Next Outdoor Game In NYC?

I 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.

LFV Day 6: Last Day In Canada

LIVE FROM VANCOUVER!

Well, today is a sad day for me. My flight back to Tampa is tonight. I have to leave this wonderful weather (yes, I know it's raining right now) and go back to work on Wednesday. And since I've been away, the Lightning just keep losing. So this concept post is meant to honor all those teams that defeated the Bolts in my absence.

The teams I'm talking about would be the New Jersey Devils, Columbus Blue Jackets, and of course, the Philadelphia Flyers. We'll start with them.

Also got a white version of that.

Not a bad design at all. There are also a couple of orange ones with the alternate Flyers logo.

This one is based on the old New York Islanders third jersey.

And speaking of alternate logos, here's something different.

Not really sure what to say about those. Not normal but not quite crazy enough to warrant a Friday post.

We've also got a very sharp jersey set for the Blue Jackets.

And a fan suggesting they switch from red pants to blue.

And either wishful thinking that one day a certain Sedin will find his way to Columbus or the idea that the Jackets would look better in a jersey with striping similar to the Canucks.

Moving on now to the New Jersey Devils. Here's a black concept without the circle in the logo.

My feeling is that if you're going to dump the circle, you need to make some upgrades to the rest of the logo. Something like this might work well.

Continuing on the tack of black jerseys, there's this one.

Very nice. Then there's this set.

Those jerseys look like hoodies to me, though. Maybe I'm just losing my mind. And finally, here's why it's a good thing that the Devils dumped green out of the logo and uniforms.

It looks bad!

And that's it for this afternoon. Gotta get things packed up and maybe take one last walk around the city before heading to the airport this evening. Bye Vancouver!

Update: The Next Tournament

The sidebar poll hasn't even been open a day and it's already pretty clear you guys are most interested in a goalie mask tournament. I don't blame you. Some of them are pretty cool. I'm going to start developing a pool for the tournament and then begin collecting photos. I might enlist you guys for help on that. Most of you are pretty resourceful.

Anyway, I'll leave the poll up until it's closed but unless something drastic happens, I think it's fair to say we'll go with the goalie masks. But I've been getting tons of suggestions for categories not on that list. The way I see it, the more ideas we come up with, the longer this site can last, right?

So aside from the ones already in that poll, some I think we should get to at some point are goal horns, team mascots and even goalie pads. I'm still up for the center ice tournament, but that'll be difficult to put together. I need pictures and time to make graphics. It'll be a bit complicated but not impossible. If anyone would be able and willing to help out with that, email me.

That's all for now. Keep the suggestions coming in. Maybe at some point we'll try to get two tournaments going at the same time. It'd be a lot of work for me but worth it if you guys keep coming back to vote.

The Next Tournament

I know we've been tossing around ideas for the next tournament for a while. Obviously, I'm prepared to move out of the logo arena — making me wonder whether I should change the name of the blog. Anyway, check out the poll in the sidebar and cast your vote. Lots of folks want to do goalie masks. I'm up for that. We can also do jerseys, arenas, concept art, etc. Feel free to place write-in votes in the comments of this post or email me directly. I'm leaving the poll open for about a week so I can get a feel for what you guys are interested in doing next.

Just To Freak You Out XXX

LIVE FROM VANCOUVER!

Unfortunately I didn't have time last night to post the 30th Freak Out installment. So here it is a little belated. And I've got to start out with something just downright ridiculous. As you know the Quest For The Worst ended this week with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks' third jersey logo taking the cake. It faced the Boston Bruins' secondary logo from the '70s and '80s. Imagine those two logos getting together.

Pretty horrific, eh? (When in Canada...)

Anyway, we've got all American team artwork for this Freak Out post today, by the way. We continue on with the ultimate American team — the Rangers. Where do they play again? Could it be the... "big apple"?

It's the logo I'd envision for a team made up entirely of elementary school teachers. And skylines across jerseys never seem to work.

And they have a better Statue of Liberty logo than that. See previous.

Up next: the St. Louis Blues who happen to be in town tonight facing the Canucks. Couple of really freaky concepts here.

Yet another yellow jersey.

And a sweater which uses old colors and an even older logo.

I'll finish things off with a logo that I debated posting here. On the one hand it's an abstract, unique design. On the other hand, it's abstract... very abstract.

Very abstract.

And so ends another episode of the Freak Out series — live from Vancouver. I've got a couple more days left here in town. We went up to Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain today. Best day of the trip by far!

LFV Day 3: Possible Sens Preview?

LIVE FROM VANCOUVER!

My Vancouver trip is nearly half over as of tonight. Makes me kind of sad. By the way, the comments in the last post are absolutely hysterical. And I do mean that in every sense of the word. If you're looking for a good laugh, allow me to direct your attention there.

Anyway, on to the real subject of this evening's post. I got an email from a reader wondering whether we might have a preview of a possible Ottawa Senators third jersey on our hands. He sent me the photo along with the following email.

Hey Chris, hope you are enjoying your canadian getaway, lets get down to business, I happen to have a brother who has a friend who playes "AAAA" hockey at the Bantam level, and his team is the senators...interestingly enough the teams jerseys are gold with "Senators" across the front a la Rangers. Here is a picture of these jerseys, and judging from your "rumor" these might be similar to the new Ottawa jerseys. I am in the midst of putting this onto an RBK template so you can get a better look at it.

Now here's the picture he's referencing.

Obviously, this isn't the real thing, but perhaps it's a hint of what's to come? Only time will tell for sure, but even if you just look at it as nothing more than concept art, it still paints an interesting picture.

