Report: Dodgers interested in Winter Classic

Posted by Rich Hammond on 24 May 2012, 10:15 am

In a Los Angeles Times story today (link here), Stan Kasten, a member of the Dodgers’ new ownership group, said he intends to look into the possibility of a “Winter Classic’’ NHL game at Dodger Stadium. It’s good to see Kasten — a former Atlanta Thrashers executive — and the Dodgers interested in hockey, but it’s probably a longshot. Gary Bettman has sneered (literally) at any suggestion that a Winter Classic could be played in a warm-weather environment. And while the Kings would love to host an outdoor game — Luc Robitaille is a particularly big proponent — AEG is also in the planning stages of a new downtown football stadium, which would probably be a more likely location in the event that Bettman stops sneering.

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112 Comments

Sandy says:

May 24, 2012 at 10:17 am

Lets just get rid of Bettman.

[Reply]
Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:19 am
@Sandy, That’s like saying, “Just get rid of evil” …easier said than done.

[Reply]
colo king fan Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:36 am
@Sandy,

Why don’t you just cure cancer while you’re at it? Oh, wait, same thing.

[Reply]
Kramsteezy Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:59 am
@Sandy,

Anyone else remember that it was colder in LA than in Pitt during the 2011 Winter Classic? It was raining in Pitt and low 40′s in LA with no rain.

[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 12:29 pm
@Kramsteezy,
If you can guarantee similar such conditions ahead of time, my Uncle Gary will be glad to reconsider his earlier sneer!
Otherwise you lowly sun-slummin’ SoCal newbie hockey fans aint got a sno-cone’s chance in Helene Elliott!!!

[Reply]
Weasel Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 11:22 am
@Sandy,

It should be hard to sneer when your TV carrier is the (recently renamed) Outdoor Channel.

[Reply]
QUICKsilver Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 12:45 pm
@Weasel, Bettman is an [Expletive Deleted].

You have a better chance of clear skies and moderate temperatures here and how awesome would it be sunshine and palm trees in the background.

[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 1:04 pm
@QUICKsilver,
Wrong atmosphere for hockey.
Gray skies and buildings is where it’s at.
Obviously the East Coast is a much safer option when making these considerations.

Jack Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 2:04 pm
@Sandy, For how long can he stay at the helm?

[Reply]
Sandy Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 2:43 pm
@Jack, To long already

[Reply]
SLG1013 says:

May 24, 2012 at 10:19 am

I don’t think Bettman is going to stop sneering regardless of whether or not the winter classic is played in LA. He’s just snarky, arrogant, and completely annoying…

[Reply]
USHA#17 Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:40 am
@SLG1013,

The idea of a winter classic hockey game in dodger stadium is arrogant and annoying.

[Reply]
mrbrett7 Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 11:07 am
@USHA#17, Why? Other than the surrounding neighborhood, it’s a great location. Not to mention, warm weather has never stopped an outdoor game before.

I.E. Las Vegas, 100+ degrees, parking lot at Ceasar’s Palace.

[Reply]
ernest reyes Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 12:29 pm
@mrbrett7, Bring back the crickets!!

Joe Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 1:39 pm
@mrbrett7, I was at the game in Vegas. No reason for the Winter Classic not to be played at Dodger Stadium, none, zippo, blanko!

Bettman, needs to understand “marketing”.

Capt Jam Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 11:08 am
@USHA#17,

Agreed.

I wasn’t aware that the new Dodgers ownership had ties to the Thrashers. Boy, there’s a red flag that MLB ovelooked. That explains how this lame brain idea survived the three martini meal that undoubtedly spawned it.

[Reply]
Weasel Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 11:23 am
@USHA#17,

If that’s the case then the league should never have included LA as a second six city right?

[Reply]
KingsFanatic08 Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 1:30 pm
@USHA#17, I so beg to differ with you on that!

[Reply]
hockeyguy24 says:

May 24, 2012 at 10:19 am

I bet his tune changes a bit now with LA in the Finals. I would love to see two winter classics. One in a traditional East Coast market and one in the west. Kings-Ducks at Dodger Stadium?? or Now how about Kings vs Coyotes??

[Reply]
KingsFanFTW Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:21 am
@hockeyguy24, Coyotes wont have the fan base still,they only show up on playoffs runs…

So i say Kings vs Ducks!

