From My 103.5
By Will Gordon
It could be a nice change of pace and something that could be a massive draw for many locals.
During the winter, Montanans are limited in what activities or sports they can enjoy or participate in. The most popular sports during the winter are basketball and hockey.
Hockey is a massive draw with locals. Whether you are a kid or an adult, there are several city leagues that thousands of people play in yearly. There are also a few college hockey clubs and junior clubs with diehard loyal fans.
While most games are hosted at indoor rinks, a few places host outdoor tournaments that are unique and fun for fans and players. Outdoor games can deal with weather elements and play under the lights, which makes it more exciting.
The NHL puts on a few of these outdoor games a year and title the games the Winter Classic. The Winter Classic features teams typically in the northern states or Canada and set up the hockey rink in neighboring MLB stadiums. Games have been played in Fenway Park in Boston, Wrigley Field in Chicago, and this year’s Winter Classic will be played at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
These games can hold a lot more fans than indoor arenas and happen rarely. It’s an incredible experience. Could Montana host a Winter Classic? Possibly.
If you don’t know, the Montana State Club Hockey team is ranked #1 in the West and, so far, has only lost one game this year. The team has a fantastic shot to make the nationals in St. Louis and could make a deep run for the championship.
The team plays games at Ressler Motors Ice Rink, and fans pack the house for most home games. The game that draws the biggest crowd is the Brawl of the Wild game against the University of Montana Grizzlies.
The only downside is that until the ice rink is fully built out, there is limited seating for fans to buy tickets. That’s where Bobcat Stadium could come into play.
Picture Bobcat Stadium hosting a Winter Classic game with the Bobcats and the Griz. Put the rink towards the North Endzone and fill it with rowdy students and fans cheering on the Bobcats.
Every year, the teams could host a Winter Classic game in their respective stadiums, or we could go old school and have a Winter Classic meet-up in Butte on Montana Tech’s field. Neutral ground might be the way to go.
Do you think this could work? We believe Montana has enough Bobcat and hockey fans that a Winter Classic game has real potential. Plus, a hockey rink set up in Bobcat Stadium would be wild.
(Originally published at https://my1035.com/ixp/14/p/winter-classic-game-in-montana/)
