2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic Discussion BREAKING NEWS: Start at 8/7 pm!

DP · Aug 4, 2010

2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic
Tuesday, July 27th 2010
Earlier in the week I posted an article about outdoor games. Now lets get a little more specific. This new years, the Washington Capitals lead by Ovi will skate into Heinz Field to take on Sid infront of a what can be 65,050+ people. A week after the Steelers host their last home game, the Penguins will host their first ever game at the stadium. This game will also return the winter classic back to a football field, last two years it was at Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. Rumor has is the Washington Capitals will wear sweater from the 74'/75' season, while the Penguins will wear a new sweater which will replace the baby blue as the new alternative sweater in the 11'/12' season. The game will start at 1:00 P.M. EST/12:00 P.M. CST on NBC. This will be the Penguins second Winter Classic. The Penguins first Winter Classic was won in a Shootout in 2008 by the stick of Sidney Crosby. This will be the first outdoor hockey game for the Washington Capitals, and a great one too. These rival outdoor games are fantastic, and I can't wait to watch it! More about the 2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic will be released today by the Penguins and the NHL at Heinz Field. Keep an eye on this topic and NHL.com for more.

DP · Jul 27, 2010

Re: 2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic Discussion

NHL.com

PITTSBURGH -- The NHL brought the heat -- literally and figuratively -- to Heinz Field Tuesday to announce many of the details surrounding the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic.

The temperature on the field for the press conference was well above 90 degrees as direct sunlight baked everything in its path -- including the dignitaries on stage to discuss details of the New Year's Day game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals, two of the League's hottest teams who just happened to be involved in the one of hottest on-ice rivalries in today's NHL.

In addition to hockey talk in July, the Winter Classic logo and the team logos for the game were introduced and a first glimpse of how the ice rink will be laid out on the Heinz Field playing surface was provided. Yet it was the two teams that remained the stars of Tuesday's show.

"If you enjoy rivalries, Capitals-Penguins may be our best," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "If you enjoy the sight of team captains providing passionate leadership and game-breaking skill, you can't do much better than Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. If you can't get enough star power, both teams are loaded with it."

The captains have their own individual rivalry and the teams have authored chapter after chapter of scintillating showdowns. Two springs ago, the Caps and Pens played in an epic 7-game series in the second round that was dominated by Crosby and Ovechkin, including dueling hat tricks in Game 2.

Individually, Crosby won the Hart Trophy as League MVP and the Art Ross Trophy as the League's top scorer in 2007. Ovechkin took both titles in 2008 and 2009. The pair has combined to win the last four Ted Lindsay Awards, given to the most outstanding player as voted by the NHL players. So there is little doubt these two teams will bring everything they have on New Year's Day. Certainly, those credentials were enough to earn them invites to the fourth edition of the Winter Classic.

"The teams that play in the Winter Classic are the teams that hockey fans want to see," said Dick Patrick, Washington's team president. "So we are pleased we were invited."

The Capitals not only have Ovechkin, but they have a high-flying offense that features gifted players like Alex Semin and Mike Green. Their fans are among the most passionate in the League, as well.

The Penguins possess Crosby, the face of the League, as well as Russian superstar Evgeni Malkin and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. The Penguins won the 2009 Stanley Cup -- beating Washington during that title-clinching journey -- after losing in the Final the previous year to the Detroit Red Wings.

"When you look at the playoffs, I don't think you can imagine it being more intense than it already is," Crosby said. "It's there. This will add to it. This will be another storyline, another event with the two teams, but I can't see it being any more intense than it already is and if it is, then great. We're going to see a great hockey game."

This is Pittsburgh's second time in the outdoor showcase. The Penguins played in the inaugural Classic in 2008, defeating the host Buffalo Sabres at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Crosby scored the game-deciding goal in a shootout contested through a snow squall in what became the iconic moment of that game.

Chicago's Wrigley Field hosted the 2009 game between the Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings, and Fenway Park was the site of last year's game between the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers.

Now, the Steel City -- and its passionate hockey fans -- has the opportunity to add to the rich fabric of an event that Forbes Magazine dubbed the best new sporting event of the past decade.

"It's going to be great," Crosby said. "We played our (Winter Classic) on the road and to have our fans here and we expect Washington fans here too, but we hope to be the majority. We'll be excited. This, like I said, is an opportunity that guys appreciate. Only a couple of teams get to do this every year. To be at home and to feel this excitement, it's going to be a lot of fun.

Even though this is Washington's first go-around at the Winter Classic, the enormity of what awaits is already hitting.

"We played our (Winter Classic) on the road and to have our fans here and we expect Washington fans here too, but we hope to be the majority. We'll be excited. This, like I said, is an opportunity that guys appreciate. Only a couple of teams get to do this every year. To be at home and to feel this excitement, it's going to be a lot of fun." -- Sidney Crosby

"You hope to be a part of it as a player -- the pageantry of it all and the whole spectacle that it is," said Mike Knuble, the Capitals' power forward who made the trip to Pittsburgh Tuesday to be a part of the press conference.

"It's a big thrill as a player to get a chance to play and you're probably going to look forward to it throughout the whole year," Knuble added. "It's not just about the 2-1/2 hours of the game; it's the anticipation. It can really consume a city, much like a bowl game at that time of year."

