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January 1 at The Ralph… this is gonna be big!
by Andrew Kulyk – Sep 17th 2007, 4:50pm – [trackback]
If today’s press conference at Ralph Wilson Stadium is any indication, then January 1 will rank among the epic sports events EVER to be held in Western New York.
The National Hockey League today formally unveiled the “Winter Classic”, the league’s first outdoor game to be held on American soil. The Sabres will play the Pittsburgh Penguins at 1 PM in a game which will be televised nationally on NBC, and across Canada on CBC and RDS (French channel).
It was a packed house on the field today, with the league televising the event via satellite and local TV and radio affiliates carrying the press conference live on local channels. Sabres play by play voice Rick Jeanneret hosted the show, opening with a video montage of two previous outdoor games, the frozen “Heritage Classic” held in Edmonton in 2003, and the “Cold War” held in East Lansing , Michigan in 2001, between Michigan and Michigan State Universities.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman explained the huge logistical challenges to putting on such an event. “This is a massive undertaking, putting in the piping, getting the ice up, configuring the boards and the glass.” Bettman stated that they will begin work eight days before the actual game. He also indicated that there are plans for both teams to practice on the ice the day beforehand, but that as of this time there are no plans to make that practice open to the public.
Sabres owner Tom Golisano admitted that he ended up blowing off a World Series game back in 1956 for which he had tickets, and ended up missing Don Larsen’s perfect game. “I had plans to be in Naples on New Years Day, but no way am I giving this up.”
Andrew Peters got the biggest laugh of the day, when Rick Jeanneret called him up to the dais and asked him when was the last time he played a game outdoors. “This past summer my brother and I played on the Playstation on my patio” Peters quipped.
Managing Partner Larry Quinn said that the 2003 Heritage Classic in Edmonton resulted in over 950,000 requests for tickets, and predicted that demand will be strong. “It’s going to put Buffalo on the map. When’s the last time we did the first thing in history in Buffalo?”
OK here are some details as far as ticketing and pricing…
-Tickets go on sale tomorrow (Sept 18) at ticketmaster.com, and the ticket offices at RWS and HSBC Arena. Prices run from $225 for the indoor clubs down to $10 for obstructed seating in the first few rows.
-Season ticket holders were notfiied today that they will receive ther seats in the mail separate of their season ticket packet, with their seat assignment roughly corresponding to their arena prices (note – we own 100 level II and 100 level III seats and they will be seating us in the $60 seats in the lower bowl.
-Season ticket holders will be able to order additional seats before Sept 28; after that any extras will be released for general sale.
-Bills club seat season ticket holders will have rights to purchase their seats for this event.
-Tailgating and parking will be coordinated by the Bills staff. I couldn’t get a firm reply on parking rates (I tried to put Bettman on the spot and wanted to ask if the league would offer free parking, but they cut the conference off just when I was the next question… aarrgghhh!!). But the implication was it would be the same rules like a Bills game, meaning lots open 4 hours beforehand, and *sigh* $25 to park your vehicle.
Yes, and the league press kit (which the Buffalo News John Vogl got along with all of us today) has the seating chart showing pricing from $29 and up with the front row seats just labeled as “obstructed”, while the seating chart sent out with the mailer (and the one WNYM received this past weekend) shows those obstructed seats priced at $10. So his article today was right, and we were right. Make sense? Hope so!
Lastly, looks like we are going to have to apply to the league for press credentials, as they are running the show here. Back when this event was first announced, Pete told me “you can have the pressbox seat I’m sitting in the stands.” At the time I said fine with me, but already we got the email from Gary and The King from NYC who want to come and want tickets, others will surely be calling as well. Looks like Pete may have the better part of the deal after all. But press pass or no, we are getting the tailgate going early!