The Great Outdoors: Boston, N.Y., Philly Top Winter Classic List

NHL reps in recent weeks "have been shopping around various cities and sites" for next year's Winter Classic, with Boston, N.Y. and Philadelphia "atop the list," according to Kevin Paul Dupont of the BOSTON GLOBE. Fenway Park and Gillette Stadium are under consideration in the Boston area, and Bruins Exec VP Charlie Jacobs said that league officials "have visited both sites." Jacobs: "I'd love to have the game -- period. It would be a coup." Dupont noted the Canadiens or Rangers would be the "most likely opponent" should the Bruins host the game. The new Yankee Stadium is the front-runner in N.Y., while Lincoln Financial Field is "believed to be the No. 1 contender" in Philadelphia (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/22).

GETTING A SECOND WIND: Suns President & COO Rick Welts said that the team "is planning another outdoor preseason game" on the heels of October's Nuggets-Suns game at Indian Wells Tennis Center in California. Welts said, "It was a success last year and it's something that we'd like to do again." He added that the proposed game "is still in the early stages in gaining league approval" (Lefton & Lombardo, SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/23 issue).