Winter Classic Foes All But Official
Wednesday · Jun 22 · 2011 | 11:08 AM PDT
2012 Winter Classic temporary logo / NHL.comThe 2012 NHL Winter Classic will take place not on New Year's Day but the day after, when the Philadelphia Flyers host the New York Rangers at Citizens Bank Park.
The New York Times says this information has been confirmed by a league official not authorized to speak publicly on the decision.
Technically, it's still speculative at this point, but it will be official as soon as the NHL releases next season's schedule. And that's expected as early as tomorrow.
This graphic to the right here is the first temporary logo being used to promote the 5th annual outdoor game. The final version of the 2011 Winter Classic logo was unveiled on the same day as the schedule release, so perhaps we could see it Thursday as well.
The Flyers-Rangers game will take place on Jan. 2, 2012, due to the fact that Jan. 1 falls on a Sunday and the NFL season will still be underway. And the NHL doesn't need that kind of competition.
I know most of us, Flyers fans excluded, aren't thrilled with seeing a Pennsylvania team involved in this event for the fourth time in five years. This pattern seems to be repeating past WC opponents to allow them to host a game of their own. If it continues, we could see Detroit hosting in 2013. Who would you like to see them play? The Avalanche? Maybe the Blues or Stars? Think of the throwback jersey possibilities.
Since I can't leave this post without something interesting to look at, here's a concept designed by DC Visual Arts. How about these for Winter Classic uniforms? Even NESN was sort of fooled.
Winter Classic 2012 concept / DC Visual Arts
Reader Comments (45)
Not sure on the Rangers but the Flyers have to go with the Quakers jersey.
Looks solid. Lets make it happen!
"The Flyers-Rangers game will take place on Jan. 2, 2012, due to the fact that Jan. 1 falls on a Sunday and the NFL playoffs will be in full swing. And the NHL doesn't need that kind of competition."
Yeah, exactly, except that it's still Week 17 of the regular season.... http://espn.go.com/nfl/schedule#17 and there's already a home game scheduled for the Eagles.
Blues v. Wings in 2013 in Detroit would be the best. by then the blues will have a competing team, and the wings will have the retirement home players still on their rosters... plus nothing is as harsh as a Michigan winter especially on new years... hope for the best
Hm, fair enough AJ. I was going by what the NYT article said. Not a football fan by any stretch. I'll fix the post.
Chris, I whole-heartedly agree with you: I'm annoyed with seeing a team from Pennsylvania going to play in another Winter Classic. That being said, I can understand how it happens. Going back to a post you had on January 3, 2010 ("Next Winter Classic: Revisited"), John B. posted a concept where the Florida Panthers would play the Tampa Bay Lightning, and that's just not feasible! I mean you need it to be cold enough for there to be ice to NOT MELT for there to be a Winter Classic and that really eliminates a lot of teams with the NHL's expansion into the South (with teams like Florida, Tampa, Dallas, Pheonix, Anaheim, Los Angeles, Nashville, and Carolina being too far south). And with the NHL starting Heritage Classics with Canadian teams, it brings it down to only sixteen teams! So I want to see two new teams play in the Winter Classic.... and even though this will sound crazy: how about Colorado hosts New Jersey (formerly the Colorado Rockies) at Mile High Stadium? Don't get me wrong, I love seeing my Bruins outdoors... but let's cycle some new teams in there.
Wow, can't believe the Times totally skipped out on an easy fact check like that. The Eagles being home and NBC able to flex any game that it wants into the evening slot, including what could be an important marquee matchup between the Eagles and Skins, is definitely what's keeping this game on the shelf until that Monday.
If it were to be in Detroit I think the should play the Leafs....the crowd would be amazing as it would be almost a 50/50 split and it is an Original 6 match up. And with Winnipeg back, who knows by then the Wings could be in the East and in the Leafs division....lets hope...lol
Philly AGAIN?!?!? yawn.......
would much prefer to see NYR vs NYI (or NJD).....
As a fan in the Western Conference, I'm left pretty disappointed with this season's Winter Classic. For the 4th time of five years, no Western conference teams will be included, again only American teams, and the game will be played on a Monday (in the evening?), instead of on New Year's Day morning when I can chill out and recover from 3 months of holidays.
With the Heritage Classic not happening next season either, I'll just have to be happy that I'm in Minnesota where I can play outdoor hockey for 5 months of the year.
Maple Leafs vs. Montreal. Either at BMO Field/ Roger's Center in TO or Olympic Stadium in Montreal.
Jackets host Detroit in 2013 in the shoe! GO JACKETS!!!
Philly again? Yep I plan to skip this one, just like the last. I have no interest in either Pennsylvania team as it is and am sick of seeing them in the Winter Classic. I love the Wings, but I don't want them to host until a few more teams get in.
I hate all of the NY teams, but seeing some combination of the Rangers, Devils, and Islanders at Yankee, Meadowlands, or Citi would be worthwhile. Colorado would be spectacular. Minnesota at Target Field would be great (vs Stars). Hell, Columbus at the Shoe would be bliss (as an Ohio State hater).
