2012 NHL Winter Classic
at Citizens Bank Park

Date & Time
January 2, 2012
1 p.m.

Overview

A historic rivalry will heat up the chilly January air as the Philadelphia Flyers take on the New York Rangers during 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on January 2.

The fifth annual Winter Classic, a New Year’s tradition celebrating ice hockey’s outdoor roots, will be held at Citizens Bank Park. Since its inception in 2008, the Winter Classic has become a must-see event for both diehard and casual ice hockey fans alike.

The field at Citizens Bank Park will be transformed with a full-sized ice rink and more than 61,000-square-feet of decking.

Past games have been played at Wrigley Field in Chicago and Fenway Park in Boston. The New Year’s tradition is one of the NHL’s highest-viewed regular season games, with the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic in Pittsburgh bringing in an average of 4.5 million viewers.

Spectator Plaza

December 31, 2011 – January 2, 2012

During the Winter Classic Weekend, Citizens Bank Way between Phillies Drive and Pattison Avenue will be transformed into Spectator Plaza, an outdoor hockey and entertainment festival for fans of all ages. Enjoy live music, hockey-themed activities, prizes and giveaways, food, a special NHL Winter Classic merchandise tent all weekend long. To help everyone stay warm, McDonald’s will be sampling its McCafé Premium Roast Coffee all weekend long.

Fans are encouraged to bring their used hockey equipment to Spectator Plaza as part of Restore Hockey’s “Recycling the Game” program. Used equipment donations will be refurbished and distributed to the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation.

Check out a few of the expected activities at Spectator Plaza:

• Bridgestone will give fans a chance to test their shooting skills as visitors go one-on-one against a Bridgestone goalie in a fun slap shot shootout, complete with play-by-play from the Bridgestone broadcast booth

• Molson Canadian invites all fans to step in from the cold for a “Made from Canada” experience at the Molson Canadian Hockey House at Spectator Plaza. Fans will compete for prizes at bubble hockey and video games, see how fast they can suit-up in goalie gear and fans 21 and older can raise a cup of cold Coors Light or Molson Canadian with other hockey fans.

• Geico will include a “Guess the Gecko” contest for chances to win prizes, an accuracy shooting contest, a hockey suit up challenge, as well as other trivia games.

• Reebok will feature an NHL locker room set up inside of the Reebok Zigloo where fans can try on and take pictures in the actual jerseys and equipment used by their favorite Reebok and CCM athletes

• Honda will showcase the all-new 2012 Honda CR-V and updated 2012 Honda Pilot at Spectator Plaza and host a special fan autograph session with an NHL alumnus at the Honda tent on Saturday, Dec. 31. Fan prizes from Honda will include NHL game tickets and a trip to the 2012 NHL Awards™ in Las Vegas.

• The ZOO, a local cover band, will be playing during the pre-game celebration at Spectator Plaza on Jan. 2

• Every fan can take away a custom rally towel personalized with a photo in their team’s colors, ready to be waved with pride during the game.

Public Skate

If you’ve been dreaming of lacing up your skates and hitting the ice at Citizens Bank Park, you’re in luck. The Flyers are opening up the ice for a series of public skating sessions, just days after they battle the Rangers in the 2012 NHL Winter Classing.

Each session lasts one hour and tickets allow you access to the outdoor rink at Citizens Bank Park at your designated time. Skate rentals will NOT be available on site, so be sure to bring your own skates.

Non-skaters will be permitted around the perimeter of the rink and photos will be permitted.

Tickets:
$60 for adults
$50 for children (children under 2 get free admission)
$10 for a non-skating spectator pass

Click here to buy tickets

Winter Classic Alumni Game

Past rivalries are sure to heat up the ice when former Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers, including six members of the Hockey Hall of Fame, lace up their skates for the 2012 NHL Winter Classic Alumni Game on New Year’s Eve.

Former Flyers, including Bob Clarke, Bill Barber, Reggie Leach, Mark Howe, Eric Lindros and Jeremy Roenick, will take the ice against the Rangers alumni, including Mike Gartner and Ron Duguay.

The fun begins Saturday, December 31 at 1 p.m.

Behind the Scenes

For the second consecutive year, the NHL will partner with HBO Sports and its groundbreaking “24/7” reality franchise.

The four-episode, all-access series will again provide viewers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at both teams, along with in-depth interviews of players, coaches and front-office personnel as the teams compete during the NHL regular-season.

The premiere episode debuts Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 10 p.m. on HBO.

About Citizens Bank Park

All 43,500 seats at Citizens Bank Park will be packed with hockey fans for the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic. Fortunately the ballpark, normally home to the Philadelphia Phillies, has plenty of great eats sure to warm up the crowd.

If you’re lucky enough to have tickets to the game, be sure to try out an authentic cheesesteak from Tony Luke’s, some tasty barbeque from Bull’s BBQ or the signature Schmitter sandwich from McNally’s.

Full Winter Classic Schedule

Saturday, December 31

Spectator Plaza
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

NHL Winter Classic Alumni Game
1 p.m.

Sunday, January 1

Spectator Plaza
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Monday, January 2

Spectator Plaza
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic
Monday, January 2 at 1 p.m.

Tuesday, January 3

Public Skate
7- 8 p.m.
8:15 – 9:15 p.m.

Friday, January 6

AHL Down on the Farm Battle: Adirondack Phantoms vs. Hershey Bears
Friday, January 6 at 7 p.m.

Saturday, January 7

Public Skate:
9:45 – 10:45 a.m.
11 p.m. – 12 midnight
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
7:45 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
9:15 – 10:15 p.m.