Flyers Fenway Bound: Philadelphia Will Play in Winter Classic

As of last week, the NHL was set on having their 2010 Winter Classic matchup to be the Washington Capitals against the Boston Bruins at Fenway Park in Boston.

My, how the tables have turned...

The Philadelphia Flyers will invade Fenway Park this January against the Boston Bruins. Anthony SanFilippo of the Delco Times confirmed that the NHL has indeed made it official that the Flyers have been chosen to play the Bruins.

The NHL has been heavily pushing the Capitals so they can put more of a focus on Alexander Ovechkin, but NBC wanted none of it—they wanted the orange and the black, largely because of the television numbers that the Flyers put up every season, including last. NBC believed the classic would be better marketed by the Flyers.

The NHL has confirmed that the Flyers would play in the outdoor extravaganza. The Flyers have agreed to play. No official announcement has been made.

Flyers president Peter Lukko has not yet been informed of the league's decision, so an announcement would obviously have to be made sooner rather than later.

This is unexpected because the Flyers probably thought they were already out of the running as of a few weeks ago. The Winter Classic is the most popular and most successful event for both the NHL and NBC network.

The NHL has been rumored to be set on having the 2011 Winter Classic held in either Calgary or Toronto. No official word has been set on that regard.

We can expect a great Philadelphia crowd packing Fenway Park.