The NHL's Winter Classic has taken over the New Year's holiday over the past four years. Minus the 2009 game which featured Detroit vs Chicago (an Original Six matchup), the event has been dominated by East Coast teams. Some of them even twice (Pittsburgh and now Philadelphia).
Fans in Canada are more interested in Canadian teams, obviously, and therefore the NHL Heritage Classic which has pitted two Canadian-based teams is more popular there. This season there is no Heritage Classic scheduled but there is expected to be a game next year, perhaps featuring Vancouver vs Toronto. Edmonton, Calgary and Montreal (twice) have already played in previous Heritage Classics.
This season's Winter Classic is obviously going to be played in Philadelphia on January 2nd, as everyone knows unless you've been under a rock. The marketing behind this game has exploded over the past few weeks.
The attention has brought out plenty of guesses as to where next year's Winter Classic will be played.
One of the hot rumors is the NHL will take the game back to the midwest with a game at an NCAA football stadium that can hold a huge crowd. The University of Michigan's Michigan Stadium, nicknamed "The Big House", is one of the suspected leaders to land next year's game.
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With the growing popularity of the event, the long history of hockey support in Michigan and surrounding areas as well as the rarity of this event -- it is expected the NHL would easily be able to fill The Big House for a match featuring the local Detroit Red Wings and perhaps a west coast team like the Los Angeles Kings or even a Canadian-based team such as the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The NHL's got a great event which has grown beyond their wildest dreams, they just have to keep it fresh and growing and the fans will continue to come out for it.
Visit SelectATicket.com to find NHL Winter Classic tickets for the upcoming game between the NY Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers and also sign up to be alerted when 2013 Winter Classic tickets become available.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Winter Classic Preview Part 2
The 2012 Winter Classic will feature the New York Rangers versus Philadelphia Flyers at Citizens Bank Park on January 2, 2012.
The two teams have met once so far this season, with New York taking a 2-0 victory at Madison Square Garden on November 26th.
Tonight the two teams meet again at MSG in the final match before the brief holiday break in the NHL schedule.
Coming off two consecutive divisional wins over local rivals the New York Islanders (4-2) and the New Jersey Devils (4-1), the Rangers are on a three game winning streak overall as they enter tonight's contest.
The Flyers have found their game as well after a 6-0 drubbing to defending Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins last Saturday and a 3-2 shootout loss at Colorado, Philadelphia returned to the win column with a decisive 4-1 win in Dallas. Leading scorer Claude Giroux returned to the lineup and provided a 4 poihttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifnt night for the Flyers.
It is no secret these two teams, their fans and their cities just do not like each other. The Flyers will be looking to avenge the 2-0 loss in the previous matchup, the Rangers will be looking to establish a pattern of winning against the Flyers as this is the final game between the two until the Winter Classic.
Given the exposure the Winter Classic has from the HBO 24/7 Behind the Scenes series, the players will be putting it all on the line tonight in what is sure to be a hotly contested match.
This game is going to be hot and the Winter Classic will be even better -- find 2012 Winter Classic tickets today and experience the once in a lifetime event at Citizens Bank Park.
The two teams have met once so far this season, with New York taking a 2-0 victory at Madison Square Garden on November 26th.
Tonight the two teams meet again at MSG in the final match before the brief holiday break in the NHL schedule.
Coming off two consecutive divisional wins over local rivals the New York Islanders (4-2) and the New Jersey Devils (4-1), the Rangers are on a three game winning streak overall as they enter tonight's contest.
The Flyers have found their game as well after a 6-0 drubbing to defending Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins last Saturday and a 3-2 shootout loss at Colorado, Philadelphia returned to the win column with a decisive 4-1 win in Dallas. Leading scorer Claude Giroux returned to the lineup and provided a 4 poihttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifnt night for the Flyers.
It is no secret these two teams, their fans and their cities just do not like each other. The Flyers will be looking to avenge the 2-0 loss in the previous matchup, the Rangers will be looking to establish a pattern of winning against the Flyers as this is the final game between the two until the Winter Classic.
Given the exposure the Winter Classic has from the HBO 24/7 Behind the Scenes series, the players will be putting it all on the line tonight in what is sure to be a hotly contested match.
This game is going to be hot and the Winter Classic will be even better -- find 2012 Winter Classic tickets today and experience the once in a lifetime event at Citizens Bank Park.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
HBO 24/7 Brings Flyers Rangers Winter Classic to Your Home
The NHL Winter Classic on January 2nd in Philadelphia is rapidly approaching. As they did last year with the Penguins vs Capitals, HBO Sports has a crew following both the Flyers and Rangers as they approach the stretch drive to the latest installment of the NHL's newest tradition, the outdoor Winter Classic.
Last night was the first of four episodes to air on HBO and it did not disappoint. From how they talk on the ice, on the bench, in the locker rooms and away from the game, fans were given a view of the players and coaches like they never have before for these teams.
It is interesting to see what they do in the community like Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds did, visiting an inner-city rink. Or how a group of Rangers took a group of children to the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular.
By the way, Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov is HILARIOUS! Living up to the old notion that goaltenders are a little crazy, this guy is OUT THERE, but in a good - and entertaining - way!
Seeing the interaction between teammates was also amusing. The Flyers dancing around their lockerroom after a victory shows the brotherhood the team feels for each other. Another amusing moment was Rangers super-pest Sean Avery's priceless grin towards teammate Artem Anisimov following a misconduct penalty by Anisimov.
Just the first of four episodes, there is no doubt the show will be even better next week and as the Winter Classic draws closer. Right now these teams aren't even thinking about that game, they have too many matches to play beforehand.
If watching the show has you interested in the big game, you can find Winter Classic tickets at Select-A-Ticket and see what all of this is leading up to - a backyard brawl held on the ice between two long-time rivals.
Last night was the first of four episodes to air on HBO and it did not disappoint. From how they talk on the ice, on the bench, in the locker rooms and away from the game, fans were given a view of the players and coaches like they never have before for these teams.
It is interesting to see what they do in the community like Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds did, visiting an inner-city rink. Or how a group of Rangers took a group of children to the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular.
By the way, Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov is HILARIOUS! Living up to the old notion that goaltenders are a little crazy, this guy is OUT THERE, but in a good - and entertaining - way!
Seeing the interaction between teammates was also amusing. The Flyers dancing around their lockerroom after a victory shows the brotherhood the team feels for each other. Another amusing moment was Rangers super-pest Sean Avery's priceless grin towards teammate Artem Anisimov following a misconduct penalty by Anisimov.
Just the first of four episodes, there is no doubt the show will be even better next week and as the Winter Classic draws closer. Right now these teams aren't even thinking about that game, they have too many matches to play beforehand.
If watching the show has you interested in the big game, you can find Winter Classic tickets at Select-A-Ticket and see what all of this is leading up to - a backyard brawl held on the ice between two long-time rivals.
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