Now that the NHL has had some outdoor games, what about the AHL? Tim Leone of the Patriot-News had some intriguing information in a post on The Sports Blog:
Dave Andrews, president and CEO of the AHL, said today the league is considering the idea of having an outdoor game and that Hersheypark Stadium would be considered an ideal venue for such an event.
“I don’t think Doug [Yingst] was one of the guys that said, ‘Let’s have an outdoor game,’” Andrews said. “But I think all of us in the league, if we thought where would it make sense to have an outdoor game, where would it work, that would be awesome. You’ve got to stir up the interest down there. We’d love to do it in Hershey.”
Given the recent success of the NHL Winter Classic, this is the best time for the AHL to consider such an event. The fact that it’s being discussed at the Board of Governors meeting is promising. There’s no doubt that the league should have an outdoor game, and Hershey would be an ideal location. Imagine if it was Hershey vs. Wilkes-Barre! Now that would be a game worth watching in the cold.
4 Comments
I would gladly make my first ever trek to Hershey for such an event.
I honestly don’t think it will ever happen here.
I doubt highly weather would cooperate with such a game. Don’t get me wrong, I’d LOVE to see something like it but I just don’t think it’ll ever happen.
I believe it will. The Rangers once played an outdoor exhibition game in Las Vegas; the game-time temperature was 84 degrees, and the ice was better than Verizon Center’s. Hershey is the perfect AHL market for this game. It has the history, and even better, the venue perched right between the two great rinks. Natural fit. Gotta think the NHL would have to absorb some of the construction cost.
Hershey’s stadium would be excellent. Though I think the Steelers’ home would be a terrific venue as well. Either location would be a great place for the AHL Battle of Pennsylvania.
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