Winter Classic 2012: Skating into the New Year with Some Outdoor Hockey

I was born in Minnesota and have lived there twice, so I know all about the great games of pond hockey and broomball out on the ice. Everyone loves it. In 2008, the NHL had the crazy idea of playing a NHL game outdoors. Would it work? No one really knew for sure. Dan Craig, the man placed in charge of the game, didn't really know either. Craig said, "I was just going with my instincts."

The game gained so much success and recognition that the so called Winter Classic has now become an annual tradition. The game has taken place in Ralph Wilson Stadium (Orchard Park, NY), Wrigley Field (Chicago), Fenway Park (Boston), Heinz Field (Pittsburgh), and now this year the game is being played in Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Each year Craig and his crew have to figure out how to transform the outdoor stadium into a hockey rink fit for players to play on and for fans to easily watch. It's an elaborate project full of planning and preparation. You watch a time-lapse video of them transforming the stadium this year here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jBSAUOI3jA.

As I mentioned already, the game has garnished much interest from both the fanatical hockey fans and the curious onlooker. This has only increased due in large part to HBO. For the second consecutive year, the network is airing a four-part reality series entitled, "24/7: Road to the Winter Classic." The series looks into the lives of the NHL players involved and the game itself. Last year's series won an Emmy for outstanding edited sports special.

The point of the Winter Classic was to garnish this extra interest into the sport and gain viewership. Has this happened? While this is a complex question to answer, the answer does appear to be yes. According to Comcast, the Washington-Baltimore area experienced a significant 25% increase in viewership of the Capitals' home games they aired following the Winter Classic and corresponding HBO series.

Is this really a sustainable event? Is the NHL really committed to it? The answer to both of these questions appears to be yes as well. The NHL faced its biggest threat yet from Mother Nature when it rained during last year's much hyped game. Craig and his crew developed a plan to respond and were seen using large snow shovels to clear the water off during stoppages. In regards to this, Craig stated, "You can't control [the weather] but you can monitor it."

I fully support the Winter Classic. As a hockey fan, I think that it is great for the league. The increased viewership is important for the league. The more interest there is, the more money there is for improving the game. The increase in interest in the NHL is apparent in many ways. I have even seen it here on our blog. The blog post that has had by far (by about 100 views) the most views is my one on the NHL's future realignment. People are interested in the sport and the league.

I would encourage you to watch this year's game, which features the longstanding rivalry between the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers. The game can be seen on January 2 (Monday) at 1:00 PM EST on NBC. Also, if you get HBO (I don't), check out the series. It is bound to be entertaining as NHL players tend to have interesting personalities. Help start your New Year's off right with some NHL hockey outdoors, the way the game used to always be played.