I always loved the Winter Classic. It was so unique to see an NHL game played in a stadium instead of an arena. Also, I liked the snow tarp that they would put around the rink.
The first regular season NHL outdoor game was the Heritage Classic in November of 2003 in Edmonton at Commonwealth Stadium. Oilers vs Habs. I was there and it was ridiculously cold. 0°F and -22°F with the wind chill. They just did the 20th anniversary edition Oilers vs Flames this past Oct.
It was a pile of fun being there and freezing half to death ! People may not know this but the wind-chill difference between sitting down low where there doesn't seem to be much wind and around the top of the stadium is night and day different ! 🥶🥶🥶
@@SirManfly At the time I lived in the same building as Charlie Huddy. I did not know him but my neighbors did. They got given tickets for free for the practice the day before and the game by Charlie’s wife. My neighbor’s wife got sick so he asked me to go. Was awesome, got to go into the dressing room after the practice and meet Ryan (Smitty) Smyth and Craig McTavish and Charlie’s wife even introduced us to Gretzky! The next day which was the day of the game our seats were right in the lower bowl where Ron Maclean was doing his intro from the cherry picker cam so I chatted with him for about 20 min before they told me to bugger off so he could do his intro. I went and got a coffee for my non drinker neighbor and a beer for me, and they were both frozen by the time they allowed me back in my seat!! 😂
I was at the Rangers Sabres winter classic, very great game. In the end the Rangers won it in overtime not a shoot out but not important. Every seat was filled. I remember it being sunny, but I remembered also being the coldest I’ve ever been.
The 2017 winter classic in St.Louis was a total different design, the picture you posted was a rendering when it was purposed, St Louis had a really unique design for the field/ rink
Yep Leafs Red Wings was best one ever. Blue and Red spread out two original 6 rivals. I remember as kid really wanting the leafs to win that they luckily did.
I was at the 2019 Winter Classic at Notre Dame to see the Blackhawks play, while they lost to Boston, the experience and the atmosphere was incredible, had a great time there!!!!!!!!!!
Buffalo guy here so glad the Sabres were apart of history starting this tradition. Hopefully they can actually win one in 2028 at their new stadium in orchard park!
2015 in Washington was played in the sun as well. They almost had to postpone the game because the sun was so bad and goalies couldnt see the puck really well. 3rd base side especially was tough, so they switched sides halfway through the 3rd period to both teams had a fair chance to deal with the sunlight.
My brother went to the Citi Field one and said that was one of the coldest outdoor sporting events he ever went to and he went to a NY Giants playoff game in the snow in 1997
I was there for that one as well one as well it was insane how much I bundled up to be able to pull it off but I did pull off being there for the entire game . I also remember seeing fans upset the beers would freeze as soon as you open them . Lucky for me I did my drinking after the game at a bar a few subway stops away
I went to the Winter Classic at Nats Park. What they don't tell you is that the rink is raised a bit, so if you're sitting at field level, you can't really see the ice. I spent the whole game watching the scoreboard.
2024 Winter Classic, isn't the 1st NHL outdoor game at retractable roof as the 2014 Hertiage Classic in Vancouver was in a retractable and the roof was closed.
