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Penguins should pass on Happy Valley possibility
by Tony on 01/02/09 at 08:53 PM ET
Comments (8)
A year has now passed since the inaugural Winter Classic at Buffalo’s Ralph Wilson Stadium (I almost typed Rich Stadium) between the Penguins and Sabres. It appeared to be a great experience for all those in attendance; The huge crowd, the snow (although that didn’t help the on-ice conditions), and of course, the game itself.
Now that Winter Classic II between the Wings and Blackhawks has passed, and it certainly appears to have been a wonderful success as well, the lobbying from around the NHL has already begun for the possibility of a third installment of the New Year’s Day game.
Comcast president Peter Luukko was quoted in today’s Philadelphia Daily News that “We [the Flyers] are very interested in being a part of the Winter Classic, We have already expressed our interest to the league. It really is a unique event that we would love to be a part of. We have talked to the league and the Penguins about playing at Penn State or elsewhere.”
Well, that’s fine and dandy, it’s not exactly new news that the Happy Valley matchup is being explored. But let me just opine that if I had any input on it for the Penguins, and of course I don’t, I’d say “thanks but no thanks”.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure it’d be a great experience again. And with somewhere around 107,000 to 109,000 seats, hey even I might be able to get tickets this time.
But this isn’t a debate on whether it’d be a good game again. This is about the NHL and what should be its attempt for positive exposure for the entire league. And as a Penguins fan and blogger, I’m perfectly fine with saying to give the game to someone else, for a change. There are plenty of teams, from decent TV markets (because I know that’s a consideration) that should be given the opportunity to play in this unique game. The last couple of seasons have seen the Penguins play numerous times on national TV broadcasts, in the initial Winter Classic and the opening games of the current season in Sweden.
So if the Flyers want to play in Beaver Stadium, great, play the Rangers, or the Capitals. You could easily have the Leafs and bring 50,000 fans. If the NHL wouldn’t want the Happy Valley scenario without the Penguins, have it in Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park. The point of it is to spread it around.
Just a thought.
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Tags: NHL-Hockey, Pittsburgh+Penguins,
Comments
Yup, good points as well....I was realllllllly trying to keep Crosby out of this, but I guess it’s inevitable.....
Posted by Tony F from Virginia Beach, VA on 01/02/09 at 10:39 PM ET
They should definitely rotate it around. All the players who have been involved have talked about how much fun the experience was, and how different, and how nice it was to have a change in the middle of a long, grinding season. It would be nice to spread it around so as many players as possible have the opportunity to experience the atmosphere.
Except they have to find out where Conklin is playing, apparently. 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/02/09 at 11:37 PM ET
they should have a game between the Pens and the Blues at Arrowhead. finally bring the pens to KC. ha.
Posted by whatev from whatev on 01/03/09 at 12:07 AM ET
I think the more games and more venues the better for the sport. More exposure is always a plus
Posted by mmo on 01/03/09 at 12:37 AM ET
Yeah, I love that Conks is the de-facto Winter Classic goalie at this point. I wonder if his agent has a straight line into Bettman’s office, “We’re going to be playing in Phoenix next year, commish. Think you can freeze a rink in the desert?”
Posted by Entitynein on 01/03/09 at 02:00 AM ET
i disagree . In a league that rates 4th of the major sports and has very limited fan support,you need to get crosby and malkin in every event possible.
Posted by mike from york pa on 01/03/09 at 02:21 AM ET
As a Pens fan exiled in Philly...I’d love the happy valley game almost as much as last year’s conference final. It’s too soon to bring the Pens back to the classic, though (unless, I suggest, they win the cup).
The game I’d like to see next Bruins vs. Habs in Fenway. Two decent teams. Big rivalry. Great historic park.
Other matchups might include Giants stadium with Flyers-Devils or Rangers-Devils. Maybe Flyers-Caps in Baltimore at Camden Yard?
Posted by Pens Fan in Philly from Philadelphia, PA on 01/04/09 at 09:08 PM ET
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As a Pens fan, I hate to agree with you, but I do. Last year’s Winter Classic with the Sabres was a great experience, but I don’t want to dominate that market. There’s very little more annoying than listening to other team’s fans wax hyperventilatingly (I’m allowed to make up my own words, dammit!) about how the NHL only loves Crosby, etc. While it’s obvious to those of us who don’t have our hatred blinders on that while the NHL does promote Crosby harder than it does other players, they don’t generally gush over him as other fans may think (though, I mean, with the shootout winner at the Winter Classic, what hockey fan wouldn’t gush over that experience had it been one of their shooters scoring that goal?). So yeah, I’m a huge fan of the Winter Classic, but I agree. I’d love to see other teams play in the game. The rivalry games like this year’s Classic are great. I’d love to see Boston v. Montreal at Fenway, or the Rangers v. Devils at Yankee Stadium. I like that the league wants to continue doing it, but they need to continue doing the game in a way that keeps it fresh and exciting for the entire body of hockey fans. No one wants it to be like those boring Thanksgiving football games, same teams, no matter whether they’re having a good year, or are rolling on to an 0-16 record. Keep the teams rotating and you’ll keep the fans coming.
Posted by Entitynein on 01/02/09 at 10:27 PM ET