If you think that Fenway Park is an uncomfortable place to watch a sporting event in July, wait until January. Hockey fans will get the chance to experience "America's Most Beloved Ballpark" on New Year's Day when the Boston Bruins take the ice against the Philadelphia Flyers with Fenway's Green Monster serving as a backdrop. After months of speculation, the NHL announced today that Fenway Park will be the site of the 2010 NHL Winter Classic. The exact location of where the rink will be situated on Fenway's field has not been determined yet, but it should be similar to what was plotted out for today's press conference.
The game will take place on January 1, 2010 at 1:00 PM ET and will air on NBC in the United States. Ticket information for the game has not yet been released.
Fenway Park will be open to the public in the days leading up to the Winter Classic for public skating at the old ballyard. There has been talk of a Boston University-Boston College game at Fenway on January 8th, but that was not mentioned during today's press conference (or if ity was, I missed it).
The rest of the Bruins '09-'10 regular season schedule will be released this afternoon.
For a gallery of AP photos from today's press conference, click on the photo above this post.