I'm Going To The Ice Bowl -- NHL Hockey On New Year's Day

[ntsammy5]

I’m going to the Ice Bowl AKA “The AMP/NHL WINTER CLASSIC”! Actually, it’s an NHL hockey game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins that will be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, January 1st at Ralph Wilson Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills. It is an outside game ala pond hockey -- that is unique. They did this once before, 4 years ago in Edmonton, in front of a 50,000+ crowd. There will be well over 70,000 at this game – probably an NHL record. Crews have been working around the clock getting the ice in and boards up. I can’t wait to see it!

Tickets have been hard to come by, but I finally prevailed. My son and I will be there (assuming I’m not too wasted from the night before) at about 9AM, drinking beer and watching & participating in the tailgate festivities. Man I’m really starting to get excited! This may be a once in a lifetime event for me. NBC is broadcasting the game which is a gamble for them since hockey is not a very popular sport in those parts of the US more than 50 miles from the Canadian border.

I am getting PUMPED.

Starting on November 30th this is the chronology: Trip to WDW, NFL Game (Bills), NHL Game (Sabres), NHL Game (Sabres), NFL Game (Bills), College Div 1 basketball game (the ‘Cuse), Ice Bowl, another trip to WDW – all within 6 weeks! Life is good sometimes!

Hopefully you can all watch the game at the Fort (great save huh Roz?) I’ll be the weird guy wearing a Cousin Eddie (Christmas Vacation) Sabres hat. I'll wave.

​

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/hockey/nhl/12/20/bc.hkn.nbc.outdoorgame.ap/index.html

NEW YORK (AP) -- NBC pestered the NHL to let it air a game, which might seem strange considering the Stanley Cup finals drew record-low ratings on the network.

The appeal of this particular game is it could attract the kinds of fans who didn't tune in last summer. On New Year's Day, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres will skate in the first outdoor NHL game ever played in the United States.
"It really is an event," said Bob Costas, who will host the proceedings for NBC, his presence alone indicating the network deems this an important affair with a broad audience.

"I don't think you have to be somebody who follows the NHL day in and day out to enjoy it as an event, and that's the way I'll try to set it up."
More than 73,000 fans are expected to pack Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium, home of the NFL's Bills, for the 1 p.m. match up. NBC's hockey analysts readily acknowledged many of the game's viewers might be people who stumble upon it while flipping channels, and that's OK.

"When you turn your TV and see this spectacle that's going to be on the ice there, I think it'll be pretty tough to turn away," said Sam Flood, NBC's coordinating producer for sports.

Jan. 1 is considered a big day for TV viewership, so the network and league are hoping it provides a captive audience of casual fans. The goal is that this won't be the same group that loyally watches other NHL regular-season games.
"We certainly hope it isn't," said John Shannon, the NHL's senior vice president for broadcasting. "We hope it's bigger. We hope it's better.

"It's like your first job application. NBC and CBC (which airs the game in Canada) are getting us in the door. Now it's our job to entertain people and make sure that the game's right and that they come back the next week to watch our other NBC game or watch the Versus games or watch other games in Canada."
NBC executives have hoped to stage an outdoor game since the network and the league began their contract after the lockout, Flood said. The Sabres were willing to host, and the Penguins were an obvious opponent because of a certain player named Sidney Crosby.

"He is a type of player -- and every sport has 'em -- that when a guy like Sidney Crosby is on the television, you stop and you watch," NBC analyst Eddie Olczyk said.

When viewers click to NBC and see players skating around with a blue sky in the background, Flood joked that they'll think, "Am I really this drunk from New Year's Eve?"

"Part of it is the, 'What the heck are we looking at here?"' he said.
Too much bad weather would be unwelcome, as it would lead to the game being delayed or postponed. But a little interference from the elements would add to the drama and aesthetic appeal.

The network, in fact, will include a weather expert on its broadcast team.
"A light dusting, a little flurries on and off just to have that visual effect would be pretty spectacular," Flood said.

Flood said NBC is committed to showing the game through 6 p.m. if it is delayed, and possibly later. Discussions are ongoing as to what would happen if it is postponed to Jan. 2.

