NHL Annouces outdoor game in Buffalo

[tercet]

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.

[kidcolin]

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.

[MicroBob]

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."

[kidcolin]

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

[MikeyPatriot]

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

[MicroBob]

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.

[MicroBob]

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.

[tercet]

Ok... NY and MI

[JordanIB]

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Ok... NY and MI

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Minnesota and Massachusetts say hi.

[MikeyPatriot]

And every other New England state.