Hershey To Host WB/Scranton at HersheyPark Stadium on 1/20/13

[chilly666]

HERSHEY, Pa. - The HERSHEY BEARS, in conjunction with the American Hockey League, announced tonight that the club will host an Outdoor Game to be played at HERSHEYPARK Stadium next winter. The announcement was made during this evening's pre-game ceremony by BEARS President/GM Doug Yingst.

The game is scheduled for Sunday, January 20, 2013, and will be the marquee event in honoring 75 years of HERSHEY BEARS hockey. The BEARS will face off against their rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins outside in the elements at one of the most recognizable and historic venues in the country.

"In 30 years of my involvement with the HERSHEY BEARS Hockey Club and the HERSHEY community, I've had no greater pride than I have now in bringing an American Hockey League Outdoor Game right here to HERSHEY next season," Yingst said.

American Hockey League President/CEO David Andrews was on hand for the announcement, also addressing the sellout crowd from a podium adorned with the BEARS' 75th anniversary logo.

"This is a deserving honor for the community of Hershey as you celebrate a milestone season," Andrews said. "Congratulations in hosting what promises to be a wonderful experience in January, and we'll see you there."

Capital BlueCross has also been announced as the proud presenting sponsor of the game.

The contest will be the sixth American Hockey League game played outdoors, and second involving HERSHEY. The BEARS took on the Adirondack Phantoms in the January 6, 2012 Outdoor Classic at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA, in front of an AHL-record crowd of 45,653.

[BobNystromOwnsU]

Hershey gets two straight? Get the fcuk out of here.

[chilly666]

75th anniversary is the reason why they get to participate in a 2nd one in two years.

[BobNystromOwnsU]

Originally Posted by chilly666

75th anniversary is the reason why they get to participate in a 2nd one in two years.

So I'm guessing they knew in the 74th year that next year would be the 75th years and planned accordingly. Not a good sign to send to fans of other teams, but the NHL is making the winter classic about 6 or 8 teams too. It's the way it is.

[chilly666]

it seems that way...this year's game was "thrown" together and they wanted it to be a rivalry game.

though i will say, there are not many teams that will want to spend the money to host one ala the all-star game. so the amount of teams participating in an outdoor game, will be slim.

[D Y B FLYERS]

I am not a Bears fan, but grew up in Hershey so I may consider attending next year. Although historic, I don't really think Hersheypark Stadium is one of the most recognizable venues in the country. And as for them getting an outdoor game 2 years in a row, I mean c'mon, who else is going to participate? I highly doubt anybody besides Hershey would be finacially able to do so, or have the fan base to be able to be able to attract enough fans. The AHL average is about 5,000/game, and Hershey is just under 10,000 fans a game, and if you go to a game, most of those 10,000 are actually in the seats not just ticket sales.

[chilly666]

the wolves could do one...they have the funding and the fan base to do it.

the only problem for them is that there really isn't a stadium around here to support it. they could do it at northern illinois university in dekalb, but that would be a rockford home game really and wouldn't make sense.

[BobNystromOwnsU]

Didn't Syracuse have one a couple years ago?

Good point on the dollars, Chilly, I never thought about that. But if that's true and nobody can afford one, are they going to have it there every year?


Maybe I'm bitter and delusional and want one in Silver stadium in Rochester. I think people would come out for that. And i think Pegula has the dollars too.

[nyrpack]

they have some great loyal fans why not !!

[chilly666]

Originally Posted by BobNystromOwnsU

Didn't Syracuse have one a couple years ago?

Good point on the dollars, Chilly, I never thought about that. But if that's true and nobody can afford one, are they going to have it there every year?


Maybe I'm bitter and delusional and want one in Silver stadium in Rochester. I think people would come out for that. And i think Pegula has the dollars too.

yes syracuse did vs bingo.

as for the every year question, it depends on the team. i know that this is a special occasion for hershey. but it seems like the ahl wants to do one along with the nhl outdoor games so they could happen every year but its depends on location of the nhl game, that will be the major determining factor if one happens yearly or not imo.

as for rochester having one, idk if pegula wants to spend the money on one. like i stated earlier, the money that has to be spent if separate from the nhl location (ice making crew, ice making machine, boards, etc...) is expensive as hell and most owners are not gonna be willing to lose that much money. hence why the all-star game was in atlantic city this year, because no owner wanted the shell out the dough for it so the league paid for it.

[chilly666]