Red Wings To Play Blackhawks In Winter Classic

[RedWingsFanatic 4]

Forgive me if this has been discussed already, but it has been revealed that, later this week, the NHL will announce plans for the Wings to play the Chicago Blackhawks on New Year's Day in the second annual Winter Classic. The game will take place at Chicago's Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs.

Wings To Play 'Hawks In Winter Classic

[josh 0]

Forgive me if this has been discussed already, but it has been revealed that, later this week, the NHL will announce plans for the Wings to play the Chicago Blackhawks on New Year's Day in the second annual Winter Classic. The game will take place at Chicago's Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs.

Wings To Play 'Hawks In Winter Classic

hua the hawks i though they were playing the rags at yankee stadium or the new one r u sure????

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

[Superman54 91]

I believe it was, not postive though. In any case, that is awesome! Ha, I will have a good laugh if Conklin is in goal for that game. Didn't he already do one in Pittsburgh, and if im not mistaken, in Edmonton as well.

[RedWingsFanatic 4]

Yeah, it was rumored to be Yankee Stadium for a while. I really don't think they wanted the last event there to be a hockey game, though.

The whole while it was being discussed about being played in Chicago, I assumed it would be at Soldier Field. The fact that it will be at Wrigley Field just makes it so much cooler.

[Chelios57 31]

Word on the street is Conklin has an "Automatic Outdoor Game Clause" in his contract.

[omnipotent_hudler 0]

yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssssssssss

sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

[edicius 3,269]

Woulda preferred the Yankee Stadium venue (since I would have undoubtedly gone), but an outdoor game is cool nonetheless, especially when it involves the Red Wings and not Jesus scoring in a shootout.

[Guest mindfly]

How many in the crowd you think? fill up the entire arena?

[RedWingsFanatic 4]

The NHL will surely find a way to get Crosby into this game.

Perhaps an all-star shootout during the second intermission? Maybe he can be the honorary zamboni driver? A snowman building contest against Elisha Cuthbert?

[Guest Dump-N-Thump]

Ill be there

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

This is freaking AWESOME!!!!

[Rivalred 630]

I do hope the weather will hold up....

[b.shanafan14 733]

Woulda preferred the Yankee Stadium venue (since I would have undoubtedly gone), but an outdoor game is cool nonetheless, especially when it involves the Red Wings and not Jesus scoring in a shootout.

Yeah, the outdoor game this past season was ruined by the shear fact that not only could I swear from the broadcast that Crosby was the only one playing, but probably invented the game of hockey all together. It was all a little too scripted that Crosby wins in a shootout outdoors in the "first" Winter Classic. :puke:

[YoungGuns1340 1]

How many in the crowd you think? fill up the entire arena?

It won't be in the arena. It'll be at Wrigley Stadium. Wrigley has a capacity of just over 41,000. And there will be more seats added as well. It could easily be over 50k.

The last winter classic in Buffalo saw over 70k in attendance, but football stadiums general hold more...

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Ill be there

Whats the deal with tickets? Availability? Costs?

[tiff_luvs_homer 5]

it's going to be awesome, I can hardly wait!

[wingsgirl001 983]

Awesome! Can't wait to see it!

[redwings8831 40]

According to the article below, the Wings would rather not play in Chicago if it would hurt their chance to host one in Detroit in the near future. Also, there might not be a New Years Eve game with the outdoor game the next day.

http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2008/07/fr...utdoor_gam.html

Edited July 6, 2008 by Andrew

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

How many in the crowd you think? fill up the entire arena?

Wrigley Field isn't all too big in terms of seats for baseball, about 35,000. If the game in Buffalo had little trouble selling out, I doubt there will be empty seats this time arond. Whether they'll have to add seats or move seats forward b/c a baseball diamond is obviously a different shape than a hockey rink and football field like in Buffalo, who knows.

EDIT: Correction, about 41,000 seats.

http://www.worldstadiums.com/north_america.../illinois.shtml

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictu...o_wrigley.shtml

Edited July 6, 2008 by SouthernWingsFan

[akustyk 84]

The NHL will surely find a way to get Crosby into this game.

yeah... no kidding. that is also my guess.

they may trade Crosby to Hawks for this one game to enable

all the broadcast guys to orgasm over Sindy.

and it would also give him a chance to... *cough* win the game

in a... *cough* shutout

[Guest Four]

Totally wished I lived near Wrigley... It would be a great game to see live.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

According to the article below, the Wings would rather not play in Chicago if it would hurt their chance to host one in Detroit in the near future. Also, there might not be a New Years Eve game with the outdoor game the next day.

http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2008/07/fr...utdoor_gam.html

I'm not surprised. The city of Detroit could definitely use that sort of pull.

[redwings8831 40]

I'm not surprised. The city of Detroit could definitely use that sort of pull.

So can the NHL really force the Wings to play in the gane, if they don't want to? I assume both teams have to agree to it.

Edited July 6, 2008 by Andrew

[Rivalred 630]

Honestly I am thinking the game should be on a neutral site 1/2 inbetween the 2 teams who are playing - this way you can draw folks from each team equally and other fans from around the vicinity...