Wrigley Field to host Winter Classic

Jul 16, 2008 - 5:30 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- It had been rumored for weeks - and the NHL made it official Wednesday, announcing that next season's Winter Classic will take place at historic Wrigley Field.

The game, to be played on January 1, will be a battle of Original Six teams as the Chicago Blackhawks host the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings.

It will be the 701st meeting between the clubs, the most for any two league opponents.

"The NHL is delighted to bring its most historic rivalry to one of the most historic venues in sports," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said.

Known for its ivy-laced walls and nicknamed the "Friendly Confines," Wrigley Field is the second-oldest ballpark in the major leagues - behind Boston's Fenway Park - and has been the home of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It also was the former home of the NFL's Chicago Bears and hosted the 1963 NFL championship game.

"I've been there once for a baseball game a few years ago," Red Wings left wing Kirk Maltby said. "It's a chance of a lifetime, obviously, with the two Original Six teams playing in a ballpark that has the history that Wrigley has."

The 2009 Winter Classic will be the second NHL game played outside in the United States, following last season's contest between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres at Ralph Wilson Stadium, the home of the NFL's Buffalo Bills. The game had a wintry feel, as it was played in slow and sleet in front of a crowd of 71,217.

The initial Winter Classic took place at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium in 2003. In that game, the Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers battled zero-degree temperatures and a wind chill that reached 15-below.

"Everybody is going to have their fingers crossed for good weather to allow us to play on some good ice," Maltby added.

Bettman acknowledged that the New York Yankees and the City of New York also were interested in hosting the Winter Classic at Yankee Stadium, which is in its 84th and final season. Logistical problems, however, prevented that from happening.

Bettman did not rule out the possibility of the NHL playing an outdoor game at the Yankees' new stadium, which opens next season.

"We look forward to continuing discussions regarding the possibility of playing a future Winter Classic game at the new Yankee Stadium," Bettman said.