[Reply]
bmova Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:39 am
@hockeyguy24, IMO, Kings and Sharks would be better!

[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 1:07 pm
@hockeyguy24,
All well and good, but you would have to rename it,
“The Winter Catastrophe” !

[Reply]
Shuchuk Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 4:44 pm
@Duncanz, you’re like the Sean Avery of this blog, annoying only because you don’t understand that you’re irrelevant. go to another website, I suggest http://www.farmersonly.com

[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 7:38 pm
@Shuchuk, +1 Schuchie
FKA PakiFro says:

May 24, 2012 at 10:22 am

Damn…no luck on the amex pre-sale.

Keep me in mind people if you have an extra ticket to game 4.

[Reply]
Shakes Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:27 am
@FKA PakiFro, ditto

[Reply]
Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:27 am
@FKA PakiFro, I heard that at 10am on the nose it was sold out. Sounds like it was a great advertisement for that company and nothing more.

[Reply]
FKA PakiFro Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:33 am
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),

yep. i literally tried it as soon as it hit 10 and nothing. for any price.

[Reply]
Tom in 118 Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:33 am
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), Total BS i bet the only tickets were the preferred seating jacked up prices for “code” holders

[Reply]
Gail Web Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:52 am
@FKA PakiFro, Agree no tiks at all this morning what a joke oh well, son with have to watch it on tv

[Reply]
Daniel Hernandez Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:55 am
@Gail Web, I think they are letting us STM’s buy 6 (2 per game) this time so probably held more for us.

[Reply]
Jeff_R Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 11:32 am
@FKA PakiFro, Unfortunately I feel the Season Seat pre-sale won’t be much better. Probably just singles spread throughout. Best bet is waiting close to game day and trying Ticket Exchange or Stub Hub.

[Reply]
EncinoMan Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 11:44 am
@Jeff_R,

My thoughts too, but one possibility of waiting too long is once the East team is determined, alot of the tix currently available on StubHub will be gobbled up by their fans.

[Reply]
PRMan Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 12:28 pm
@EncinoMan, Lets hope for NJ then, they don’t have any fans…
Crown Royal says:

May 24, 2012 at 10:24 am

Has anyone other than me felt that Bettman doesn’t really like hockey? I’ve always gotten the feeling he thinks hockey players are morons and hockey fans are mindless idiots.

[Reply]
Shuchuk Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:26 am
@Crown Royal, that’s ok, each year at least 2 cities get to BOO him mercilessly.

[Reply]
Shuchuk Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:27 am
@Shuchuk, Sorry, make it 3: ASG, Winter Classic, & Stanley Cup Finals.

[Reply]
Timere Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 11:23 am
@Shuchuk, Don’t forget the draft.

loskingpride Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 11:35 am
@Shuchuk, I’ve been lucky enough to boo him in person at the draft and this past ASG. But I always like to boo at my tv as well whenever he is on nhl live

Duncanz Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 1:00 pm
@Crown Royal,
Well, it’s not so far from the truth.
If nothing else, my Uncle Gary is a very good judge of his inferiors!

[Reply]
BrokeKingsFan says:

May 24, 2012 at 10:26 am

Thats funny! as cool as that would be….Hell would have to freeze over first

[Reply]
FKA PakiFro Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:33 am
@BrokeKingsFan,

Are you implying dodger stadium is hell?

[Reply]
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:39 am
@FKA PakiFro,

[Reply]
Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) says:

May 24, 2012 at 10:26 am

This from an article back on 12/31/11:

The architect behind the Winter Classic, John Collins, suggested that a game on the West Coast was unlikely. “We have a window at 1 o’clock on New Year’s Day, so that limits your ability to go west,” he said. “We like that window, and we like the family environment at these games. I think part of that is playing at 1 o’clock.”

[Reply]
Jeff_R Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 11:36 am
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), So there are no families on the West Coast? I know he is talking about 10am PST/1pm EST, but still you can have it here at 12pm/3pm. Kings games worked at 12 so why not the Winter Classic? Families can make it then. It is just 2 hours past the 1 pm they mention.

[Reply]
Kissmyblarneystones Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 12:34 pm
@Jeff_R,

1pm EST is the point! 12pm PST is 3pm EST. Too ate for hockey there. In January, Football is king be it NCAA or NFL. 2/3rds of the population live east of the Mississippi. We have been and always be victims of geography.

