We weren't sure we'd be able to attend the event until New Year's Eve afternoon, and it certainly made for a whirlwind day, leaving the D.C. area at 2:30 a.m. on New Year's Day to arrive in Back Bay at 10:30 a.m., with a quick stop at the Boston University bookstore under the Citgo sign and walking over the Mass Pike into what was a classic ballpark draped in white.
I must say, the event exceeded everything that I had envisioned, as having been to countless Red Sox games at Fenway, it certainly was surreal to see the bandbox on Yawkey Way with two ice rinks on the diamond, one for the NHL players and the others for two teams of youngsters in the shadow of the Green Monster.
I've had the great fortune to attend the deciding games of the Stanley Cup Finals, World Series as well as NHL All-Star Games, Olympics, NCAA Frozen Fours, and I must say, Friday's game ranks with all of them.
Certainly, in three short years, the Winter Classic has gone from an event that no one knew how people would respond to (the NHL wasn't sure the original in Buffalo would even sell out, let alone be as popular as it was), and now is just a close second for the biggest event on the NHL calendar. It certainly has lapped the All-Star Game's status, and probably is now close to the excitement of the Stanley Cup Finals - not a small feat for a January regular-season contest.
This year, Boston took the event to the next level, keeping the ice in use for several weeks, featuring not only the Winter Classic, but a pair of college games this Friday, a Bruins' legends game, not to mention public skating on the temporary surface for city residents.
As for the main event, the atmosphere was not unlike you might see at the Super Bowl, certainly a well-heeled crowd (tickets were sold from anywhere for $50 for obstructed view all the way up to $350 for the higher seats which allowed a better view of the actual game), but one that was having a great time despite the chill in the air. With a large segment of tickets held for Flyers' ticket holders, there was an ongoing debate between Philadelphia and Boston fans, but certainly one of two fan-bases having a good time in a regular-season contest unlike any other that will be held this season.
So, with that in mind, after not quite being sure they would continue with the event after last year's game at Wrigley Field but clearly realizing what an event that has been created in a short period of time, conversation will turn to where - and who - will be involved in next year's edition.
The Capitals are certainly in the conversation for this year's event (and likely would have been Boston's opponent had it not been for NBC's request for the Flyers to be involved), so there are a couple of different possiblities for the NHL to consider for next year.
The most likely scenario up until a couple of weeks ago was the Caps heading to Yankee Stadium to meet the Rangers. However, the stadium will hold a college bowl game for the next three years, and with the NHL wanting several weeks to set up the ice after the first edition of the Classic was a bit rushed in terms of setting the ice, the league certainly would prefer having the event at a baseball park (or college stadium) over having to work around an NFL schedule which could mean only a couple of days to set up the rink.
With Yankee Stadium likely out, there are other venues to hold the 2011 Winter Classic in around the New York area, although there are some strings with each one. Citi Field will be available, but certainly after trips to Wrigley and Fenway, Citi certainly isn't quite in the same league as Yankee for prestige. There's also the new Meadowlands stadium, but with both the Giants and Jets playing in their new home, there simply won't be time to set up and disassemble the rink.
The league could also go off the map and make a temporary rink in Central Park, but certainly, it would be a lot more difficult to sell those $350 seats with temporary bleachers and a diminished seat capacity.
If the Rangers are taking out of the mix, the league could opt to hold it in Washington or Baltimore, although there would be concerns about how the unpredictable January weather in D.C. would treat the ice. While FedEx Field has been mentioned as a possible candidate, certainly the Lerners' involvement with both the Capitals and Nationals would seem to point towards Nats Park as a likely venue if the game is held in the District.
Oriole Park has also been mentioned in past conversations, but with the same weather concerns. However, the iconic new ballpark certainly might be the most famous of those available anywhere next January. While the Flyers will be out of the mix in next year's matchup (which Baltimore could have been a neutral site between Washington and Philadelphia), it certainly would be a little closer to New York if the Rangers are involved.
There is also talk the NHL may bring the Penguins back for next year's edition, simply for the ratings a Sidney Crosby-Alexander Ovechkin matchup outdoors might generate. If that's the case, the likely host might be PNC Park, as it certainly would be a stunning visual backdrop to have the Steel City in the distance as the two foes squared off at one of baseball's best parks. There would also less of a concern over the weather in western Pennsylvania, so that might tip the Classic north.
Of course, there is a discussion to bring nest year's Classic out west, with Target Field in Minneapolis pushing hard for a Minnesota-Dallas matchup, although NBC might balk at that matchup due to less of a national presence of both those teams. Another possibility would be Denver at either Invesco (should the Broncos agree to hit the road for the last few weeks of the season), or more likely, Coors Field.
But after attending this year's edition, it certainly would be a memorable event for the Capitals to be involved with, particularly if the NHL selects a striking venue.
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