And while we're on the subject of alternate Sens jerseys, here's another gold one.

That's all for now. I'm going out to dinner tonight so I've got to get ready. I might have some more concept art for you when I get back.

LFV Day 2: Amazing Hockey

LIVE FROM VANCOUVER!

Just got back to my hotel from the Canucks game a little while ago. It was unbelievable. Having experienced a long playoff run and a Stanley Cup championship in Tampa, I thought I knew what exciting hockey was. Wow. I didn't know anything.

It's not even the playoffs. It was a big game for the Canucks tonight, but not that big, you know? The atmosphere in that building was incredible. Absolutely unforgettable. I realized that I'd never really been to a hockey game until I went to one in Canada.

I'm sure I sound a little crazy, but for as big a hockey fan as I am, it's just a great feeling to be surrounded by people who feel the same way about the game. Yeah, we don't have that in Tampa. Not to mention, five goals in the first six minutes, that was pretty intense.

Earlier in the day, I walked around Stanley Park and visited the aquarium. Just in general, this city is pretty awesome. Vancouverites, I love your town! Mind if I stay?

Anyway, one more thing before I sign off for the night. Concepts! Got a couple for the Canucks and a bonus for the Nashville Predators, their opponent tonight. First one's my favorite.

Love the logo. Love the green jerseys. Love it all. (I love it so much maybe I'll marry it.)

Another design I've got here incorporates the same cool logo but it just doesn't work well for me, overall.

And we continue this downward tumble with a yellow Preds jersey. No, this wasn't meant to be an in-your-face for the Canucks' big win tonight, it was just all I had.

I really don't like yellow jerseys. Only seems to look good on the Swedes.

And finally, I leave you with a glimpse of the game — specifically the singing of the national anthems — from my particular vantage point in section 329.

Live From Vancouver!

I landed in Vancouver a few hours ago. I'm pretty sure I never want to leave. Anyone know if anybody's hiring or any good apartments? Anyway, I wrote this post up while I was on the plane just so I'd have something for you guys tonight. I'm pretty beat. Seven hours on a plane isn't something I'd want to do on a regular basis.

So it's all about concept third jerseys, as it happens. With the rumors swirling over what all the new sweaters might look like, many of you have sent in your work. Let's look.

First up, the St. Louis Blues have discussed plans to introduce a navy sweater with a new logo incorporating the Gateway Arch. Well I've been sent a handful of various attempts at such a design.

That one's simple enough. Oddly, these next two are based off the Vancouver Canucks striping pattern.

Both of those are quite unique. This one as well.

One of my favorites is this one. I like how silver replaces the yellow. That's what a third jersey should be if you ask me.

I'm not so sure about all the text on it, however. But this isn't all about the Blues. We've got the Thrashers and Hurricanes too.

Also the Minnesota Wild.

When I first read it, I didn't like the idea, but that particular jersey design doesn't look half bad.

This last design isn't based on rumor so much as just wishful thinking by a Senators fan.

That's all I've got for tonight. I'll try to get something posted tomorrow afternoon, but the likelihood is it won't be until after the game tomorrow if at all. Going to see the Canucks and Predators down the street at GM Place.

Note: The time stamps will be Pacific time as long as I'm in Vancouver.

Canada IV: Vancouver

Last of the Canada posts here before I start my journey to the Pacific Northwest tomorrow. Naturally, I've got Canucks concepts.

This is a nice, simple set. Same logo on both jerseys, sans the VANCOUVER across the top of the chest.

I like it but my vote still goes for the V logo that we've been getting a split response over.

And I think I like the green one better. Speaking of green Canucks jerseys...

Yeah so that's really something else.

Sorry for the short post, but I'm ready to go on vacation. I'm sure you'll hear from me this week. If nothing else, I'll try to write about my experience at GM Place on Thursday night. I'm going to see the Canucks play the Predators. Should be a blast!

Result: Mighty Ducks vs Bruins

MIGHTY DUCKS NAMED WORST!

Usually a congratulatory message goes here, but Anaheim Mighty Ducks' third jersey logo has been named by you the voters here at NHLToL as the very WORST in the history of the league! The Ducks garnered a whopping 65% of the vote in the final poll to take the title. In fact, the Ducks logo won a higher percentage of every poll it was in than any other logo in any other tournament on this site. Quite a feat.

My thanks go out to everyone who voted! Nearly 60,000 ballots were cast since mid-January when the Quest For The Worst began. The quest is now over and we can definitively say which logo is truly the worst — ever!

Just as a quick note, I know this post is coming a few days late. But as it turns out, I thought I'd already posted it. I wrote it but I guess I forgot to click that all important "publish" button. It's sort of the do or die aspect of the whole blogging thing. In any case, it's here now.

You're probably wondering what's next. Well so am I. I'm open to suggestions. I'm constantly being asked when we're going to do a jersey tournament. That can be next if you guys want it. We'd start with a preliminary round where you'd vote on each team individually. That is, you choose whether you like their home or away jersey better. That would be followed by a full league bracket wherein we pit team against team. The reason I'd do the preliminary round is that for some teams the away jersey might hold up better than the home. For example, look at the Stars.

That's one option. Another one I've considered is a concept art contest. Readers can send in and suggest concept jerseys or logos to be considered as finalists and go head-to-head in a battle of the best fan-made designs. Just a thought.

There are other options as well. I'd recommend taking a look at the "In The Pipeline" post from back in October. I'm going to add a poll to the sidebar when I get a chance so you can let me know what should be next. If there's anything else you guys are interested, leave a comment. But do it as soon as possible so I can get that poll added to the sidebar right away.