NHL Annouces outdoor game in Buffalo
 

Jan 1st 2008, Pittsburgh Penguins @ Buffalo Sabres at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Since New York is the only state that gives a [censored] about hockey in the US. It seems like a good choice in buffalo. Alot of Canadians will come down from Ontario to watch the game. It would be an awesome game to attend with an attendance of about 65k possible.

Re: NHL Annouces outdoor game in Buffalo
 

I know Buffalo is a [censored] town, but I've got some good friends there and I've always had a blast when visiting. This sounds like it'd be a ton of fun to go.

Re: NHL Annouces outdoor game in Buffalo
 

This would obviously be a wild good time.
Disagree with NY being the only state that cares about hockey.

They have already had outdoor hockey games in college hockey that were pretty damn successful.

Almost 75k for a game at Michigan State in 2001 when they first did this.

Edmonton and Montreal did this in 2003 I believe. 57k fans in -18 degree celsius temps also watching an alumni game that featured Gretzky and Messier.

2006 Ohio State played Wisconsin at Lambeau Field in Green Bay with 40k fans.

Also read this on wikipedia under 'cold war, ice hockey' all of which I think would uber-awesome:

"There are tentative plans to have another outdoor game featuring Boston College, Boston University, Michigan and Michigan State held at Fenway Park. Talks are also underway to determine whether a game at Yankee Stadium between the New York Rangers and the New York Islanders would be possible. As well, Michigan and Michigan State have discussed an outdoor rematch at Michigan Stadium and the Detroit Red Wings have looked into hosting a game at Detroit's Comerica Park."

Re: NHL Annouces outdoor game in Buffalo
 

I think I heard those Fenway rumors a while ago. If they held the Beanpot there it'd be wildly successful.

Re: NHL Annouces outdoor game in Buffalo
 

WTF @ NY = only US state to care about hockey?

Re: NHL Annouces outdoor game in Buffalo
 

kidcolin - I think the Beanpot is already super-successful and doesn't really need to change.
So I think it would be a better strategy for them to hold a seperate event for Fenway hockey and that way they can have an additional successful event.

20k or whatever for the Beanpot stuff. And then another 40k crowd perhaps for the outdoor-at-Fenway showdown.

Besides, it's possible the Beanpot is contracturally tied-in to the Fleet Center anyway and might be difficult to get out of. Just guessing that might be a possibility.

Also, the fact that the Beanpot is a 2 day event might be a factor.

Re: NHL Annouces outdoor game in Buffalo
 

Also, Michigan's hockey fans are absolutely terrific and I would love for them to try to get a 100k crowd for a hockey game at Michigan Stadium to crush the 75k world record of the Michigan State game (which Buffalo will have a chance to break).

I truly believe that Michigan can get 100k for an outdoor hockey game at the stadium and it would be incredible.
Regular games at Yost Arena there have the best atmosphere of any arena in the country I've been to.

Re: NHL Annouces outdoor game in Buffalo
 

Ok... NY and MI

Re: NHL Annouces outdoor game in Buffalo
 

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Ok... NY and MI

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Minnesota and Massachusetts say hi.

Re: NHL Annouces outdoor game in Buffalo
 

And every other New England state.

Re: NHL Annouces outdoor game in Buffalo
 

Uhhh, Wyoming says "hi"

Re: NHL Annouces outdoor game in Buffalo
 

100 people in the state does not = to a state that likes hockey. All of Canada <3 hockey. NY and MI care abit about hockey cause their so close to Ontario. You bandwagoners that like hockey after ur team wins the cup one year do not count....!

Anyways, tickets go on sale tommorow morning, I should grab a couple, its gonna be awesome,

Re: NHL Annouces outdoor game in Buffalo
 

PA and NJ somewhat too I suspect.
CO should probably count somewhat too I think.

If we're talking college and juniors hockey then I think you can throw in places like WI, ND and NE.
Wisconsin gets 15k per game to lead the country.
North Dakota sells-out every game at 11.5k in their new $100-million+ arena.

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I truly believe that Michigan can get 100k for an outdoor hockey game at the stadium and it would be incredible.

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Sounds like a whole bunch of fans would be stuck really far away from the action.

As anyone who has been to a final four and sat in the upper deck can tell you, there is a reason Basketball/Hockey stadiums seat 20k instead of of 70k.

Re: NHL Annouces outdoor game in Buffalo
 

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I truly believe that Michigan can get 100k for an outdoor hockey game at the stadium and it would be incredible.

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Sounds like a whole bunch of fans would be stuck really far away from the action.

As anyone who has been to a final four and sat in the upper deck can tell you, there is a reason Basketball/Hockey stadiums seat 20k instead of of 70k.

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A hockey rink is 200 feet long. Not as long as a football field, but more than twice as long as a basketball court.

Re: NHL Annouces outdoor game in Buffalo
 

They said similar stuff about the 75k fans for the first 'Cold War' game in 2001. But the fans came anyway because it was such a big deal and was promoted as such.

You're really not seeing that much of the football or baseball action from the top row of a 60k-100k seat stadium either nor are you seeing a damn thing when you go to a rock-concert at such a venue and are stuck in the nosebleeds.

People go to be part of the big event. And maybe get an eyefull of what's happening via their binoculars or on the video-screen.

Re: NHL Annouces outdoor game in Buffalo
 

this will be awesome, but why oh why on new years day?

I can just see it now: Michigan in the Gator bowl and Penn State in the Capital 1 bowl to go head to head on TV with the NHL

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Michigan is playing on Jan 1????? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I agree though. Dec 31 would probably be a better choice I think.
Or perhaps a non-holiday.

This could be such a big and awesome event that would garner some publicity across the whole country even to non-hockey fans. But playing it on Jan 1 means it just won't get noticed nearly as much and will be lost in the shuffle of all the bowl games.

Re: NHL Annouces outdoor game in Buffalo
 

I think OP's avatar tells us all we need to know about his knowledge of hockey outside of "leafs TV"

Re: NHL Annouces outdoor game in Buffalo
 

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I think OP's avatar tells us all we need to know about his knowledge of hockey outside of "leafs TV"

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Just changed it since Bluejays are done for the year...
Now its on to the pathetic Leafs lead by our retard GM.

Re: NHL Annouces outdoor game in Buffalo
 

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I think OP's avatar tells us all we need to know about his knowledge of hockey outside of "leafs TV"

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Just changed it since Bluejays are done for the year...
Now its on to the pathetic Leafs lead by our retard GM.

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Hey, I have nothing against the Leafs.

Have fun with Mark Bell and thx for the picks!

Re: NHL Annouces outdoor game in Buffalo
 

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100 people in the state does not = to a state that likes hockey. All of Canada <3 hockey. NY and MI care abit about hockey cause their so close to Ontario.

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Or because Detroit is Hockeytown.

What about Minnesota? Most of the states population isn't near Canada. People their go crazy about High School & College hockey.