Capitals forward David Steckel also was on hand, trying to get his head around skating on the Heinz Field playing surface before a packed house of rabid fans.

"The reason I'm here today is to try to take it all in," Steckel said. "The first (Winter Classic) you're like, 'Wow, hopefully they can do it again.' It's a staple now in the NHL. It's great not only for the players, but for the League as well. It's going to be fabulous. It's like going back to old-time hockey. It should be fun."

Not only fun, but memorable.

"It is going to be a tough ticket," Pittsburgh Steelers co-owner Art Rooney II said. "There is going to be a lot of demand for it and that is what makes it an exciting event. Everybody wants to be here and be a part of it. That's why we are excited to be hosting it."
Click to expand...

EPJr · Aug 19, 2010

Re: 2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic Discussion

2011 NHL Bridgestone Winter Classic Travel Packages

3-Day, 2-Night Trip Package - $1,599
Two (2) $149 Seats to the 2011 NHL Bridgestone Winter Classic
One (1) hotel room for two (2) people good for the night of December 31, 2010 and January 1, 2011 at the Sheraton Station Square - Pittsburgh, PA
Round trip coach transportation for two (2) people from Arlington, VA to Pittsburgh, PA leaving December 31, 2010 and returning January 2, 2011
Pittsburgh water taxi service for easy commute from hotel to Heinz Field on game day
Two (2) sets of Capitals Winter Classic commemorative winter essentials kits (hat, gloves and scarf)
Food and soft drinks for the bus rides

Game Day Trip Package - $899
Two (2) $149 Seats to the 2011 NHL Bridgestone Winter Classic
Round trip coach transportation for two (2) people from Arlington, VA to Pittsburgh, PA leaving the morning of January 1, 2001 and returning later the same day after the game on January 1, 2011
Two (2) sets of Capitals Winter Classic commemorative winter essentials kits (hat, gloves and scarf)
Food and soft drinks for the bus rides

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Givi55ifvA&NR=1

DP · Aug 19, 2010

Re: 2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic Discussion

Thanks for this EPJr.

DP · Aug 25, 2010

Re: 2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic Discussion

Today the NHL Tweeted about times for both outdoor classic games. Take a look @NHL

DP · Sep 23, 2010

Re: 2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic Discussion

NHL.com/WinterClassic

DP · Oct 2, 2010

Re: 2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic Discussion

I love seeing these classic sweaters. 1970s throwbacks.

DP · Oct 12, 2010

Re: 2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic Discussion

I know this is a few months away, but I am excited for it. Hienz Field, Penguins and Crosby vs the Capitals and Ovi. A week after the Steelers play, the Winter Classic will be underway. I hope the ice will be good. Bit worried about that, we don't want a crappy hockey game because of bad ice. I hope it snows a bit too. That would be cool...

BE-LEAF-ABLE · Oct 12, 2010

Re: 2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic Discussion

DPGB said: ↑

I love seeing these classic sweaters. 1970s throwbacks.
Click to expand...

There's speculation that the Penguins will wear a jersey that's similar to the one they wore a few years back when they played the Sabres in the Winter Classic, but this time the colours will be opposite.

Dark Blue and the baby blue reversed.

DP · Oct 12, 2010

Re: 2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic Discussion

This is what icethetics thinks it will be.

BE-LEAF-ABLE · Oct 12, 2010

Re: 2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic Discussion

Yeah, that looks like it.

I wish they went with the jerseys from the early Mario days, or the gold ones from the 70s (I think).

RookieS2 · Oct 16, 2010

Re: 2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic Discussion

Going to be great.DPGB any updates on the contest you entered?

DP · Oct 16, 2010

Re: 2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic Discussion

Not looking good. I don't think I won.

RookieS2 · Oct 16, 2010

Re: 2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic Discussion

Ah,well,don't worry about it too much.

DP · Oct 16, 2010

Re: 2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic Discussion

I think my Aunt and little cousin are coming to town around then, so its not to big of a deal. I don't like how the Penguins got two classics...

DP · Oct 20, 2010

Re: 2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic Discussion

Probably going to see the winter classic sweater like this. Hopefully its better than the current alternative and I hope it replaces the baby blue... Even though it fits the kid well.

DP · Oct 28, 2010

Re: 2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic Discussion

R-Star · Nov 25, 2010

Re: 2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic Discussion

Those are pretty ugly if you ask me. Should be a hell of a game though.

DP · Nov 25, 2010

Re: 2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic Discussion

They are pretty weird looking jerseys. I like the logo, but the bottom stripes are to much.

DP · Dec 2, 2010

Re: 2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic Discussion

One more month! I love outdoor games!

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2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic Discussion BREAKING NEWS: Start at 8/7 pm!

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2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic Discussion BREAKING NEWS: Start at 8/7 pm!

DP He shoots, he scores!

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DP He shoots, he scores!

DP He shoots, he scores!

DP He shoots, he scores!

DP He shoots, he scores!

DP He shoots, he scores!

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DP He shoots, he scores!

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RookieS2 Member

DP He shoots, he scores!

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DP He shoots, he scores!

DP He shoots, he scores!

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