The annual NHL Winter Classic is coming up on New Year’s Day, with the Kraken facing the Golden Knights at the Seattle Mariners’ baseball stadium. Yesterday the NHL released a rendering of the full site design for the event (shown above).
As you can see, the ballpark’s batter’s eye will feature an image of a kraken’s eye. The rest of the site design features a nautical theme, described in the press release like so:
[The rink will sit] atop oceanic topographic maps that convey the region’s waters of Puget Sound. Docks and piers surround the rink, providing entry points onto the field for the Kraken and Golden Knights. Exposed areas of illustrated water within the snow and ice landscape feature a real auxiliary ice rink and boats, including a shipwrecked vessel capsized by the mysterious sea creature [the kraken], that will serve as the main entertainment stage. The iceberg floating behind the team benches features an NHL compass representing the Pacific Northwest.
[…]
The NHL on TNT set will broadcast from a boathouse erected in left field, overlooking the auxiliary rink that will host local youth hockey players throughout the game.
That all seems nice enough. But I have to say, I always find it a bit weird that they have local youth teams playing during the Winter Classic. Like, on the one hand it’s very cool that they incorporate local kids into the event. But if you’re a young hockey fan/player in Seattle, wouldn’t you want to see the Kraken playing in the Winter Classic, instead of missing the game because you’re participating in your own game?
Also of note: “The second intermission will feature ‘A Tribute to Seattle Sports,’ with appearances by Jay Buhner, Matt Hasselbeck, Walter Jones, Steve Largent, Marshawn Lynch, Edgar Martinez, Jack Sikma, Isaiah Thomas, Lenny Wilkens, and Dan Wilson.” It’s not yet clear, at least to me, what that will entail, but there’s definitely some fun uni potential there.
(My thanks to Phil for bringing this news to my attention.)
The ballpark will be full, but there’s nothing there that looks like a good seat to watch hockey.
Watching hockey at a baseball stadium is awful and distant.
I laugh at the people who pay so they can freeze to “see” this (and I love hockey)!
At least a football stadium has better (though still very distant) sightlines
I went when it was in DC. My seats were in the upper deck down the third base line, so in hockey terms, right behind the goal way up.
I’m glad I did it. I did it not for the hockey as much as going for the experience. The experience was great-there was a lot of excitement in the air and people were having a great time. That being said, I’m not sure I’d do it again, especially given the cost.
I did learn one thing about ballparks and hockey. Ballparks are designed assuming people get up and get food and drink, go to the restroom, etc. at random times during the game. They don’t work as well for period breaks when everyone gets up at once.
I went when it was in DC. My seats were in the upper deck down the third base line, so in hockey terms, right behind the goal way up.
I’m glad I did it. I did it not for the hockey as much as going for the experience. The experience was great-there was a lot of excitement in the air and people were having a great time. That being said, I’m not sure I’d do it again, especially given the cost.
I did learn one thing about ballparks and hockey. Ballparks are designed assuming people get up and get food and drink, go to the restroom, etc. at random times during the game. They don’t work as well for period breaks when everyone gets up at once.
Why would you laugh at anyone for going to see something they like? That really goes against what this commUNIty is all about.
Has anyone ever read anything that explained why the NHL will pick a ballpark over a football stadium? I would expect Seattle would sell out the adjacent stadium, whose name I’m blanking on and refusing to look up, so that shouldn’t be the issue. I guess they would prefer to have the roof in the event of rain in Seattle, but I was surprised when the Blackhawks hosted at Wrigley instead of Solider Field for their first Winter Classic.
I’d guess that the prep time needed for setup and teardown would conflict with NFL games. I don’t know how long the setup and teardown takes, but I’d guess that would force the Seahawks to play their last few regular season (and any potential playoff games) on the road.
Ironically, the baseball stadium roof can be closed.
Exactly. Generally the rink takes a week to construct, is up for two weeks or so, then takes another week to disassemble. Since the NFL went to an 18-week season (17 games + a bye week) that extends into January, no NFL stadium can commit to it unless they play their final three games on the road…. and admit that they have zero chance of hosting a playoff game.
Unless it rains, don’t think the roof is going to come into play; the M’s ballpark (can we PLEEZ call it the new Kingdome?) is oriented in such a way that a low sun – and they’ll be only ten days removed from the lowest sun position of the year – won’t shine directly on the ice.
The football stadium in Seattle is a partial roof. The playing surface is still exposed to the elements.
Baseball stadiums have a lot more availability in January than Football stadiums.
The sites are set up weeks in advance and often have other events before the game. Local teams, first responders games, and the like. You often don’t get that flexibility with the NFL schedule.
the adjacent stadium, whose name I’m blanking on and refusing to look up
I just call it the Seahawks Stadium.
Love the art on the wall behind the tree. Or is that a NYC subway map ;-)
I find it hilariously bad that they’re apparently doing “a tribute to Seattle sports” without Sue Bird and/or Megan Rapinoe.
I found it very surprising that no Storm players made that list.
There is no guarantee that list is exhaustive or complete.
I’m with you there, Jamie.
Same with Lauren Jackson.
I can spot a Frohes Weinachten ornament which I also like, just like the mini goalie blocker in the tree. And that great crab can with waves at the bottom. A nautical theme in today’s post!
Im usually whatever on this stuff, but I love everything about this seattle setup.
Part of the draw these days with youth travel sp
Seems like a strange positioning of the rink. Most of the closest seats are behind each goal. I would have thought that they would place it along either the 3rd or 1st base side, so the closest seats would be on 3 sides.
I’d like to see the rink run down the third base line just so none of the playing surface is covered by the roof. It may still be outdoors, but that partial roof ruins it a bit.
Love the clean boards and ice. That’s how it should always be, but unfortunately it will be ad clad. The renderings also have each team in their standard uniforms. That’s kind of a sad job by the NHL. Should have been in the WC uniforms.
That’s what I thought! Oh, for a moment: clean boards?? Yes! but of course, we’ll never see that again. Sure makes hockey broadcasts the worst of all the majors with all those ads in every shot. /sadface
In truth, the technology now can project ads onto boards that already have ads. I watched the Caps game last night and, while the boards had their own “native” ads (which you could see in closeups), the Monumental folks projected Wawa and other ads on the boards making it look like a Mexican soccer stadium.
So many distractions for fans seated so far from the ice. Honestly, all it does is remind me of the melting ice caps.
One thing that amuses me about that WC setup is that the batter’s eye has the Kraken logo on it with a focus on its “eye”.
I can tell you right now that I could do without eyes watching me in the WC. Not my scene.
I’ve attended the Blackhawks games at both Wrigley Field and Soldier Field. For hockey fans it is a great event, what else are you doing New Years day anyway?
The sight lines are not good, but the NHL does a great job with the atmosphere both insode and outside the park. It is a good fan experience, and worth freezing your ass off for a few hours. To me, no different than going to an NFL game in a cold weather city. Would I do this every year, absolutely not. But when your team gets an opportunity, it makes for a fun experience.
As to Paul’s comments about the kids playing. As a hockey parent, I can guarantee you my kid (any most hockey kids) would trade thier left nut for the opportunity to play a few hours on that ice rather than watching any hockey game going on.
My goodness why all the negativity, oh well I guess that’s internet for ya. Anyways,
I attended the 2014 Winter Classic in Ann Arbor when it was the Red Wings hosting the Maple Leafs and it was so f’n awesome.