Winter Classic 2017: In Toronto?

[hockeyfan1]

Nothing has been confirmed yet, but NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has admitted there have been talks to bring the 2017 Winter Classic to Toronto, to coincide with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the NHL's 100th Anniversary.


?Obviously Toronto is interested, but we haven?t made any decisions yet,? Bettman...

?There?s a lot of work and planning that goes into committing to one of these events, and we have a long way to go before we?re ready to make an announcement.?

Bettman said the league still owes the Jets an outdoor game after plans for a Heritage Classic in Manitoba's capital fell through last year.

?We haven?t settled on a date that we?re ready to announce," Bettman said. "We do owe Winnipeg a game, and we would?ve been there last year but the Grey Cup and some complications."



http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/gary-bettman-addresses-toronto-2017-winter-classic-rumours/

 

[Arn]

I watched most of the game yesterday and I have to say I'm not sure I'm a big fan of them. Yesterday's was probably ok cos the weather played along but with the snow and all as at the one we had in Michigan makes it a bit of a face.

As for attending, I don't think it would even be worth it, the view from even near the front of the stands would be terrible. Maybe if it was in a slightly smaller venue like TFC's ground the views would be better.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

As for attending, I don't think it would even be worth it, the view from even near the front of the stands would be terrible.

I went to the one against Detroit and the views were not terrible at all, and I was not at the front of the stands.

People say this every time one of these is announced but I've been to one and that wasn't my experience at all.

 

[Kin]

Purely from a watching things at home standpoint, the NHL doing as many outdoor games as they do has killed any sort of novelty in this for me. It might be fun to have the Doc-series leading up to the game again but beyond that I'm pretty squarely in the "meh" camp on this.

 

[Highlander]

When you put over 100 thousand folks in an Arena outside, we have to admit it is a spectacle. My son is 22 really loves the Classic and makes it part of his holiday routine. If it is bringing young people into the game and exposing hockey to millions on TV that may have never watched a hockey game, then it is a boon to help grow the game.  Many people who I meet in the U.S. admit that once they have seen hockey all other professional sports pale in comparison. I have been to a couple of Grey Cups that were played in freezing weather and have to admit it was fun despite the cold.

 

[Arn]

As for attending, I don't think it would even be worth it, the view from even near the front of the stands would be terrible.

I went to the one against Detroit and the views were not terrible at all, and I was not at the front of the stands.

People say this every time one of these is announced but I've been to one and that wasn't my experience at all.

That's genuinely interesting and surprises me. Happy to be corrected. How does the atmosphere compare to a standard NHL game?