The game will go up against two college football bowls that start at 1, including a big-name Michigan-Florida matchup in the Capital One Bowl that could draw away some hockey enthusiasts in the Detroit area. Two other bowls will be ending during the game, with the Rose Bowl starting at 4:30.

So what if this game doesn't attract strong ratings? It's not as though this is the NHL's last and only chance to lure casual fans, Flood said.
"I think it's a huge leap to go from one hockey game on Jan. 1 to say that nothing can draw the audience," he said. "If you have a New York Rangers-Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup final, I will guarantee you it will get the casual fan."

 

[ejmbibb]

Congratulations, and Condolences... Congrats on going to the game, sorry to hear that you are a buffalo fan... GO PENS!!!!

I am so jealous, not just about the game, but the fort.. don't really care about the basketball much tho...

Hope you have a great time, I know I will be watching.


GO PENS!!!

 

[Gatordad]

it will only be cool if they use horse dung as a puck.

 

[F4disneyfan]

I’m going to the Ice Bowl AKA “The AMP/NHL WINTER CLASSIC”! Actually, it’s an NHL hockey game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins that will be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, January 1st at Ralph Wilson Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills. It is an outside game ala pond hockey -- that is unique. They did this once before, 4 years ago in Edmonton, in front of a 50,000+ crowd. There will be well over 70,000 at this game – probably an NHL record. Crews have been working around the clock getting the ice in and boards up. I can’t wait to see it!

Tickets have been hard to come by, but I finally prevailed. My son and I will be there (assuming I’m not too wasted from the night before) at about 9AM, drinking beer and watching & participating in the tailgate festivities. Man I’m really starting to get excited! This may be a once in a lifetime event for me. NBC is broadcasting the game which is a gamble for them since hockey is not a very popular sport in those parts of the US more than 50 miles from the Canadian border.

I am getting PUMPED.

Starting on November 30th this is the chronology: Trip to WDW, NFL Game (Bills), NHL Game (Sabres), NHL Game (Sabres), NFL Game (Bills), College Div 1 basketball game (the ‘Cuse), Ice Bowl, another trip to WDW – all within 6 weeks! Life is good sometimes!

Hopefully you can all watch the game at the Fort (great save huh Roz?) I’ll be the weird guy wearing a Cousin Eddie (Christmas Vacation) Sabres hat. I'll wave.

​

I would expect about 30-40 thousand of those attending the game will be from the GTA and Hamilton etc areas of Ontario. I think they said over 1/3 of the season ticketholders from the Sabres live in southwestern Ontario. The winter classic was held at Commonwealth Stadium home of teh Edmonton Eskimos and featured the Edmonton Oilers and the Montreal Candiens. GO HABS GO this should be a decent game but in all honesty it really should feature an original 6 team rather than 2 teams like the Pens and the slugs.

 

[ntsammy5]

this should be a decent game but in all honesty it really should feature an original 6 team rather than 2 teams like the Pens and the slugs.

Just a small retort: When was the last time a Canadian team won the Cup?

I'm not sure how the teams were picked, but the game in Edmonton was not broadcast in the states. Bettman has to do something to market the NHL, especially since officials are not enforcing the new rules. There are about 10-15,000 fans coming from totally outside the Toronto & Buffalo areas. There will be a lot of Canadians there, you're right. God bless 'em.

 

[ejmbibb]

I know the Pens have been sold out almost all year, and I heard on the radio that a lot of people from our area are going, its only about 3+hrs. They probably picked the pens because of Crosby, he's from Canada, but plays here, he is always a huge deal to hockey fans when he comes to town.

I am not a huge diehard hockey fan, I try to watch whenever the game is on FSN, can't stand when it is on VS. tv.. they suck. Usually try to go to a game or 2 every year, but everytime wife and I have a chance they are sold out.

 

[Gatordad]

Hockey is in a state of flux. The last 3 cups were won by teams in a non-hockey climate. one of which was TAMPA, where they have legally changed the name to Hockey Bay (just kidding). Hockey Bay Bucs, Hockey Bay Devil Rays.

