For only the 4th time since the event was introduced, the NHL's annual Winter Classic, an outdoor game, will be played on the 2nd of January, instead of New Year's Day.
Tonight's game sees the Florida Panthers host the Rangers at LoanDepot Park in Miami. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has said that the retractable roof at the stadium will be opened when the game starts at 8 pm ET on TNT.
Ever since the Winter Classic first took place nearly 20 years ago, it'd been a day game. I get that TNT wants the ratings, but with college football postseason bowls airing on ESPN & Fox, the latter of which will have the Holiday Bowl opposite the Winter Classic, this is looking like a fool's folly for TNT.
The other concern is attendance. The Marlins, the stadium's spring-summer tenant, ranks among the weakest in terms of attendance in Major League Baseball. The lighting in the indoor arenas where the Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning play can cover up the fact that neither team isn't exactly big box office, and that's despite the teams having about 3-4 Stanley Cups between them as of this season.
But, since the College Football Playoff is now idle until next week, maybe TNT has a chance.
If anyone's paying attention.
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