Next Outdoor Game In NYC?
Tuesday · Mar 11 · 2008 | 1:23 PM PDTI haven't really been following along with the news coming out of the NHL with regard to plans for another outdoor game to take place in 2009. But a reader emailed in a photo that seems to suggest the game may well happen at Yankee Stadium in New York City. Below is the email I received along with the photo.
I just thought that you would find this interesting. I know there are rumors saying that New York will host next years Outdoor Game, I now have some evidence that may prove that rumor. Recently family friends of mine took a tour of Yankees Stadium during their stay in New York and my buddy sent me some of the pictures. One of the pictures includes the field and boards looking material on the field in the shape of a rink. This would make perfect sense to plan out the schematics now since soon the Yankees will be occupying the field for most of the time and it could be too late to plan it after the Yankees season in time for the game. So here is the picture and I hope you enjoy this so-called evidence.
Who do you think would play in such a game? Rangers and Leafs, perhaps?
Anyway, if you're interested, post your comments below.
Reader Comments (31)
this is true, ESPN broke a rumor yesterday about an outdoor game that would happen in Yankee Stadium between the Rangers and the Islanders
I heard it was going to be the last event held at Yankee Stadium. By the way theres no way that game doesnt have two new york area teams. Why would the NHL even want the stinkin Leafs part of this unless its held at the Rogers Centre?
I see it being Rangers vs. New Jersey with some sick christmas retros.
No WAY! New Jersey can't even sell out a regular game,keep them AWAY from the out door games, Its gotta be Chicago or Philly.
I've heard Rangers vs. Red Wings
Chris Chelios has said that he heard that the Wings were definitely playing the Rangers. And yes, it would be the last event held at Yankee Stadium.
Its just a possibility though, they said it could also might be played in Boston. But why would they be so prepared for smothing that might not even go through and plus, the game is scheduled for 2009. Possibly on New years eve.
My local newspaper says Rangers/Redwings. Personally, I think it would be awesome to have a double header of outdoor games.. Maybe another in Chicago.
I heard on a radio show based out of NY that its Rangers vs. Red Wings, and that the Rangers have approaches Yankees management and they agreed to allow this game to happen.
I think a doubleheader would be overkill. The league saw the reaction to the outdoor game as very positive, having 2 might send the message that they're trying too hard.
It will be all American, Bettman does not respect Canada enough to do something so great for the game as to have representatives from both sides of the border, it will be New York and either Chicago or Detroit.
Whoever playes, I just hope they remember to smooth out the pitcher's mound before they lay down the ice, or opening faceoffs are gonna be a problem. :) Oh and I heard it was Florida vs Los Angeles for this game Not!
The news was that the Isles and Rangers have wanted to play at Yankee Stadium but the Yanks are whine asses and have been holding everything up with "fears" that the water pipes couldn't take being used in the winter and that they would destroy the field. Well it started to shake down that the Rangers said "piss on ya" and started talking to Boston to host a match up.
The Isles got upset and started pestering the City of New York, who actually owns the stadium, and got them to get the Yankees to stay out of it since the stadium is closing.
The thing that bothers me is that Boston and Rangers want to do 2008 in NYC and 2009 in Boston. Sorry, but I don't feel like watching the same two teams duke it out in back to back Winter Classics.
If anything, Buffalo should be the location for all of them. They are smack dab in the middle between Chicago and Boston and have the facility to handle it, because Lord knows the Bills aren't going to make the playoffs for a while.....
As A Devils fan I'd love to see them play outdoor but its not happening nobody respects NJ and we play "boring hockey". I'd like to mabe see a Canadian team Vs. the Rags but that isn't gonna happen either...
if the NHL is remotely smart, it will be a home and home in Yankee and Fenway between the Rangers and Bruins.
It's either going to be Rangers and Red Wings, Rangers and Bruins, or Rangers and Islanders. The NHL would be stupid to go ahead with the Islander game though, it wouldnt attract fans from around the league. By that though, I'm not saying that the Red Wing game is the best either, yes it would be East vs West but we all know that it means nothing during the regular season. I think that the Bruins vs the Rangers would be the best situation for the setting, two original six teams hitting it off outside in the best city in the world not to mention the rivalry of Boston VS New York, espessialy in Yankee Stadium
doing the game in yankee stadium would be a bad idea (even though it sounds great) the way the field is set up doesnt allow for the maximum crowd. even adding in bleachers to the outfield to make more seating wont work to well and would give horrible seats that no one would want (although someone would end up buying them). Football fields are best suited for this because they are already shaped for it and allow a ton of people to squeeze into it (since we all know this is about $$$)
the best teams would be Rangers-Wings. doing Boston would be dumb because America really wont care to much about it and only watchers would be from the New England area. Bringing in Detroit works because they are a good team that America would know. Having teams too close together rarely works out when it comes to big games (ie: Yankees vs Mets: one of the lowest rated World Series). This didnt apply with the Winter Classic in Buffalo because you had Crosby (who is the pretty much the face of the NHL) and a young Sabre team that kicked major ass last yr. who does New York or Boston have that would draw as much as Crosby?
my vote would be Chicago/Detroit. mostly because i live in Chicago but also because it would be a New vs Old, Kane and Toews vs Lindstrom and Chelios. and Solider Field would make an AMAZING location to do it in.
the Yankee-Boston rivalry only applies to baseball.
I think the funniest game would be against some kind of rivalry-team. I'm not good at Rangers history but perhaps Flyers or Devils fit that description. But with all the things said in comments before Wings would be a no-brainer that would do the job. But the sparkle is far away from PIT-BUF last year.
Perhaps a Rangers fan would like to see a match-up with a team they face in the upcoming playoffs. What about a long ugly serie against Senators or Canadiens. And when the puck drops in Yankee stadium the fans have a fight between Emery-Lundqvist in mind. To find the perfect spark they would have to wait until after the playoffs.
Bettman won't let it be a Canadian team.
Most likely it'll be the Rangers and Red Wings (like some people have mentioned) or the Rangers and Bruins.
There's also a theory floating around that this may not happen at Yankee stadium, but the NHL is saying so in order to attract better offers from other cities.
Rangers vs Red Wings would be good. Also, Chicago vs Detroit would be a good match up also. How about a NYR vs Mtl game?
it's going to be Rangers vs an American team like the Red Wings/Blackhawks because the NHL wants that big TV rating. As cool as it would be to have the Habs involved, they won't get the US tv rating if one of the teams involved is from north of the border.
it should be NYR vs Pittsburgh !!!!
yea, i know the Pens played this year but i'm a Pens fan living in NY and BUF was way r\far to drive... it'll be nice to go to this game and see the Pens.
Plus they are the most exciting to watch and seeing them whip on Jagr and the Rangers in Yankees stadium would be fun! :)
There was a rumor about the pipes breaking but since it iwould be after the Yankees are done with it, they could retrofit it as needed and then tear it all out when they are done and not have to worry about messing up the field.
Plus they do need anothere big TV market. It wouldn't be Rangers Isles. More like NYR vs. Detroit Chicago or LA.
chelios has been quoted saying it'll be the red wings...they didn't want to do islanders or devils because they wanted to capture two television markets, instead of just one area.
Bettman once again alienates Canada by leaving it out of the picture in favour of a 'potential' American market. Thanks man!