Pittsburgh In Running For Winter Classic 2011

[Sweetleaf22]

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
There's a renewed push to bring the next NHL Winter Classic to Pittsburgh.

Sources tell KDKA, the NHL has approached local officials again about the possibility of holding the game here on New Year's Day 2011.

The Pirates have made it clear that they would like to host it at PNC Park, but Heinz Field is reportedly also a possibility.

[TCD619]

wrong. i heard nationals park. either DC vs Rangers or shittsburgh

[Sweetleaf22]

your right i made it up..........................................DC would suck, too many weather concerns would never happen,

[Windy City Irish]

because the weather in pittsburgh in january is that much better than DC???

[walk066]

Originally Posted by Windy City Irish

because the weather in pittsburgh in january is that much better than DC???

I think it has something to do with the temp to keep the ice rink frozen.

[Windy City Irish]

ok, just wanted to make sure i was reading that right!

[MtrCtyPimp]

Originally Posted by Sweetleaf22

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
There's a renewed push to bring the next NHL Winter Classic to Pittsburgh.

Sources tell KDKA, the NHL has approached local officials again about the possibility of holding the game here on New Year's Day 2011.

The Pirates have made it clear that they would like to host it at PNC Park, but Heinz Field is reportedly also a possibility.

Originally Posted by TCD619

wrong. i heard nationals park. either DC vs Rangers or shittsburgh

I enjoy what both of you guys post....keep up the good work

[Sweetleaf22]

Thanks Motor City, some peeps dont get it,


DC has a temp difference in the winter yes, 10 to 15 degree warmer in winter for the most part

[The Nac]

I wouldn't mind either city getting it, tbh. I enjoy that they switch cities each time, so I actually don't care where it's played. I'm just wondering when Toronto is going to get into this.

[Windy City Irish]

when they become good again

[bill2266]

it should be in the champs home the winter classic, and hopfully the pens repeat

[The Nac]

Originally Posted by Windy City Irish

when they become good again

I can remember Montreal vs Edmonton...ya....

[TCD619]

Does anyone know when an official announcement will be made?

[Sweetleaf22]

Winter Classic likely at Heinz Field
Sunday, March 28, 2010
By Dave Molinari, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A few details still have to be addressed, but things are falling into place for the Penguins and Washington to play the NHL's 2011 Winter Classic at Heinz Field Jan. 1.

There is no word on when an official announcement will come. The NHL traditionally does not make one until mid-summer, around the time the coming season's schedule is released.

Neither the Penguins nor the league will confirm that the game will played here.

It takes approximately two weeks to build and prepare an outdoor rink like the kind used in the NHL's New Year's Day games, so the Steelers' schedule will have to be tailored to allow for that work to be done.

They are expected to play a home game Thursday, Dec. 23, then finish the regular season on the road the following weekend. NFL schedules will be released next month.

There will be a "rain date" set in the event the game cannot be played outdoors Jan. 1, but it is not known if that has been done yet.

PNC Park has been ruled out as a possible site for the game and, from all indications, never was a serious candidate to play host to it, primarily because of the larger seating capacity at Heinz Field.

[Sweetleaf22]

A sight like this at Heinz Field could be a reality in 2011, thanks to a continued push from the Penguins to host the NHL's annual New Year's Day showcase.

A report on Sunday said that Pittsburgh city officials are pushing hard for the city to be chosen as the host, and that the Steelers are amenable to playing the game at Heinz Field, even though it would require some tweaking to their end-of-the-season schedule. The Steelers could not play home games on the final two Sundays of the regular season so that the ice surface could be constructed, meaning they would likely play a Thursday night home game on December 23.

PNC Park sounds like it has been ruled out as a destination for the game, due to its capacity of 38,496, which is far below Heinz Field's 65,050 and would therefore limit the amount of revenue that could be generated. Of course, I'm not sure officials have taken into consideration how many of PNC Park's $8 beers would be sold on that day to cover the difference, but that's their loss.

The Pens' opponent for the '11 Classic would likely be the Washington Capitals, giving Sidney Crosby another prominent stage in which to top Alex Ovechkin, with the Stanley Cup Playoffs and Olympics having already been crossed off that list. Caps coach Bruce Boudreau would rather see the game be played in the D.C. area, and to show Boudreau's stroke with the league, the game will still likely be played in Pittsburgh.

Yes, I'm a little weary of the Ovechkin/Crosby/Malkin storyline being beaten solidly into the ground by the league, but I must admit, I'd be a total hypocrite and be the first in line for tickets if this game became a reality.

Report: Pens want Caps at Heinz Field [ESPN]