Aug. 4: Heritage Classic News
Friday · Jul 30 · 2010 | 8:41 AM PDT
The NHL will make an official announcement about the 2011 Heritage Classic, the other outdoor game, next Wednesday at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, according to a posting on the Flames' official Twitter account.
Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of information outside of that micro-blog update, which you can see here:
NHLFlames #flames and #canadiens and #NHL to hold news conference re Heritage Classic Aug. 4 at McMahon at 3pm MT
For those who don't speak Tweet, I'll translate: The Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens and the NHL will hold a news conference regarding the 2011 Heritage Classic on August 4 at McMahon Stadium at 3 PM (Mountain Time). That's 5 PM for those of us on the east coast, 2 if you find yourself near the Pacific.
That's really the only official source I can cite, not that there's any reason to doubt it. I've added the date to the calendar and I'll be keeping an eye out for further details. One would assume this press conference will be a lot like the Winter Classic event earlier this week. We'll likely get a look at how the rink will be positioned in the football stadium and possibly retro logos, if any will be used.
And just like the W.C., we'll probably have to wait on the jerseys. Last month, Flames president Ken King said the team would have a specially-designed sweater for the event. And despite having a decent arsenal of throwbacks stemming from their 100th anniversary celebrations, if I know the Canadiens, they'll probably just wear their standard road jersey.
Reader Comments (16)
Funny, but I get the feeling the NHL really doesn't care too much about this game. Come on, really, the NHLPA wanted this game, not the NHL, who if they had their way they probably wouldn't play another one in Canada. The only thing Bettman cares about is marketing Crosby vs. Ovechkin. Who's he going to market for the Flames/Canadiens game? Iginla vs. Cammallerri?
I'm a leafs fan, and i'm surprised that the leafs aren't in this game purely for the fact that the leafs gm (brian buke), coach (ron wilson), and star player (phi kessel) are all american, so in Bettman's eyes the leafs are the next best thing to an american team. not to mention that the revenue for a game like this in toronto would be astronomical. also, i think if theyre gong to do a game like this they should at least play two teams that have a rivalry, like leafs/sens, leafs/habs, oilers/flames or something like that, not two random teams that have no history playing against eachother.
I'm actually looking forward to this game (despite the fact that the Flames/Habs choice is a major WTF, as they should've done Flames/Oilers), but honestly not expecting this game to do that well in the U.S. in terms of ratings. Always like seeing new jerseys too, but let's just hope that the Habs wear something that doesn't involve a barber pole. :P
Heck, I wouldn't be surprised at all if this didn't even make it to one of the major networks and was stuck on Versus.
I'm personally hoping that the habs will wear the white jersey with the blue stripe. I think it used to be their third jersey, but its a white version of their red homes.
It's a big market but let's realistic: No one outside of Toronto and their fan base cares about the Leafs and no one cares if they're in an outdoor game. For that matter I don't believe that many people really care about an outdoor game in Calgary either. Two outdoor games in one year involving two teams that have already been in it is pushing things. It's getting stale.
@Andrew
Sure, Habs and Flames have absolutely no history, despite, hum, let's say, Stanley Cups in 1986 and 1989?
Which is by the way the sole and only Cup of that franchise who just celebrated it's 40 years?
I'm more interested in this game, and I'm in the USA.
Rumor out of Calgary is that the Flames will be wearing throwbacks from the 1924 Stanley Cup, when the Calgary Tigers (from the Western Canada Hockey League) faced the Montreal Canadiens for the Stanley Cup. Really hope these rumors are true and we get see and buy some Calgary Tigers throwbacks
According to Reebok on Facebook, the Heritage Classic Jerseys are going to be revealed on August 4th.
@ chicagolander: Heritage Classic is part of the Hockey Day in Canada celebrations on CBC.
@ JF
you know what i mean. There are plenty of great rivalries amongst the canadian teams, and just because they played in the playoffs against eachother doesn't mean there is some huge battle every time these teams play. For example, the carolina hurricanes played the oilers in the cup finals in 2002, and the red wings in 2006. If these games were in the heritage classic, it would be boring. The leafs/habs rivaly has been going on for 93 years. the leafs/sens rivalry has been going on for the almost 20 year existence of the sens. the habs/flames rivalry has been going on for 2 playoffs series' in the 80s.
And something else. The last heritage classic was in alberta and featured the montreal canadiens, so if anything this game should have been leafs/sens or sens/canucks or something.
And whoever said this game would have no interest in toronto. wtf. the leafs have sold out every game in their existence as a hockey club (this is a fact). all of a sudden when its at the skydome no one cares?????
A half-opened dome would be a terrible venue for the Heritage Classic.
@Bilko But the Calgary Tigers jerseys were awful. Maybe a redesign?
I don't think McMahon Stadium is gonna be much better than Skydome for a Heritage Classic. Calgary isn't exactly known for it's views.
@ G-Man
The dome opens fully actually. If you've ever been there you can clearly see that the whole field is open. It even states on the rogers centre website that with the roof open 100% of the field and 95% or something close to that of the seats are open to the sky. Check out this link to see a great pic of the roof open
It would be even better with the Argonauts football setup where the field somehow spins and the seats have a more classic rectangle view, like this
this game will be the best.......surely it woul be better a habs/leafs in the olympic stadium but who cares every game featuring the habs are the best