What do you think about NHL Winter Classic in Pittsburgh?

Not really impressed with this decision. The NHL has this strange outlook that this league somehow cannot survive unless Crosby is somehow involved in every aspect of the sport. Don't be surprised to see Pittsburgh in a couple of more of these Winter Classics and other special events over the next few years. Including an NHL all star game in Pittsburgh soon becase of their new arena opening this fall. Fans of other teams are going to have to get use to this being the Criesbaby league!

I had a feeling that for hockey in the U.S., a gold medal win over Canada would have been very sweet especially for the NHL, but really it didn't matter in the end because the NHL's poster boy of the league still scored the OT winner! I mean the louder Criesbaby screams, the more the league will kiss his ***!

I figure the NHL is co-dependent with Crosby and the Pens, and in some ways justifiably so. However, the WC is a regional thing which does make it difficult to schedule them so that every team gets to play in one.

All the northernmost cities that experience weather conducive to such an outdoor event will be the host in most cases with teams from the southern regions always the visitor at least until technology advances to the point where an outdoor game can be played in say the blazing Arizona sun.

The trump card is always the source of revenue. In this case, it's the network. They say "dance" and the NHL starts kicking.

The NHL Winter Classic is the brainchild of NBC and Gary Bettman. If NBC were to land the broadcast rights to a major BCS Bowl game watch the winter classic go the way of the Dodo bird.

The winter classic can only survive if a household name is playing in each one. Crosby, Ovechkin, maybe Kane as the All American boy might work. But NBC has to have a name that they can sell to mid America. If people in Tennessee aren't going to go to a Preditor's game live. How are you going to get them to turn off the Rose Bowl to watch Martin Havlat play Paul Statsny in a hockey game?

Its complete bullshit... Pittsburgh has already been in a winter classic its ridiculous 22 other teams haven't been in it once and pittsburgh gets to do it twice? that's just stupid, for example im a huge Red Wings fan but if they were in another winter classic id be irritated give every team a chance for gods sake bettman we are SICK of you shoving crysby and the penguins down our throats enough is enough this isn't a mighty ducks movie this is the NHL believe it or not people do actually follow the other 29 teams.

It's NBC's toy so they're going to do what they want with it which I reckon is NBC's option; I have given up the ghost on a Canadian team ever being involved.

However, logistically, I will admit to some very real concerns:

-Heinz Field is, to the best of my knowledge, a grass field and one that has proven to be difficult to maintain.

-Unlike in Chicago and Boston, you won't have a 3-week buildout. This will be on a tight turn like Buffalo, where they had numerous problems with the ice (and Buffalo was a synthetic playing surface). I'm sure that they have learned a lot since 2008, but I would hate to see someone get injured because of bad ice.

-Potentially, they will have to tear the rink down immediately, meaning that fans won't have the same options as Boston and Chicago fans did in skating on the rink (playing the game at PNC Park would have alleviated this).

i don't possibly think of the Penguins could desire to have yet another iciness classic yet. supply different communities a huge gamble to adventure it. in spite of this, a million/2 the NHL communities won't be able to take part interior the iciness classic because of fact of, properly, the components. i know for a reality there will be NO iciness classic in San Hose, Florida, or Atlanta. I do only like the assumption of a iciness classic game in Canada. which would be exciting.

since hockey originated in Canada, the winter classic shouldve been the leafs and canadiens (both canadian teams) and one of the biggest rivals in the NHL. it wouldve been interesting to watch

Bettmans an idot for putting Pens in it again

For the other game, it shouldn't be Montreal vs Calgary it should be Vancouver vs Calgary

Ive had enough of Cindy and crew.

i love some of you people who are pissed....Bettman is doing what is best for the NHL....he is trying to get new fans....this is how it happens Crosby vrs Ovechkin...Pens Vrs Caps....get over it