The rumor of a Winter Classic between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers at Beaver Stadium has been circulating for years, but a few recent developments may bring fans one step closer to the long-fabled game.
The obstacles are many: from the necessary liquor license that Penn State would need to obtain to the question of accommodation for fans; from the influence of the Pegula family (the donors and driving force behind the Pegula Ice Arena and the Division-I hockey teams at Penn State) to the concerns of the field damage on the hallowed ground of Beaver Stadium, it may seem like the reasons to not have an outdoor hockey game in Happy Valley outweigh the reasons to do it.
What the NHL administration should realize is that a gift like this doesn’t come around every year. Aside from the general excitement of the Winter Classic, there are three reasons the NHL should seriously pursue this.
50th Anniversary: The so-called “Next Six” organizations that were added to the NHL in 1967 – the California Seals, the Los Angeles Kings, the Minnesota North Stars, the St. Louis Blues, and of course, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers – will be celebrating their golden anniversary in the 2017-2018 season.
It makes sense for the Winter Classic, arguably the biggest and most-watched game in the NHL’s regular season, to feature two of the second six teams as a commemoration of how the league has grown and developed over the years. It makes even more sense to use two teams whose passion makes for one of the most action-packed and electric games in all of hockey.
Civil War: Penguins captain Sidney Crosby sums it up: “I don’t like them. I don’t like any guy on their team.”
The animosity between the Pens and the Flyers has evolved to create the fiercest rivalry in hockey. Imagine that emotion and put it on one of the biggest stages in the NHL. Watching the two teams battle it out on the ice is always entertaining, but putting them together in Beaver Stadium, in the middle of the state, in front of a huge crowd will cause a 40-man war.
One does not even necessarily have to be a fan of either team to enjoy a show like that. Fans of hockey in general will surely appreciate the atmosphere, the emotion, and the raw skill.
Three State Superpowers: The Penguins, the Flyers, and Penn State. Three of Pennsylvania’s biggest, wealthiest, and most influential athletic organizations combined for one of the NHL’s largest events – only the Stanley Cup rivals the Winter Classic in ratings.
Beaver Stadium, holding more than 107,000 people, is the second largest stadium in the Western Hemisphere and the fourth-largest in the world. With a space like that, the Winter Classic attendance record of almost 106,000 at the 2014 Winter Classic held in Michigan Stadium could be snapped, undoubtedly something that the NHL would love to see.
Not only does Beaver Stadium have the capacity that the NHL wants, but it is the most geographically neutral location in the state. Staying in-state with a rivalry as heated as the Penguins and Flyers is important – taking the game out of Pennsylvania would change the dynamic and kill some of the urgency. It would no longer be the “Battle for Pennsylvania,” it would, in many ways, just be a hockey game to the audience. What makes this rivalry so intense, more than any nasty comments from players, more than the infamous glove incident, is the fans behind the rivalry. Keeping this game in Pennsylvania should be the NHL’s top priority.
What Are the Chances? According to Broadstreet Hockey, a Flyers fan site, Chief Operating Officer of Business Operations Shawn Tilger presented the idea to Flyers season ticket-holders at a town hall meeting and plans to pitch the idea to the league.
However, hopes shouldn’t be raised too high yet. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that he’s “intrigued by the possibility,” although he added, “It’s not anywhere close to fruition.”
The buzz of the event, however potential it may be, has only grown over the past few years, and it seems like steps are finally being taken towards making it happen. Only time will tell if hockey fans will see a Pens/Flyers matchup on January 1, 2017, but each day brings the long foretold game close.
Photo Credits:
Main: forums.prosportsdaily.com
Inset 1: Wikipedia.org
Inset 2: OnwardState.com