For those saying that warmer climates are not feasible for the WC, explain this to me: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/hki/aeros/7620900.html
Sure there is a retractable roof, but I see that as a possible bonus. If it's cool enough, open it; if it's a blizzard or too hot, shut it. If Reliant can work in September, Cowboys Stadium can sure work in January...
The Blue Jackets don't have enough fans to have a Winter Classic.
Just gunna throw this out there, but from the look of the logo, seems as if the league is planning on going to Citizens Bank Park, which would have nothing to do with the Eagles home game...
If the wings play it will be at Michigan Stadium which has 110,000 seats
@Wally: Citizens Bank Park and Lincoln Financial Field is right next to each other. The traffic there would be horrific for an Eagles game and the Winter Classic.
@mbaumann: it will always be US teams, as it is an NBC broadcast event. That's why we have the Canadian-only Heritage Classic now.
Here's what I want to see: The Minnesota Wild hosting the Dallas Stars at Target Field. The field is still fairly new, and is supposed to be pretty nice, and I think there is a nice rivalry of sorts with the former North Stars coming back to Minnesota for the event, which begs the question of who will get to wear the North Stars threads...
What's the match-up after this season going to be? Penguins and Flyers?
I'm a HUGE Rangers fan. I'm glad they were picked for the Winter Classic but I do agree there needs to be more variety. There are other teams in the league besides Detroit, Chicago, Boston, Philly, Pittsburgh, and Washington. I'd have liked to see the Rangers vs. the Devils in the New Meadowlands or even Habs vs. Leafs in Rogers Centre with the dome open. Recycling teams is only going to annoy fans and make them lose interest which means the league will lose money on the event.
Thank you for the reference!!
@carpandean: Is the Winter Classic not broadcast at all in Canada? I guess I assumed that the CBC or TSN or someone was simulcasting it up there. Either way, there's no Heritage Classic this year. I'd love to see Winnipeg play outdoors in 2013, though.
@ben: I'd like to see the same match-up, but at TCF Bank Stadium instead of Target Field or the new Vikings stadium, when it happens. And the Stars would be wearing the North Stars gear. Imagine seeing those kelly green and gold jerseys back on Minnesota ice. The Wild are a completely different franchise, though.
@ Ben: I think we all want to see that, with the unfortunate exception of a certain Mr. Gary Bettman. That one's going to continue being kicked around by fans like us for years until maybe, just maybe, NBC decides that the northeast is allowed to take a break. As for who wears the North Star sweaters... they both do, one team in light and one team in dark! (That suggestion was anything but serious... as amusing as it would be.)
I am a huge Minnesota Wild fan. The thought of a Stars @ Wild Winter Classic makes me incredibly excited. I also realize that this is not necessarily what the entire country wants to see. But at some point, this event has to branch out and actually include fans outside the North Eastern part of the country. If this game stays in this part of the country any longer, the rest of the country will feel alienated and lose interest in it. The NHL needs to get this game somewhere outside of the North East, and showcase some of the other great teams, as well as other great venues, that our great country and sport have to offer.
I think the best would be to see the New Jersey Devils play against the Colorado Avalanche at INVESCO Field. I think this would be very interesting considering the Devil's franchise moved from Colorado. I do like the Dallas Stars vs Minnesota Wild angle, same effect.
I would also like to see Rangers vs Red Wings, in Michigan. Why because they could use the money and it would be good TV, like Mystery Alaska.. lol. Knowing the NHL they would want it to be held in Yankee Stadium for the sentimental value like they did with Fenway Park.
I would have liked to see Vancouver Millionaires vs Ottawa Senators at Frank Clair Stadium in Landsdowne Park but unfortunately the facilites have not begun their renovation.
Does the NHL strech from east to west? Get out of the state of Philadelphia, give us NEW teams with new stars to watch!!! The Winter Calssic will die if it keeps up this rotation and keeps things in the east. The game is a CLASSIC because of where it is played - and another stadium built in the last 10 years doesnt hold that up. There are still places like Lambeau Field, Ohio Stadium, Notre Dame Stadium that would be better venues to grow the Classic then a 10 year old cookie cutter with a new mold.
If its Philadelphia this year it is going to be in New York next year.....and I have started to care less about a neat concept that is being run wrong by Bettman, pretty soon the Classic will be on Versus in the States for no one to watch!
The fact of the matter is, that the winter classic is an event designed to boost ratings and be viewed on a national scale. It's a popularity contest, and it always will be. The NHL and NBC are not going to put a team like the avalanche, the devils, the blues etc. on a stage like the winter classic, because they don't draw the support or the tv ratings that teams like the flyers, the bruins, the red wings etc. do. It's as simple as that.
No one ever said that teams were going to get an equal shot at the winter classic. Get over it. You're never going to see two small market teams in the winter classic. It's not worth it for the NHL and it's not worth it for NBC
If you put a game in Detroit, good matchups would be (depending on what division they are in at the time):
- Chicago
- St. Louis
- Toronto
- Boston
@Orange is Better: So, the Blues are a small market, eh? Well, according to NHL attendance average from the 2010-11 season: St. Louis ranks SEVENTH in average attendance (averaging about 19,150 fans per home game), which is even higher than my beloved Bruins (ranking sixteenth).
