The Winter Classic in Sin City? Talks are
ongoing about the possibility of the NHL's
signature game being played on The Strip. |
With the success of this year’s NHL Outdoor Winter Classic from Wrigley Field, potential future locations for the now annual event could be on the Las Vegas Strip, Yankee Stadium, or the Rose Bowl, according to NHL Chief Operating Officer John Collins. With ratings for the Wrigley Field game being the highest the NHL has had for a regular season game in 34 years, the league is looking to capitalize on its popularity by exploring options for future years. As reported by Bloomberg News: “This is really kind of becoming a destination event for hockey fans, but also sports fans,” Collins said in a telephone interview. We want to “open it up to the masses.” NHL representatives recently visited Las Vegas in part to gauge the feasibility of staging a Jan. 1 game on Las Vegas Boulevard South, the area known as “the Strip,” Collins said. “Logistically, it could happen,” he said.
The last NHL game played in Las Vegas was an exhibition game 1991 between the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings, and was marked by extreme heat – 85 degrees. According to the report, other cites showing interest include Detroit, Washington, Philadelphia and Minneapolis. As for a game at new Yankee Stadium, plans fell through for this year’s Winter Classic to be played at The House That Ruth Built in its final season last year. The NHL is considering a bidding process for the game, much like the NFL has for the Super Bowl.
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