Your Winter Classic Update

Here's a spectacular photo taken by Phillies beat writer and now accomplished photographer Ryan Lawrence

The rink at Citizens Bank Park continues to take shape. Today, the dasher boards are being put in place, and tomorrow we’ll likely see the first sheet of ice sprayed onto the aluminum surface.

Here’s what’s going on:

Ilya Bryzgalov expressed his concern about rain for the event, should that happen. Quote via Daily News beat reporter Sam Carchidi: 

"We'll have to wear swimming gear and Speedos. Rangers vs.Flyers water polo!" 

I’m sure Henrik Lundqvist would love this, actually. 

Oh look, they built Bob Costas a little house in right field from which to broadcast. Perhaps he’ll read one of his Sunday Night Football poems, too.

From Adam Kimelman of NHL.com:

Beyond the main rink, progress was made in a number of other areas. The roofs were finished and windows installed on the chalets that will house the studio crews for NBC and CBC; stages were built for on-field entertainment; the TV broadcast platform in shallow center field was laid out; and signage was hung around the stadium, including the rebranding of the home dugout from Phillies to Flyers, while the visiting dugout was covered with a Rangers-themed Winter Classic banner. 

Today, in New York, there was a press conference held in the Saturday Night Live studio with folks from both teams, the NHL and NBC. Jeremy Roenick will join Costas in his chalet. Doc Emrick, of course, will handle the play-by-play duties.

Boards being installed:

via NHL PR man Schulyer Baehman

Some additional photos:

via NHL.com's Adam Kimelman

The Rangers included these gifts with the Winter Classic ticket mailing: [CNBC] 

A video report from yesterday via the NHL:

HBO’s 24/7 tonight at 10 PM. 

[Our nonstop, front-to-back and even around the side Winter Classic coverage]