If they are so into having past teams compete in the WC, then why not have the Sabres in it again? NHL, you got it wrong, once again! Geez, get some variety into the game why don't ya? Maybe try a Canadian team VS a US based team?
calgary vs nashville in LP field these two are scheduled to play on new years day at 6 on nhl.com
Well, if it is Philadelphia, Richards isn't going to be wearing that jersey.
LOL you think NBC is going to want to have the Flyers featured in the Winter Classic now that they don't have the 2 biggest draws on the team?
@MBAUMANN I understand and agree with your assessment of which team would wear the North Stars sweaters, but I'm sure any Minnesota fan would want to see the Wild wear them. My only quasi-counter argument is that the only thing that the Quakers really have related to the Flyers is the city of Philadelphia, so why not allow the Wild, which have nothing to do with the North Stars other than location, wear them? Alas, I think legally your argument wins.
@DUNCAN Although you were joking, why not have something similar to that for them, maybe add on some cheese and have Minnesota's say "North" and Dallas' say "Stars"? LOL
@ORANGE IS BETTER I agree with your main point, but I also say that this event has to be a contributor to why hockey has become significantly more popular on the whole, and that with the national attention, it behooves the league to make it more nationally relavent, especially with some of the arguably odd expansion choices. And if it is strictly a popularity contest, then why not do something like having the Avs (in Nordiques garb) host the Canes (in Whalers threads), which also follows the "rule" of having the team that has the franchise wear the previous colors. How many hockey fans wouldn't want to see teams like that on the ice again?
@THE MAD RUSSIAN Is that why it is a CLASSIC? I always interpreted the classic part as it being an outdoor game, looking into the roots of hockey itself, not because of where it is played. I know even when they had it in Wrigley (yes, I'm a Chicago fan) I thought it was cool that it was on our turf, and it was cool that it was outdoors, and could have cared less that it was at Wrigley (though I'm not a Cubs fan). I would have been fine with it at Soldier Field (not a Bears fan) or U.S. Cellular Field (not a White Sox fan) just as well as it being at Wrigley. I guess I'm just not smart enough to pick up on that important tidbit.
@STIFLER35 Another quick thought, the Classic is a great tool for the league to mass-market the product of hockey to the entire nation. If they're smart about it (they being the league and the teams) there is a good way for a team like Columbus to get the classic (and potentially build the fan base). Here's my thought: work it out so they Blue Jackets host the Red Wings in Cleveland. They can use which ever stadium/flied is better for the event, the Red Wings will bolster overall popularity of the event (fans would easily drive the 3 hours to see it), its "extra-classic" as they're in an old market, allows for exposure of the Blue Jackets to a different market, and maybe even Columbus can get one-time special permission to wear the Barons jerseys from Dallas. Hey, it could happen, even if there is a lot of if to this plan.
Well I guess Mike Richards won't be playing the Winter Classic with Philly any time soon since he was traded to LA today.
@KEVIN MURPHY. Bruins and Rangers are so low because the arenas are too small. MSG and TDBG need to increase the seats to 20,000, which MSG is doing right now. TD Garden is only 17,000 I think.
Hopefully the Rangers don't use a logo. It looks terrible on a jersey like in the 70's. They need to do the Rangers horizontal with the number underneath, like in 1946-1947.
@ STIFLER35: Yes you're right, but that wasn't the point I was trying to make... my point is that the Blues ROUNTINELY fill their arena, making it feasible for a Winter Classic at Busch Stadium!
i hate all this bashing on pennsylvania teams, like oh its always including pennsylvania teams, well as a flyers fan, and not one of those assholish fans that give philly fans a bad name, i have to say that philadelphia fans are some of the most passionate fans in the world. nobody will adore their teams as much as philly fans and mostly they are very knowledgable fans. and as much as i do not like the pittsburgh penguins, they also have very passionate, proud fans, both cities are huge sports cities. they get picked for these winter classic games because their winning teams and they will draw in an audience because both cities love those teams. the blues? the blue jackets? really? those teams cannot compare to philadelphia and pittsburgh, columbus in my opinion might be the next team to relocate because theyre not very good and apparently aren't very popular within columbus. also, there is no way the new york islanders should be in a winter classic any time soon. that is one of the worst franchises in hockey.
@SEAN Pittsburgh has the most Bandwagon fans in all of sports. Rangers and Flyers is a great rivalry. Better than any of the suggestions any of these guys made. It's more exciting to see 2 rival teams play than 2 random teams play. I still would have liked Rangers vs Devils though.
just a thought....how about NYR ressurect the white 'Lady Liberty' jersey......
@Jerseyman I loved those rangers lady liberty jerseys. any one of them would work for me
The Minnesota Wild hosting the Dallas Stars at Target Field. The field is still fairly new, and is supposed to be pretty nice, and I think there is a nice rivalry of sorts with the former North Stars coming back to Minnesota for the event, which begs the question of who will get to wear the North Stars threads...