admitted as much — but now it is official: The Boston Bruins will host
the Philadelphia Flyers at Fenway Park in January of 2010.
Bettman made the announcement Wednesday afternoon at Fenway Park. The game will take place at 1 p.m. on New Year’s Day.
“I am pleased to end the speculation on perhaps what has been the
worst-kept secret there is, and in 2010, a unique and iconic event
which certainly deserves a unique and iconic venue will be played here
at Fenway Park,” Bettman said.
“We are delighted to bring this great event to a city with so much history and so much sports history,” he later added.
“Landing the Winter Classic here is something that we have worked
hard to achieve for our fans for quite some time,” Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs
said in a release from the team. “In Boston, we have been home to more
than our fair share of great sports moments… too many to list. But
there is no doubt that on New Year’s Day 2010, we will be adding
another indelible memory to that long list.”
Information on how to purchase tickets will be made available in the coming weeks.
Boston mayor Tom Menino announced that ice will be open for two days of public skating as well.
“While it’s July — I love summer — I can’t wait to be back here on
New Year’s Day,” Menino said. “It will be 28 degrees, little snowflakes
coming down, and Marc Savard, Tim Thomas and all the Bruins will be out here against the Flyers.”
Bruins executive vice president Charlie Jacobs also added that the team and the league will make roughly 1,000 seats available for members of area youth hockey programs.
Last year, the Chicago Blackhawks hosted the Detroit Red Wings at
Wrigley Field, while the Buffalo Sabres hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins
the previous year in Ralph Wilson Stadium.
“It should be an outstanding event and we are all very much looknig
forward to it,” Bettman said. “And despite it being 80 degrees in the
middle of July, happy New Year, Boston.”
