Winter Classic moved to 8:00

[CenterIce 83]

According to Bill Daly on NHL Network.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=547980

PITTSBURGH – The National Hockey League announced today the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic will change the original 1 p.m. (ET) start time on New Year's Day to 8 p.m. (ET). The decision was based on the latest meteorological reports, which have advised an approaching front of potentially steady rain expected to fall through the afternoon and taper off by early evening, and after consultation with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Washington Capitals, national broadcast partners (NBC, CBC, RDS), the Pittsburgh Steelers, the National Hockey League Players' Association, and local officials.

We have been further advised that cooler and drier air conditions are expected in the evening with the passing of the front. The NHL feels that it was important to make this announcement at this time so as to minimize the inconvenience to all parties associated with the event, especially its fans.

All 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic tickets will continue to be honored and all ticket holder agreement language remains unchanged.

[evilzyme 769]

I was reading they refused to change the day and would keep pushing it later and later, hopefully everything works out for them. I know around Macomb its been warm and raining all day, snow nearly melted completely and ice drizzling away. Sucks for the weather conditions.

[Guest Howard He Do It?!]

Works out for me. I have work from 8 am until 5 pm. Hopefully they can get the game in today but there is no shame in having to push the game back a day. Everyone will still be home on Sunday so ratings won't be a problem.

[Jusek 437]

Sucks because I live in Finland. I'm not going to watch it.

[Rikadyn 16]

I'm not gonna watch eitherway, I have a hard enough time remembering Red Wings games are on, let alone a game where I'm only watching with hopes of meteor impact...

[Wings_Toledo 233]

I wasn't really planning on watching the game, mostly because I have to work today until 5. But, now that it's moved to 8 I might watch a little bit. I don't really care about either team but it's nice to be able to watch a game that doesn't involve the Bluejackets (I only have basic cable and FSN Ohio ).

[MacK_Attack 108]

How it looks right now (courtesy Elliotte Freidman):

http://yfrog.com/hsc9xqlj

Edited January 1, 2011 by MacK_Attack

[hokeychik22 17]

if its rain i see the problem. but snow, its hockey. wings played in the snow/extremely cold and windy

[nate94gt 134]

i hope it rains cuz i want to watch a hockey game in the rain. i wont actually watch the entire game, but i'd tune in every so often.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Aside from maybe the more casual fans that will be confused when the game they were expecting to be on isn't on, this works out hugely in the NHL's favor. There aren't any good bowl games on at 8PM. They won't have to compete with Penn State for the Pittsburgh market like they were at 1PM, and also will most certainly get a much higher viewership from the Michigan area when not competing with the Wolverines and Spartans.

[I Red Wings I 40]

We’ve become a nation of wusses

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

This is all Gary Bettman's fault.

If the league had a better commissioner, this wouldn't have happened.

Works out for me. I have work from 8 am until 5 pm. Hopefully they can get the game in today but there is no shame in having to push the game back a day. Everyone will still be home on Sunday so ratings won't be a problem.

NFL final week of the season.

Nobody will watch hockey when playoff spots are on the line.

Edited January 1, 2011 by GMRwings1983

[Travis 576]

The way I understand it, it's not a matter of snow or warm temperatures - the rain will result in uneven ice surfaces and thus dangerous playing conditions.

Hopefully they can get the game in, having the whole thing under the lights will be cool. I'm going to watch a little and record it. I'll probably watch the whole thing when I get around to it.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

The way I understand it, it's not a matter of snow or warm temperatures - the rain will result in uneven ice surfaces and thus dangerous playing conditions.

Hopefully they can get the game in, having the whole thing under the lights will be cool. I'm going to watch a little and record it. I'll probably watch the whole thing when I get around to it.

I want to see Crosby playing in dangerous conditions.

[sleepwalker 512]

Aside from maybe the more casual fans that will be confused when the game they were expecting to be on isn't on, this works out hugely in the NHL's favor. There aren't any good bowl games on at 8PM. They won't have to compete with Penn State for the Pittsburgh market like they were at 1PM, and also will most certainly get a much higher viewership from the Michigan area when not competing with the Wolverines and Spartans.

I'm not so sure. All of the people I know that were going to watch it, myself included, aren't going to watch it now, since we all have plans for tonight that have been in place for a couple weeks. I think they will actually get worse ratings since they switched the time because, one, a lot of people are unaware that they even switched the time, and two, it is Saturday night on New Years day, and a lot of people already have plans for tonight.

[Electrophile 3,554]

Well, I guess I'll be organizing my closet Roy G. Biv style this evening.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

I'm not so sure. All of the people I know that were going to watch it, myself included, aren't going to watch it now, since we all have plans for tonight that have been in place for a couple weeks. I think they will actually get worse ratings since they switched the time because, one, a lot of people are unaware that they even switched the time, and two, it is Saturday night on New Years day, and a lot of people already have plans for tonight.

I'm sure Bettman will be interviewed during the game, and he'll talk about how popular hockey is in America and how everyone will be watching the game.

[VM1138 1,921]

Do people make big plans on New Years Day night? I don't think that has anything to do with it. But switching a game time when it's hard enough to find an audience is probably not going to help ratings. Good, let Pittsburgh and Washington bomb.

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

I'm sure Bettman will be interviewed during the game, and he'll talk about how popular hockey is in America and how everyone will be watching the game.

and how wonderful Sid is, and how the weather really worked out to their benefit.

[Kira 451]

We'll have Boston/Buffalo on instead. Not because I'm interested, but my housemate is a diehard Boston fan, so out of deference to her, their game will be on. I look at it as a good excuse not to watch the fiasco.

Either that, or I'll go down to the neighbors' and get in a good game of dominoes.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

Well, the CBC has made their decision, with regards to HNIC; from cbc dot ca:

...

All three Hockey Night games on Saturday will be available live anywhere in Canada on CBCSports.ca.

...

...

In Ontario, the Leafs and Senators game will be shown in its entirety. The rest of the country will break away at 8 p.m. for the Winter Classic.

Alberta will see the Leafs and Sens at 5 p.m. local, break away to the Winter Classic at 6 p.m. local and then see the Oilers and Flames in its entirety at 8 p.m. local.

...

Plus, they replayed the Pittsburgh - Buffalo Winter Classic, starting at 1:00 PM.

[Guest Howard He Do It?!]

Plus, they replayed the Pittsburgh - Buffalo Winter Classic, starting at 1:00 PM.

I wonder how many people thought that was the actual game.

[Guest ToMaToToWnWinGsFaN_24]

I wonder how many people thought that was the actual game.

thats what i thought at first

then i sawr buffalo jersey

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

I'd love to see Crosby and Ovechkin drop the gloves in this game.

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

Are you ready for The Crosby Show?

GO CAPS!!!!

Edited January 2, 2011 by Hockeymom1960