Looks like the Wings will be playing outdoors in Chicago!  My Wings’ sweater is ready and I want tickets!

There were plenty of questions in Toronto, however, about the next outdoor game, long rumored as being in Chicago between the Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings.

“I would bet on the Midwest,” Bettman told the audience, “but the deal isn’t done yet.”

Other sources said the game will be Jan. 1 at Wrigley Field, with Chicago Blackhawks president John McDonough playing a principal role. As you might expect, both sponsors and potential sponsors are more enthusiastic about leveraging a game in Chicago than one in Buffalo.

Posted by w2j2 on 06/26/08 at 08:16 AM ET

“we need to convince people we know how to sell hockey on a national basis”

Good luck.

Posted by Doogie2K from Calgary on 06/26/08 at 09:17 AM ET

“I have never been more bullish on the league,” an ebullient commissioner Gary Bettman told the audience…

“I have never been more full of bullshit than I am right now,” a bloated commissioner Gary Bettman told the audience.

There. Fixed.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/26/08 at 10:23 AM ET

Not sure where I saw it (maybe George’s place?), but I did see something saying the Wings aren’t necessarily sold on playing the next Winter Classic.

They’re not thrilled about the idea of giving up their tradtional New Year’s Eve home game to play on New Year’s Day and also don’t want to lose the opportunity to host a Winter Classic of their own (perhaps at Michigan Stadium) down the road. As much as I’d like to see them outdoors in Chicago, I don’t think I can argue with that logic. If the league wants them there, it had better guarantee Detroit gets the Winter Classic within the next few years.

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 06/26/08 at 10:59 AM ET

They’re not thrilled about the idea of giving up their tradtional New Year’s Eve home game to play on New Year’s Day and also don’t want to lose the opportunity to host a Winter Classic of their own (perhaps at Michigan Stadium) down the road.

I wouldn’t be thrilled, either - especially since the New Year’s Eve game is quite a bit older tradition then the Winter Classic.

I actually think it might be a better idea to have the matchup feature a team that wouldn’t be able to host an outdoor game of its own because of the weather in its home city.  It would be more fair, since it wouldn’t be depriving any team of the opportunity to host its own game, and it might be fun as a road trip for the warmer-weather fans.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/26/08 at 11:14 AM ET

Good idea, Baroque. There you go being logical again. To hold true to the NHL’s vision of “selling the game,” however, the Winter Classic should ideally have “cold weather” hosts rotate in an annual matchup versus “Sid the Kid.” Maybe they could even change the name to the Crosby Classic or Crosby Challenge.

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 06/26/08 at 11:26 AM ET

There you go being logical again.

Partially logic - partially the fact that I enjoy laughing at residents of warmer climes when they first encounter concepts such as “below zero” and “wind chill” and “shoveling” and the little chart that shows how long it takes exposed flesh to freeze.

Think of how much it would help retailers - just put winter coats and boots in the front of the stores and watch them go!

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/26/08 at 11:36 AM ET

Yeah, I always enjoy stories about unexpected snow falls in places like Florida. Cars sliding all over the roads, skyrocketing winter coat sales (even when the thermometer just drops to 50 or 60°F!). Great stuff!

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 06/26/08 at 11:41 AM ET

RE: My comment above about the NHL’s vision of selling the game, here’s how they’re teasing the new Red Wings-focused issue of Impact! on NHL.com:

If at first you don’t succeed?
Sidney Crosby was denied in his first attempt to win the Stanley Cup, but as Mark Messier points out in The Championship Edition of NHL.com’s Impact! Magazine, you have to experience failure before tasting success.

The story does appear...on page 8 of the webzine (which is fine), but c’mon, gimme a break!

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 06/26/08 at 01:03 PM ET