[Reply]
PRMan Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 12:30 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), 1 PM is to dodge the college bowls. If it were here, it would have to be at 10 am.

[Reply]
Darrell Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 12:51 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), Bettman will say it’s OK only if you can secure the Rose Bowl for the event.

[Reply]
King John Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 4:57 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
Go ahead and schedule it for 10 a.m. It would be earlier in the day and at least cooler than early afternoon. Dodger Stadium is a cool/cool place. I think players and fans could adjust for one day (they did last Sunday going to Staples early because of the bike race).

[Reply]
puck73 says:

May 24, 2012 at 10:27 am

You can be sure of one thing…If Dodger Stadium were to get this gig, Tragic “The myopian” Johnson ( Jim Rome) would be mugging the camera for all the glory.

As much as I loved Tragic the player, as a talk show host, and as a host on espn, he is just not very good. Matter a fact, when he had his own show, The Tragic variety Hour, Howard Stern came on and gave him a verbal beat down that he simply was not equipped to handle. LMAO !

[Reply]
Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:30 am
@puck73, I think you have Jim Rome (a fellow Coyote) confused with Fred Rogin. Did you hear Rogin ask Quick to sum up his season? Quick said something like, ‘Ask me when the season is over.’

[Reply]
Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:30 am
…just to clarify, yes, I’m a Coyote…but not the Arizona kind!

[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:31 am
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), Jim Rome, Class of 1982, Calabassas High School.

[Reply]
Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:32 am
@puck73, Stalker.
Bean32 says:

May 24, 2012 at 10:29 am

Bettman is a stubborn fool.
I say we have our own outdoor game on NYD, either at the Home Depot Center or La Quinta Tennis stadium against the Sharks or Ducks, or any other western team that gets no love from the NHL…

[Reply]
kororr says:

May 24, 2012 at 10:30 am

is the comish elected? how is that this guy still has his title. doesnt he get a clue when he is booed in EVERY arena around the league???

[Reply]
FKA PakiFro Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:39 am
@kororr,

Revenues have gone from 2.1b out of the lock out to well over 3b now. TV deal he signed was for 2b. Things are going well for the vast majority of owners.

[Reply]
Hutch Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:51 am
@kororr, Bettman works for the owners, and he definately knows who butters his toast.

I know most fans don’t like him, he’s not really personable, and most hockey fans aren’t really familiar with men of his genre.

The league is is strong and the brand is strong, I’d say that his only real albatross thus far has been Phoenix.

[Reply]
paul hedberg Reply:
May 25th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
@Hutch, Coyotes just the tip of the iceberg:Stars aren’t drawing.NJ,Panthers,Islanders never have.Wild an CBJ are sorta like pariah’s in there own locale.At least 4 too many teams,4 too many games.May 30 needs to be like the date of a possible gm 7 of the SCF,not gm 1.

[Reply]
PRMan Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 12:33 pm
@kororr, I don’t understand the hate over Bettman. It took him 15 years, but he’s great for the NHL now.

[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 12:54 pm
@PRMan,
Thank you! That’s good PR, right there.
Could there just possibly be a spoonful of “West Coast bias” dribbling into people’s Southen Californian Koolaid, here?

[Reply]
SLIM Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 1:31 pm
@Duncanz,
Never understood why they hate you’re
Uncle Gary…NHL is in a much better place…

370455VinSD Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 1:11 pm
@PRMan, Fans always hate commissioners. They aren’t on our side, period. Therefore there will alway be some incident or situation that they engineer or are a significant part of that rubs the fans the wrong way. Roger Goodell and David Stern also can’t appear at a venue without a shower of boo’s. Nature of the beast.

[Reply]
CCM says:

May 24, 2012 at 10:31 am

If the Kings and Rangers can play in Las Vegas behind Caesers palace, outdoors..there is always hope. it’s been done before, and it can be done again. it’s just the TV ratings Bettman is worried about, and rightly so.

[Reply]
Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:34 am
@CCM, NY Rangers vs LA Kings: Las Vegas 1991… http://youtu.be/9WET1VpTEEA

[Reply]
Gail Web Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 1:08 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), Thanks so much for this is was wonderful to watch my number 7, my fav player so thanks again very kindly.

