The NHL has officially announced that the Rangers will play two games at Yankee Stadium next season.
They will play the Devils on 1/26/14 at 12:30PM and the Islanders on 1/29/14 at 7:30PM.
Rangers GM Glen Sather said, “The New York Rangers are honored to participate in these two historic games at Yankee Stadium, bringing hockey into the home of another one of New York’s iconic sports franchises. Playing hockey outdoors takes the game back to its roots and reminds us all why we laced up our skates as youngsters. We are excited to be able to bring that experience and thrill to our fans and the city of New York.”
From the NHL release, “The innovative nature of the Stadium Series affords the opportunity to have all three NHL teams in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area play, outdoors, at one of the most-recognized stadiums in the world,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “We’ll be able to create a multi-faceted, multi-day experience for our fans, and we thank the teams, Coors Light, the New York Yankees and Yankee Stadium for their support of this memorable NHL event.”
The Rangers are the road team in both games.
THIS SECTION is all about the games at Yankee Stadium.
Fans interested in receiving more information on ticketing, news and special offers around the event should register at http://www.NHL.com/2014NewYork.
Press Release below
To read more of this story, click here
9:34PM: Tom Gulitti tweets that there will be Alumni Games at the outdoor rink at Yankee Stadium as well.
8:33PM: Katie Strang writes at ESPN NY that the Rangers will be the VISITORS in both games.
8:20PM: The games, according to TSN, will take place on:
- Jan 26: Rangers/Devils
- Jan 29: Rangers/Islanders
8:17PM: Katie Strang says that she is also hearing that the NHL is planning on outdoor games between the Rangers and Devils and Rangers and Flyers.
7:58PM: On Insider Trading on TSN, Darren Dreger said that the Rangers will play the Devils and Islanders in outdoor games at Yankee Stadium next season.
Dreger says that these games will take place during Super Bowl week next year.
The Super Bowl is February 2nd, 2014 at Met Life Stadium.
Dreger noted that this is still subject to some change and that contracts have not been signed yet.
THIS SECTION has all of the previous talk about a 2014 outdoor game for the Rangers.
According to Helene Elliot of the LA Times, via Sean Leahy, the NHL may stage an outdoor game on 1/26/14 in NY.
The preferred venue for the game is Yankee Stadium.
She notes that the Kings and Ducks are likely to play at Dodgers Stadium on 1/25/14.
Today in Detroit, the NHL officially announced that the 2014 Winter Classic will take place at the University of Michigan between the Red Wings and Maple Leafs.
NHL COO John Collins told Craig Custance that the league is working hard to try and have multiple outdoor games in a season a early as next season.
Elliotte Frieman tweets that LA seems like a “slam dunk” to have an outdoor game and there are rumors of one happening in New York City and possibly a Heritage Classic in Canada.
THIS SECTION has more info on a NY Winter Classic.
There was a report last night that the NHL was considering adding additional outdoor games next season.
One of those games would reportedly be at Yankee Stadium.
The Hot Stove on CBC, had a follow up to this report.
Elliotte Friedman said “I hadn’t heard the venue before but they really want to do this.”
Glenn Healy then followed up and said, “John Collins (NHL COO) has a stadium series, he has had it for a long time. This is where hockey ops and business collide. We have had so many close calls with these outdoor games, you can do three, four, five of them.”
Then everyone on the panel agreed with the idea of them being “HUGE” revenue generators for the league and the players.
According to The Fourth Period, the NHL is discussing the idea of having additional outdoor games next season, besides the Winter Classic, and NY and LA are being considered as venues.
Dating back to last year, there have been rumblings about a non-winter classic game happening at Yankee Stadium.
Adam Rotter: I heard the same kind of rumblings a few weeks ago about an outdoor game, most likely at Yankee Stadium, at some point next season. The date and opponent are still TBA but it if it happens, it will likely be a regional opponent like the Islanders or Devils. It is not clear if getting an outdoor game would impact the Rangers getting the Winter Classic in the future.
THIS SECTION has been following the pursuit of having the Winter Classic in NYC.
At ESPN.com, Pierre LeBrun lists five Winter Classic games that he would like to see and puts the Bruins and Rangers at Yankee Stadium second on the list.
LeBrun writes “NBC would obviously drool over this matchup. And it’s almost a guarantee it will happen over the next five years, and why not?”
The Pinstripe Bowl, which is held at Yankee Stadium and has prevented the Rangers from hosting the game in the past, runs through at least December 2013.
THIS SECTION has been following the pursuit of having the Winter Classic in NYC.
Last year it was suggested that 2016 would be when the Winter Classic would come to NY, but that may be pushed to 2017 after this year’s game was cancelled and will be made up next year.
At ESPN Insider, Craig Custance writes that the NHL should take a shot at putting together a double header for the Winter Classic that would include games in unique places that likely couldn’t hold the game due to logistics or seating issues.
He thinks that a game between the Rangers and Devils in Central Park could work as would a game between the Penguins and Caps at the National Mall.
Custance writes “Keep the crowds small for logistical reasons but make it a television spectacle, with unlimited access to the NBC cameras. It might be a money loser, but would still fill a New Year’s Day television spot and create goodwill among fans. You might even make a few sponsors happy. This is even a better idea if Jan. 1 is opening day.”
In the Star Tribune, Michael Russo writes that since the next Winter Classic will take place in Michigan will delay the chance that Minnesota gets to host the Winter Classic.
Russo writes that Washington has reportedly been promised a Winter Classic and that the league would obviously want to have the game in New York.
The Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium, which has prevented the Rangers from hosting the game in the past, runs through at least December 2013.
It had been suggested that following Detroit, the next two teams to host the Winter Classic would be Washington and Minnesota.
Larry Brooks tweets that the likely next three Winter Classics will be held in Detroit, Washington and Minnesota.
He thinks that 2016 will be the time for the Winter Classic to be held in New York at Yankee Stadium.
