minni still might get one of those other "branded" outdoor games (which i forget the names of since i dont really care ... "The NHL Super lovely terrrific Outdoor classic series") in Feb/March

Couple thoughts on that topic:
a) If we're celebrating the history of the game by moving it outside, this shouldn't matter since this is something that was a constant threat to kids playing the game.
b) Why is this any worse than delaying the game by 7 hours due to rain (Pittsburgh) or almost delaying due to sun (this year)? I'm sure I'm forgetting other potential delays too.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Couple thoughts on that topic:
a) If we're celebrating the history of the game by moving it outside, this shouldn't matter since this is something that was a constant threat to kids playing the game.
b) Why is this any worse than delaying the game by 7 hours due to rain (Pittsburgh) or almost delaying due to sun (this year)? I'm sure I'm forgetting other potential delays too.

I guess it wasnt on these boards i heard it from ... but what i heard was they think a situation could arise in those 2 markets where a weather event or deep freeze could prevent people from travelling to the game or attending it in comfort ... they dont want to risk some sort of extended delay (ie 24 hours or more) was what i heard

theyre worried more about the travel conditions than the playing conditions ... is a blizzard or that type of weather situation more likely to happen in those 2 markets as opposed to others (like Buffalo - for sure not this year) ??? Idk ... Ill ask the fake meteorologist on my local tv newscast

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

I guess it wasnt on these boards i heard it from ... but what i heard was they think a situation could arise in those 2 markets where a weather event or deep freeze could prevent people from travelling to the game or attending it in comfort ... they dont want to risk some sort of extended delay (ie 24 hours or more) was what i heard

theyre worried more about the travel conditions than the playing conditions ... is a blizzard or that type of weather situation more likely to happen in those 2 markets as opposed to others (like Buffalo - for sure not this year) ??? Idk ... Ill ask the fake meteorologist on my local tv newscast

I was thinking the same thing. I think the bigger risk in Minny is cold moreso than blizzard. But they're willing to play in Buffalo or NE. I asked Tom Brady and the Raiders if it ever snows in January in NE. They advised me it's impossible.

 

[obxyankeefan]

Bettman needs to stop making excuses for selling out to the $. Just put the game in Minnesota, or better yet put it in Edmonton with a oldtimer game between the 80s squads of them and Calgary.

 

[Comeds]

I wish it was 2016 already!

 

[esls79]

I would tune in just for the alumni game with these two as we'd probably get some fireworks.