Pens-Sabres Outdoor Game on Jan 1st,2008

[allhockey]

From CBS SPLN wire reports "Penguins at Sabres in an outdoor game at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The league is set to announce next week that the Buffalo Sabres will host the Pittsburgh Penguins, a person familiar with the event told the Associated Press, in what would be the NHL's second outdoor game.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the NHL has not made the announcement official. The NHL said Thursday it will "make a major announcement concerning a special event" at a news conference at the stadium Monday. Several media outlets, including the Buffalo News, cited unidentified sources in reporting the planned outdoor game earlier this month.
The league's first outdoor game was at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium on Nov. 22, 2003, when 57,167 fans showed up to see the Canadiens beat the Oilers at 4-3. Ralph Wilson Stadium is home to the Buffalo Bills and has a capacity of 73,967 seats for American football games. The game will cap a home-and-home series between the Eastern Conference rivals. Buffalo plays at Pittsburgh on Dec. 29. Buffalo is considered an ideal location to host the game, and not only because of its reputation for cold, bitter winters. The Sabres' attendance has risen dramatically: last season's President's Trophy-winning team sold out all of its 41 regular-season games. Buffalo also has the potential to draw many fans from the region, the city located just across the border from Ontario, and 90 minutes from Toronto. It's also an easy drive for Penguins fans, with Pittsburgh only a 3½-hour drive south of Buffalo. Sabres players, reporting for the start of training camp Thursday, were informed by the team not to comment about the nature of the NHL announcement."

This news leaked out last month but now it appears imminent. All and all this is great but can the NHL step on itself anymore? Who is going to watch this with a full slate of bowl games on the tube and will this game even find its way onto an US network that people can find on their cable systems. I am sure CBC will cover it but come on Gary- its a great idea but you can't find a better day/ window for it?

[EGRHOCKEYFAN]

I hope all the Penguins Stars are there and hopefully it will be below freezing at game time. Makes TV more interesting on New Year's Day for a change.

[frozenntimesports]

Would be cool if we could get a group together from the board and go. Buffalo on New Year's Eve, what a thrill!

[Jughead]

I'd consider it. What a hoot that would be.

[andrew13]

this was leaked like 3 weeks ago... i got a group of about 25 from my college together so far... we're planning on going to like niagara the night before, partying there for new yrs eve, then to buffalo for the game and more partying, then crashing at like a red roof in or something and coming back the next day. just waiting for ticket info to be annouced to get mine. :)!

[allhockey]

Who is gonna watch this outdoor game vice the bowl games? Great lineup for me with Pens/Sabres in the outdoor game at 1 and then Caps/Sens rematch at 4 pm. I also have 3 TVs in my card room , so viewing options are there........:)!

[otmack2o]

I am not sure what the weather is like in Buffalo today, but we got close to a foot of snow in Michigan overnight. It would be interesting to see the game played with a little snow on the ice :)

[tedsports]

I saw on ESPN this morning that game time is supposed to be about 35 degrees and snowing.

[EGRHOCKEYFAN]

I will also be watching the game in 17 minutes. A pregame show is on CBC in Canada, but since the game is on NBC, only a cerain few will see a pregame show near the border. I will also be watching the Caps and Sens at 4:00. They did change some rules including swithcing ends of the ice at halfway through the second period and 2:45 into overtime. If there is a shootout, both goalies can use the same end of the ice :)!. The NHl Network has games on at 4:00 and 7:30 P.M. I will be enjoying the World Junior Quarterfinal on TSN.ca tomorrow morning :D.

[solt0131]

The Pens uni's are the sickest, nicest uniforms I have ever seen on any hockey team.

[hockeyron]

what an absolutely great atmosphere !!!
The NHL should try to do this more often -- anyone watching this game who is'nt a hockey fan now will be ...... the sound of 75,000 fans at a hockey game is awesome and the elements only make it more spectacular ...

This takes me back to my younger days here in Upstate NY playing pickup games at various ponds ..... we had some great,great games and there's nothing like playing hockey on a frozen pond with snowbanks for boards , rolled up magazines inside your pants for pads , hot cocoa & pizza after the games and yeh even at least 2 concussions LOL ...

ron

[hockeyjunkie99]

They should have two warm weather teams playing in the "Holiday Classic." :D:D:D

[EGRHOCKEYFAN]

They are wearing their original jersey design from the expansion era. I have a few shirts with this design on them.

[Brad]

The NHL should try to do this more often -- anyone watching this game who is'nt a hockey fan now will be


I wasn't a hockey fan before. Watched for a little while and after 5 minutes and the "novelty" wore off, it was a regular hockey game and the channel was changed, lol. No offense to the hockey fans, but I doubt this will do much to help the struggling NHL. They have much larger issues they need to correct before any casual fans really get into it.

[allhockey]

The Pens uni's are the sickest, nicest uniforms I have ever seen on any hockey team.

hard to get past the Hawks, Habs or even the Blues in my opinion...but the Pens throwbacks are pretty nice (Crosby looks good in anything:D), cant wait for them to go to OT or even the shootout................:)!

[BAMBAM]

No offense to the hockey fans, but I doubt this will do much to help the struggling NHL. They have much larger issues they need to correct before any casual fans really get into it.

Struggling NHL ? Larger issues to correct ? What are you talking about ?
The NHL is on the rise again and putting 76,000 + in the stadium for todays game proved that.

[matts_cardz]

no better way to tip off the 1st outdoor NHL game in the USA than with a Crosby shootout winner, hope this means I will get more bids on my auto patch /25 that ends tonight ;)

[EGRHOCKEYFAN]

Next year's game will be in Montreal, according to some insiders in Toronto :eek: :)!. They have already scouted the football stadium for Montreal's football team. I hope there are two games, including another heritage classic with all the former Canadien's greats playing against the greatest players on another original six franchise or former dynasty. The All-Star Game and the NHL Draft will also be held in Montreal to honor its 100th season in the NHL :)!.

[allhockey]

honestly- that was really outstanding (at least to us real hockey fans), you have got to tip your hat to the NHL and especially the super great fans in Buffalo and the Pens fans who drove a few hours to see that game. Mike Emerick is just great on the game call, he is certainly one of the best of our generation. I would really think the NHL will look to do that on semi if not annual basis............just great to watch from my warm basement sorting cards- good stuff................:)!

[pearljam_cubbies]

This game was awesome! Loved the goalie with the stocking cap on top of his helmet, lol.

[MrSnyder]

My cousin and I were at the game. Damnit I was cold, but well worth it!

[Vintage Collector]

I loved the game. Seeing the snow fly off their sticks, just like when we were kids.

Loved it, the anthems, the blackhawks, the salute to the fans and the fireworks at the end of the game even though Buffalo lost.

All the players seemed to have loved it.