[Reply]
Hockieblondie Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:40 am
@CCM, That was exactly what I was thinking. They can’t say no when we have even better ice technology now than we did then and things turned out alright . I am pretty sure they will be talking differently about TV ratings now that the Kings are going to the finals…

[Reply]
Steph Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:48 am
@CCM, he’s going to lose tv ratings for sure if it’s the same teams playing in the winter classic year after year, he has to find a way to get other teams involved.

[Reply]
Daniel says:

May 24, 2012 at 10:37 am

I’d be happy with a Kings v Av’s at Mile High (or what ever it’s called now) in Denver.

[Reply]
Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:41 am
@Daniel, I’d be happy with the Kings, period.

[Reply]
mrbrett7 Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 11:10 am
@Daniel, Me too…I live in Denver!

[Reply]
InfiN8 Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 1:32 pm
@Daniel, Great venue! Make it happen, Luc!

[Reply]
KingsGuy says:

May 24, 2012 at 10:39 am

A bit off topic. It would be cool to see a pre-season game Kings Vs Rangers in Ontario. I am sure it is more likely if these two end up meeting in SCF…

[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:43 am
@KingsGuy, The problem is…Ontario is a Tucky. You know, like Pomonatucky, Rivertucky, Fontucky, Coronatucky etc etc

[Reply]
KingsGuy Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:49 am
@puck73, Ha, ya bit of Inland Empire going on… It was mentioned as a possibility to have a game out there… I live in Palm Desert so I would be pumped

[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:53 am
@KingsGuy, Interesting, alot of people around the country dont realize that there are alot of red necks in Southern California, in particular, San Bernadino and Riverside Counties.

Caleb C Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 10:58 am
@KingsGuy, dont forget peris
Steph says:

May 24, 2012 at 10:46 am

Eventually this will jog Bettmans memory, the Kings have already played an out door game in the hottest of temperatures. Lest we not forget the very first frozen fury game held outdoors at Cesars palace in Las Vegas. Come on Bettman, we know you hate the western conference especially the Kings but is that any reason to deny the west coast fans?

[Reply]
Cry Baby says:

May 24, 2012 at 11:00 am

Kings vs Avs in Denver would be sweet!

[Reply]
Capt Jam Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 11:21 am
@Cry Baby,

That could work meteorologically speaking, but there would be very little interest outside of the two markets involved. Heck, there’s barely enough interest in Denver these days to sustain Pepsi Arena, never mind a football stadium.

[Reply]
pr0cess says:

May 24, 2012 at 11:03 am

so my buddy got us ticket from stubhub, im nervous cause everyone else says game is sold out…

[Reply]
FKA PakiFro Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 11:07 am
@pr0cess,

Stubhub is legit and you have recourse if someone did con you.

[Reply]
mcdangles Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 11:57 am
@FKA PakiFro, stubhub is legit. I have a friend that gets his tickets for the Kings games form there

[Reply]
Wilmonde Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 12:19 pm
@pr0cess, Stubhub is legit. I’ve never had any problems with forgeries, and any day you can go see the Kings play for $7 a ticket is a great day. Granted, they were playing CBJ prior to the JJ trade and I had my back against the wall of the Stape on the wrong end of the ice, but you won’t hear me complaining. Cost me more in gas to get there than it did to get the tickets.

[Reply]
PRMan Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 12:35 pm
@Wilmonde, I got $3 on Hispanic heritage night. Racist, but cheap.

[Reply]
Wilmonde Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 4:42 pm
@PRMan,
If you got it, flaunt it.

Demob Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 12:28 pm
@pr0cess,
Sold means all tickets for event are sold. Brokers will always have tickets.

[Reply]
Demob Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 12:31 pm
@pr0cess,
Sold out means all tickets for event are sold. Brokers will always have tickets.

[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 12:47 pm
@pr0cess, Stubhub is excellent if my experience counts, and they have wonderful staff on call 7 days in case of any queries or possible problems you may have.
Thouroughly quality outfit, the one time I dealt with them.

[Reply]
Sebastian says:

May 24, 2012 at 11:10 am

I could care less about the winter classic, bettman, the dodgers, dodger stadium, farmers field…I WANT THE CUP!

[Reply]
Capt Jam Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 11:22 am
@Sebastian,

Seconded.

[Reply]
Miss Val says:

May 24, 2012 at 11:27 am

I would LOVE to see L.A. host a Winter Classic! Long-shot, but fun to think about!

