The Pittsburgh Penguins will host the Washington Capitals in the next Winter Classic on Jan. 1, according to a person with knowledge of the plans.
The game will be held at Heinz Field and feature a marquee match-up between Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin.
Pittsburgh beat out more than a dozen other cities for the right to host the Winter Classic, a sign of its growing popularity.
At the same time, the Calgary Flames are tentatively scheduled to host the Montreal Canadians on or about Feb. 20 in the Heritage Classic, another outdoor game being added specifically for Canadian teams, the person said.
The league’s competition committee will meet in July to vote to formally approve the Heritage Classic. Assuming the committee signs off on the event, the game would take place during a three-day holiday weekend and be played in McMahon Stadium, the home of the Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.
Both announcements will most likely be made by Gary Bettman, the commissioner of the N.H.L., when he delivers his state of the league address later today in Chicago.
The two games are the latest effort by the league to raise its profile through big events, a strategy used successfully by the National Football League among others. The three previous Winter Classics were a hit with fans, the host teams, the league’s sponsors and NBC, which has broadcast the games.
NY Times
The game will be held at Heinz Field and feature a marquee match-up between Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin.
Pittsburgh beat out more than a dozen other cities for the right to host the Winter Classic, a sign of its growing popularity.
At the same time, the Calgary Flames are tentatively scheduled to host the Montreal Canadians on or about Feb. 20 in the Heritage Classic, another outdoor game being added specifically for Canadian teams, the person said.
The league’s competition committee will meet in July to vote to formally approve the Heritage Classic. Assuming the committee signs off on the event, the game would take place during a three-day holiday weekend and be played in McMahon Stadium, the home of the Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.
Both announcements will most likely be made by Gary Bettman, the commissioner of the N.H.L., when he delivers his state of the league address later today in Chicago.
The two games are the latest effort by the league to raise its profile through big events, a strategy used successfully by the National Football League among others. The three previous Winter Classics were a hit with fans, the host teams, the league’s sponsors and NBC, which has broadcast the games.
NY Times