 

[F4disneyfan]

Just a small retort: When was the last time a Canadian team won the Cup?

I'm not sure how the teams were picked, but the game in Edmonton was not broadcast in the states. Bettman has to do something to market the NHL, especially since officials are not enforcing the new rules. There are about 10-15,000 fans coming from totally outside the Toronto & Buffalo areas. There will be a lot of Canadians there, you're right. God bless 'em.

Well every cup is technically won by Canada when you look at the number of Canadians playing on each team that won it. Brian Burke had a 95% Canadian roster with the Ducks last season and over 85% of the roster in Carolina was Canadian kids same for the Lightning LOL. I have been to Buffalo for quite a few games all of which where Montreal and Buffalo.

You are cdorrect about the broadcasting iof hockey in the US and Bettman is a cancer on the game and needs to be removed he is killing this great game with a basketball mentality and it seriously is not working. I think they should hire Bobby Orr to run the NHL he would truly do right by the game.

 

[AuburnJen92]

it will only be cool if they use horse dung as a puck.

Or you can use the cat dung from the other thread!

 

[ftwildernessguy]

That is going to be a great game. I used to go to see the Sabres when I was at school in Buffalo. I also played on an adult league in the city, but got tired of getting beat up every Sunday night. Then once my wife came to a game and asked me why I kept falling down, so I quit.

 

[ntsammy5]

my wife came to a game and asked me why I kept falling down, so I quit.

Too much Kungaloosh?

Bettman is a cancer on the game and needs to be removed

Bingo! I hate Bettman! Maybe Don Cherry for commish? Orr would work!

it will only be cool if they use horse dung as a puck

Actually did that once. It's a long story.

 

[F4disneyfan]

Too much Kungaloosh?


Bingo! I hate Bettman! Maybe Don Cherry for commish? Orr would work!



Actually did that once. It's a long story.

Ya Grapes would be awesome but to many people are too politically correct to want him running the show. I think Orr or even Gretzky if they could lure him away from the Yotes would be a great choice.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Too much Kungaloosh?.

Most likely.

 

[ejmbibb]

GO PENS!!!!

Man, I just got done watching, that was great. I think that it was a pretty good showcase for the NHL. Even the players seemed to enjoy it.

 

[ntsammy5]

It was the best game of any kind I've ever attended. IT WAS AWESOME!

 

[helloirishkitty]

I don't usually hang out on this board, but I saw the title of the thread and I had to join in.

I was there (Section 121, Row 6), and it was the best game I've ever been to. The atmosphere was amazing and it was so worth freezing my tail off for

 

[F4disneyfan]

I don't usually hang out on this board, but I saw the title of the thread and I had to join in.

I was there (Section 121, Row 6), and it was the best game I've ever been to. The atmosphere was amazing and it was so worth freezing my tail off for

The 09 edition should be even better they are going to have it in Montreal to celebrate the teams centennial along with the draft and the all star game that year.

 

[Donna]

It was the best game of any kind I've ever attended. IT WAS AWESOME!

Just curious, were you able to to see the players and be able to tell who they were and was the puck hard to follow? Former pens season ticket holders here (yeh we gave them up when they stunk-pre-mario). When i saw the distance from stands to rink, i was wondering how easy it would be to watch like that. I know the players had a blast!

 

[ntsammy5]

Just curious, were you able to to see the players and be able to tell who they were and was the puck hard to follow?

Our seats were in the upper deck of the stadium -- about half way up. Surprisingly, the puck was very easy to follow. Numbers were hard to see but that was mostly because of the snow. 72,000 fans make a lot of noise. I've seen Crosby play before but forgot how good he really is. The funny thing was that the game slowed down considerably because of the snow on the ice. Long passes were difficult. According to players and officials there was a snow rooster tail behind the puck. Amazing.

 

[ntsammy5]

The 09 edition should be even better they are going to have it in Montreal to celebrate the teams centennial along with the draft and the all star game that year.

Boy, I'd love to see that. My nephew lives in Plattsburgh. Maybe I'll visit him and make a trip up to Montreal. He drives up sometimes when the Sabres are in town.