OT: NHL winter classic to Fenway

I just got a copy of the news release from my father-in-law, who works for Firestone...I've copied it in its entirety after the jump (didn't copy as cleanly as i wanted, but what you gonna do?).

NEW YORK (July 15, 2009) – The National Hockey League's annual outdoor game will return
on New Year’s Day with the Boston Bruins hosting the Philadelphia Flyers at Fenway Park -- home of
the Boston Red Sox -- in the 2010 Bridgestone/NHL Winter ClassicTM. The Eastern Conference rivals
will face-off at 1 p.m., ET in the classic, which received the SportsBusiness Journal "Sports Event of the
Year" award for its inaugural edition in 2008.

"A unique event deserves a unique venue, and we are delighted the Bruins and Flyers will
renew their rivalry with the ‘Green Monster’ providing the backdrop," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman
said. "We welcome our fans, our teams, our sponsors and the great city of Boston to this annual
celebration of our sport."

Bridgestone brand will return as the title sponsor, showcasing its status as the Official Tire of the
NHL® and the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) to a broadening viewing
audience. Last season’s 2009 Bridgestone/NHL Winter Classic attracted 5.6 million North American TV
viewers and gathered more than 750,000 visitors on NHL.com. The 2009 event at Chicago’s Wrigley
Field drew 41,818 to the historic ballpark, with demand for tickets exceeding 240,000.
"The Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic has become a huge annual event in the sports world,
which provides great exposure for our Bridgestone Brand," said John Baratta, President, Consumer
Replacement Tire Sales, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, (BATO). "Having this year’s Winter
Classic in Fenway Park, one of the truly iconic venues in sports, will only add to the excitement level
and fan interest surrounding this year’s event. We can’t wait for the puck to drop."
Some of hockey’s brightest stars will be on display at the 2010 Bridgestone/NHL Winter
Classic, including the Bruins’ recent NHL Awards winners: Tim Thomas (Vezina Trophy and William M.
Jennings Trophy), Zdeno Chara (James Norris Memorial Trophy) and coach Claude Julien (Jack
Adams Trophy). The Flyers’ roster boasts marquee talent such as Selke Trophy Finalist Mike
Richards, Jeff Carter and the newly acquired Chris Pronger.
These two cities have a long and contentious sports rivalry, with the Flyers earning their first
Stanley Cup™ in 1974 against the Bruins, the Celtics and 76ers battling in the NBA Playoffs of 1981
and 1982 and the Patriots-Eagles showdown at the 2005 Super Bowl, making for a classic match-up on
New Year’s Day.

"Landing the Winter Classic here is something that we have worked hard to achieve for our fans
for quite some time." said owner of the Boston Bruins and Chairman of the NHL Board of Governors
Jeremy Jacobs. "In Boston, we have been home to more than our fair share of great sports moments…
too many to list. But there is no doubt that on New Year’s Day 2010, we will be adding another indelible
memory to that long list.""On behalf of our Chairman Ed Snider, and the entire Philadelphia Flyers organization, we are honored and thrilled to be participating in this historic and milestone event at Fenway Park," said

Comcast-Spectacor President Peter Luukko. "The Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins have a long
and storied history between our two franchises and we look forward to extending that Philadelphia-
Boston rivalry when we face-off against each other on New Year’s Day in the NHL Winter Classic at
Fenway Park."

The 2010 Bridgestone/NHL Winter Classic will be the third regular-season outdoor NHL game
played in the United States (the Buffalo Sabres hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins at Ralph Wilson
Stadium on New Year’s Day 2008, and the Chicago Blackhawks hosted the Detroit Red Wings at
Wrigley Field on New Year’s Day last season), and the fourth regular-season outdoor game in League
history (the Edmonton Oilers hosted the Montreal Canadiens at Commonwealth Stadium on Nov. 22,
2003).

NBC will provide live broadcast coverage of the game in the U.S. In Canada, CBC and RDS will
televise the event live. NHL Radio and SIRIUS XM Radio will provide radio coverage and NHL.com will
provide extensive digital video coverage.
More details on the 2010 Bridgestone/NHL Winter Classic, including ticket sales information will
be announced soon.

"On behalf the entire Boston Red Sox organization I want to express our sincere thanks to the
National Hockey League and the Boston Bruins for selecting Fenway Park as the site for the 2010
Bridgestone/NHL Winter Classic," said John Henry, Principal Owner, Boston Red Sox. "From the day
we arrived at Fenway Park, our ownership group has been committed to preserving and protecting this
historic venue, and we have taken extraordinary steps to ensure it can serve fans for generations to
come. We have been equally as committed to promoting all that is good and unique about Fenway
Park, and this is an exciting opportunity to open the ballpark to fans, neighbors, and the City. We can’t
wait to see Fenway Park full of people and energy in December and January."

"The players of the Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers are extremely excited to
participate in an outdoor game within the confines of historic Fenway Park," said Paul Kelly,
NHLPA Executive Director. "This is special for the players, getting a chance to reconnect with
their roots by playing the game outdoors. I am sure that this event will be something that they
will all remember as a highlight in their careers."

"I'm thrilled to welcome the NHL Winter Classic to Boston," Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino
said. "Hockey is a global game, and Boston is a global city. The NHL Winter Classic will be more than a
great hockey game. It will be a celebration that attracts fans from around the world and showcases the
people, culture, and local businesses that make our city special. The Bruins - an original six team -
have once again made Boston the hub of hockey, and I can't wait to experience the NHL Winter Classic
with the most passionate fans in the country."