Olympic Stadium Game More Likely Than Calgary Outdoor Game

Canadiens Looking To Play Game At Expos' Old Ballpark As Part Of Centennial Celebration

The Canadiens plan to continue their centennial celebration with "an 'indoor/outdoor' game in late November at Olympic Stadium," which should be announced "within the next two weeks once an opponent and scheduling issues are addressed," according to Michael Farber of SI.com. The NHL Thursday during a Competition Committee meeting in Montreal "pulled the proposed Winter Classic doubleheader game on New Year's Day in Calgary off the table ... and instead subbed in a match close to the date the Canadiens played the first game in franchise history: Dec. 4." NBC had "expressed concern" that a second outdoor game on January 1 "would diminish the impact of the Boston-Philadelphia match in Fenway Park." Canadiens Exec VP & GM Bob Gainey, who is on the Competition Committee, positioned a prospective game at Olympic Stadium as a "celebration for fans rather than a cash grab, which would mean reasonably-priced tickets in a venue that ... has been fallow" since the Expos moved to DC prior to the '05 season. Farber wrote there is "little doubt that it will be a boon the bottom line," as Olympic Stadium held close to 60,000 fans for baseball, compared to the 21,273-seat Bell Centre. Meanwhile, Farber reports the NHL also is "looking for a way to take more advantage of the anticipated bump in hockey interest coming off" the Vancouver Olympics next February. It is likely the Penguins and Capitals "will play on Saturday, six days after the gold-medal game, in a match that will be embroidered with some sort of folderol, perhaps a concert" (SI.com, 6/25).

King Says Flames Disappointed Calgary Game Won't Take Place

FLAMING OUT: The GLOBE & MAIL's Tim Wharnsby reports the NHL "hoped to add two games, in Montreal and Calgary, but it appears the competition committee settled on one match at Olympic Stadium as well as the Fenway Park contest." NHLPA Exec Dir Paul Kelly: "There are concerns that having too many special events would devalue the Winter Classic. That being said, we are looking at a couple of potential special events beyond the NBC Winter Classic game that we all collectively think will be good for the game and that won't dilute the game." Wharnsby notes the Canadiens' opponent for the game "may be either" the Senators or Maple Leafs (GLOBE & MAIL, 6/26). Flames President & CEO Ken King said the team is "very disappointed" the prospective game at McMahon Stadium will not take place. King: "I'd heard from fans ... and they were looking forward to it. We had gotten all excited about it as the rumour spread and our fans got attached to it. We're like them -- we're disappointed that it's not going to go ahead" (CALGARY HERALD, 6/26).

DON'T OVERDO IT: The Flyers are the latest team rumored to play the Bruins in Fenway Park on January 1, and in Philadelphia, John Gonzalez writes of the Winter Classic, "The NHL couldn't do this kind of thing all the time because it would lose its novelty. But I wouldn't mind seeing one or two more outdoor games a year." Gonzalez: "Maybe spread them throughout the season. They're fun events, and they get people who would otherwise ignore a regular season, out-of-market hockey game to pay attention." The PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER's James Salisbury writes of the Fenway Park game, "All in all, I think it's a cool idea. But let's just hope it's not misty, rainy, and pushing 60 degrees up there on [New Year's Day]. That can happen, and that might make things sloppy" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 6/26).