As 2010 Winter Classic Looms, What's In Store For Next Year?

Tomorrow afternoon, the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins will face each other in the third annual NHL Winter Classic. This year's outdoor game will be played in the legendary Fenway Park, and it is sure to be one of the most memorable games if the weather holds out. The first Winter Classic was almost magical, and drew rave reviews from everyone in the sports world. Millions watch as the Penguins and Sabres played at Ralph Wilson Stadium in the middle of a blizzard. Last season, baseball fans made sure to tune in as the Blackhawks and Red Wings took each other on at Wrigley Field.

Come 2011, and another outdoor game, which two teams will be chosen? It was widely speculated that the Rangers were going to get it this season; a game to be played at the New Yankee Stadium between either the Bruins, Devils, or Islanders, but it did not happen. The Winter Classic has been perhaps the greatest idea ever thought up by the NHL, and for the success to be continued, the Rangers need to be included. They need the American team with the biggest market at the center of attention next season. The only question is, who do they face, and where will they play?

Yankee Stadium seems to be the most logical choice, but weather cold enough for ice rink conditions for an NHL game is not a guarantee in New York, which would be the southernmost city an event like this would ever be played in, not including a preseason game in Las Vegas in the early 1990's, which was a complete and utter failure.

With Target Field in Minnesota undergoing completion in time for the Twins' 2010 baseball season, that would seem to be a very good choice. The right temperature is almost a guarantee, and what better place to stage a hockey game than in the "State of Hockey" itself?

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