[Reply]
LA_1968 says:

May 24, 2012 at 11:31 am

Too bad there is no natural amphitheater in Big Bear. Or perhaps at the bottom of a steep run.

What Bettman did say was that they could have the Kings as the visiting team. Perhaps a LA @ NYR event would be a good theme… at the new Meadownlands stadium.

Before they will invite us we’ll need a Cup. Before they will let us host it we’ll need a couple.

[Reply]
Jeff_R Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 11:41 am
@LA_1968, Well if they want to do it at Farmers Field it isn’t stated to be finished until like 2015-16, so we should have 2-3 cups by then .

[Reply]
tellmeY says:

May 24, 2012 at 11:47 am

think it should be in colder climate…not a big enough audience for it here….and part of the “coolness” of it is that it’s on a real outdoor cold icey rink…but any battle we can win against Bettman i will vote for.

[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 12:31 pm
@tellmeY, I agree.

[Reply]
JDBiGC says:

May 24, 2012 at 11:52 am

Bettman’s sneering is why I stopped watching the Winter Classic. I refuse to watch it while it’s the same teams and locations.

[Reply]
mcdangles says:

May 24, 2012 at 11:55 am

if they can pull off a game in Vegas like they did in the Kings-Gretzky era, then they could pull it off here in Los Angele. I think it would be a great marketing tool to make hockey even bigger here, and the Kings winning the Stanley Cup would only add to that. It gets cold enough to have outdoor ice here with the mastermind ice guru Dan Craig, think that is his name, to pull it off.I say Dodger Stadium. Any others agree on the location?

[Reply]
Mars says:

May 24, 2012 at 12:03 pm

OH THIS WOULD BE SWEET!

But even better.

Manhattan Beach. ON THE BEACH!

Winter Classic on the beach FTW

[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
@Mars,
Party at the Richards/Carter pad afterwards, too?
Ought to be a taker or two for that day’s little shebang (no pun intended really), eh?!!

[Reply]
Capt Jam says:

May 24, 2012 at 12:18 pm

The last thing the NHL wants get stuck with on one of its rare national (U.S.) showcase broadcasts is a water skiing exhibition.

[Reply]
Stuart says:

May 24, 2012 at 12:45 pm

Bettman needs to take a long walk off a short cliff…with his nephew!

[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 1:12 pm
@Startmeup,
That would be funny if it weren’t so darnright typical!
[sneers reminiscently]

[Reply]
Stuart Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 1:23 pm
@Duncanz, bwahahahaha!!!

[Reply]
TiredOfIt says:

May 24, 2012 at 1:04 pm

Bettman…(add verb here)

[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
@TiredOfIt, … RULES!

[Reply]
TiredOfIt Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 2:15 pm
@Duncanz, Nope…thats not it

[Reply]
Caleb C says:

May 24, 2012 at 1:07 pm

how about just Kings and Vancouver WC? in Vancouver though. cold enough up there I think

[Reply]
fridgemagnet57 says:

May 24, 2012 at 2:09 pm

Luc forget about Bettman.

Just do a charity roller hockey event outdoors and by the beach for starters and see how many people come out. Kings vs Ducks would be fine.

If there is a huge response, Bettman will review it again.

[Reply]
rogiesbackup says:

May 24, 2012 at 4:45 pm

These “suits” are not the most creative people in the world as you guys know.

You have to introduce it as a totally DIFFERENT event altogether and NOT at all RELATED to the “Winter Classic.”

Call it Dry Ice or something and have all the fanfare advertising like the Winter Classic.

I would like to see BOTH teams NOT ONLY where they’re ORIGINAL uni but goalies MUST wear the classic seventies type mask!! Would love to see what Quick and Bernie would choose as far as the style of mask.

[Reply]
rogiesbackup Reply:
May 24th, 2012 at 4:47 pm
@rogiesbackup, **wear**

[Reply]
Drew Doughnut says:

May 24, 2012 at 9:16 pm

Dodger Stadium & play it at 5:30 pm. Solves the suni on the ice problem they can keep a cover o ice up until game time Perfect for prime time back east. They loved the US Open in Prime Tiime when it was at Torrey Pines. Great theatre. We win the cup & this happens! Bettman will buckle to the pressure when Phil A calls & demands it!

[Reply]