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PEBBLE BEACH (MYFO) -- While much of the discussion at the NHL's December Board of Governors meeting surrounded the financial health of the troubled Phoenix Coyotes, Gary Bettman put forth another proposal that will honor the storied history of the game of ice hockey.
On January 1, 2011, the league will showcase the Honda Indoor Classic, where the San Jose Sharks will host the Ottawa Senators inside HP Pavillion. The game will be billed as a return to the good old days, when hockey games were played inside arenas under climate controlled conditions.
The game is being seen as a marketing response to the radical change for the 2010-2011 season, where all games will be played outdoors. Thanks to the success of the current Bridgestone Winter Classic and the rampant speculation that every team would like to participate in outdoor games, Bettman surrendered and told the scheduling office to just schedule all of next year in football and baseball stadiums and parks.
"It's true that next season we're switching to an outdoor format. All teams will need to find a way to host their regular season games outdoors, because let's be honest, hockey fans have loved our past outdoor games," Bettman explained. "So rather than bog did this Board meeting with logistics like how to stop the ice from melting in Miami in October, we wanted to focus on preparations for next year's indoor tilt. It will be a banner event for the National Hockey League."
Organizers in San Jose are excited for the opportunity to host Ottawa in the league's next signature showcase.
"Both the Senators and the Sharks are Original 26 franchises, and what better way to pay tribute to our storied histories than an indoor game? And what's better, we've already got a venue!" General Manager Doug Wilson announced.
Features of the Indoor Classic are still in the works, but some of the ideas being tossed about include a jumbotron above the ice surface, commemorative banners that hang in the rafters, and an inflatable blimp that drops oil change coupons without fear of flying into the upper atmosphere.
The players are excited, too.
"Are you kidding me? I LOVE the idea," Ottawa center Mike Fisher told reporters. "It'll remind us all of how we played hockey when we were kids - inside conventional ice rinks with interior locker rooms. I can't wait!"
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