A Winter Classic at Heinz Field
PITTSBURGH — Heinz Field is no stranger to hosting big rivalries. Whenever the Cleveland Browns or Baltimore Ravens come to town, all eyes turn to the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
But the 65,000-seat stadium has never seen a rivalry like the one coming on New Year's Day when the Pittsburgh Penguins and captain Sidney Crosby host rival Washington Capitals and its star Alex Ovechkin in the Winter Classic.
The matchup of the NHL's two biggest stars going head-to-head will again bring attention to the Steel City, which has played host to world leaders and other major sporting events in recent years.
"We're used to football in that stadium, but ice hockey? That's pretty cool," said Hollie Geitner, vice president of marketing for the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, the city's downtown business association.
Gary Bettman, commissioner of the NHL, announced Friday that the showcase would be played Jan. 1 at Heinz Field. The event marks another triumph in a long line of huge national events that the city has landed, including the G-20 summit and NFL kickoff show last year, and Major League Baseball's All-Star game in 2006.
Pennsylvania hockey teams have played a big part in the Winter Classic since it began in 2008. The Pens played in the first classic in Buffalo, and the Philadelphia Flyers played Boston last year at Fenway Park. But this will be the first time the outdoor hockey showcase is played in Pennsylvania.
Ticket prices and other details will be announced in the coming months. In the meantime, the city's tourism board will be working with other groups to develop events around the game.
Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato said the game will be similar in scope to Major League Baseball's All-Star Game, with the bonus of tying it to the city's First Night celebration on New Year's Eve. Onorato said he envisions the weekend as a "major regional family event."
New Year's Eve is already a good night for hotels, but the timing of the hockey game will create even more opportunities because it's happening on a weekend, said Craig Davis, VisitPittsburgh's vice president of sales and marketing.
"It is a perfect storm for us," he said.
He said it's too early to guess how much money the game will generate in the city. But it comes at a time of year when things start to slow down for the city's 400 downtown businesses, he said.
That's true at Jerome Bettis' Grille 36 near the stadium, where business slumps in mid- to late January or when the Steelers' season ends.
"We're very excited," said Michael Jewel, the restaurant's general manager. "It will definitely give people an opportunity to visit the North Shore and give the area a chance to shine."
Also, Bettman said the Calgary Flames are expected to host the Montreal Canadiens at McMahon Stadium Feb. 20. Montreal played the Oilers in Edmonton in the 2003 Heritage Classic, the league's first outdoor regular-season game.
