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It Seems We Now Have a Date and Time for That Unofficial-Official Flyers-Penguins Outdoor Game
By Jim Adair
Published:
As we reported just over a month ago – and previously broke news on the whole thing – the long-rumored/planned/scrapped Flyers-Penguins outdoor game would likely be held at Heinz Field. Now, we have more unofficially-official details.
Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins would then wrap up the outdoor slate with a Stadium Series game against the hated Philadelphia Flyers, likely on Feb. 18 at Heinz Field. The Flyers, Penguins and Blues are all celebrating their 50th season next year, as members of the NHL expansion Class of 1967. Heinz Field will also hold its second al-fresco contest after negotiations fell through for a neutral site matchup at 106,572-seat Beaver Stadium on Penn State’s campus.
The outdoor game slate is also set to feature Leafs/Red Wings on New Year’s Day and Blues/Blackhawks the next day. The 50th anniversary showdown might not be the Beaver Stadium matchup everyone wants, but this will likely be a home-and-home series, with a home game coming to Philly the next season.
On the positive side: It’s a short trip to catch a great game out in Pittsburgh on a Saturday in February. Plus, while you’re there, you can also … uh … hmmm … look at some bridges?
UPDATE: Additionally, as previously reported, “the two franchises have been looking at a reciprocal arrangement with an outdoor game played one year in Pittsburgh and a second game in Philadelphia.” So this could be the very beginning of a home-and-home alternating series into perpetuity, beginning in a couple of years (reportedly 2019).
When he's not writing about sports here or ranting about them on Twitter, Jim is probably watching X-Files on Netflix or drinking a beer somewhere. Jim has nothing against hockey, it's just not his style. He once met Duce Staley at a Sixers game.