Multiple Outdoor Games in 2014?

[Tim Thomasen]

http://www.thefourthperiod.com/columnis ... 30223.html

According to multiple well-placed sources, the NHL is planning on having not one, but several additional outdoor games in 2014, a series of outdoor games, if you will, which will begin with the Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.

There has also been talk about staging a game in each of the seven Canadian NHL markets, Minnesota, Denver and Washington -- Philadelphia, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Boston and Chicago, all of whom have already hosted a Winter Classic, are also options for future games

[Idoit40fans]

I like that. Maximizing the risk that a game is made a complete sham because the players are in unplayable conditions.

[llipgh2]

Uh...no.

[Digitalgypsy66]

Take a unique thing, and run it into the ground. Kudos, NHL.

How about replace the All-star game with an outdoor game?

[Kovy27]

Take a unique thing, and run it into the ground. Kudos, NHL.

How about replace the All-star game with an outdoor game?

The ASG sucks. So, this would make it more entertaining. Make it that the conference that wins hosts the Cup Finals....wait a second, I feel like I've heard this before.

[the wicked child]

I would like to see the ASG as an outdoor event since it's a joke anyway, but then it severely limits the markets which can host a game.

Really though, we do not need a winter classic every season... It dilutes the "cool" factor of the event (which is long gone for me), and turns one game a year into a mess.

[Gaucho]

Meh.

[JS©]

multiple sites for a Winter Classic? Why not?

Not sure if I like the idea of a series of games stretched throughout the season, but a single day where several outdoor games are played wouldn't be a bad idea. It would make the NHL happy with doing multiple games, and limiting it to one day would keep those who don't like the idea of watering down the Classic happy since the other 364 days out of the year would be indoors.

A few problems with my idea:
*If they do this on January 1st, they will be going up against college football. Ratings will take a hit.
*If not January 1st, when? If you go earlier, you have to look at stadium availability if you're considering an NFL or NCAA stadium. If you go too early or too late, weather becomes a factor. Speaking of weather...
*How to handle weather-related delays. As we saw at Heinz Field, if the weather doesn't cooperate, the game gets delayed. If one goes off late and one on schedule, then you're possibly looking at games overlapping. If one goes early and a 7 PM PST game goes on a delay, there's a chance that you might have a game that ends after 2am on the East coast. That, and any potential momentum carried over from the first game.

[Pitt87]

multiple sites for a Winter Classic? Why not?

Not sure if I like the idea of a series of games stretched throughout the season, but a single day where several outdoor games are played wouldn't be a bad idea. It would make the NHL happy with doing multiple games, and limiting it to one day would keep those who don't like the idea of watering down the Classic happy since the other 364 days out of the year would be indoors.

A few problems with my idea:
*If they do this on January 1st, they will be going up against college football. Ratings will take a hit.
*If not January 1st, when? If you go earlier, you have to look at stadium availability if you're considering an NFL or NCAA stadium. If you go too early or too late, weather becomes a factor. Speaking of weather...
*How to handle weather-related delays. As we saw at Heinz Field, if the weather doesn't cooperate, the game gets delayed. If one goes off late and one on schedule, then you're possibly looking at games overlapping. If one goes early and a 7 PM PST game goes on a delay, there's a chance that you might have a game that ends after 2am on the East coast. That, and any potential momentum carried over from the first game.

I guess I never understood why they didn't just make the All Star Game the outdoor game... its already an exhibition environment, and all the variables make a competitive game a bit less competitive, at the least.

[Rylan]

Make all the games be played outside.

[Sam's Drunk Dog]

Make all the games be played outside.

If only there was an arena with a ceiling that could be opened.

[newarenanow]

Take a unique thing, and run it into the ground. Kudos, NHL.

How about replace the All-star game with an outdoor game?

This.

I don't like this. The Winter Classic was good because it was unique (I know there are other outdoor games). But if you start staging multiple ones, it looses it's luster.

[pittsoccer33]

I'm in favor of doing one or two outdoor games per week in January and February. I've said that a long time.

Would you really not be interested in seeing a Penguins game at Heinz Field every other year or two? With the tailgating, the media attention, the special events. I'd be all over it.

[Idoit40fans]

I would really be interested in never seeing a Penguins game at Heinz field again. I'd also be interested in the Penguins never being involved again. That hope will probably be dashed in 2-3 years though.

[pittsoccer33]

I would really be interested in never seeing a Penguins game at Heinz field again. I'd also be interested in the Penguins never being involved again. That hope will probably be dashed in 2-3 years though.

I had a lot of fun at the Winter Classic (until we lost and I remembered how much I spent on my ticket).

What do you hate about it so much?

[Idoit40fans]

I had a lot of fun at the Winter Classic, but not because of the game. Too far away, not enjoyable to watch. So glad I didn't go to the first one, that would have not only been hard to see, but the ice was extra atrocious.

[Ossa]

Penguins vs. Flyers at Beaver Stadium would be kinda cool.

I too had fun at the WC at Heinz Field. I had 3rd row seats in the upper deck so my view was great. But I do think having it year after year is making it less cool.

[JS©]

I would really be interested in never seeing a Penguins game at Heinz field again. I'd also be interested in the Penguins never being involved again. That hope will probably be dashed in 2-3 years though.

I had a lot of fun at the Winter Classic (until we lost and I remembered how much I spent on my ticket).

What do you hate about it so much?

You had to bring that up?