by Christopher BottaFiled under: Capitals, Penguins, Winter Classic
Contrary to legend, John Collins did not invent the NHL Winter Classic. The game of ice hockey has been played outdoors for well over a century. The Heritage Classic, played in an Edmonton football stadium between the Oilers and Montreal Canadiens in 2003, predates the hiring of Collins as the league's chief operating officer.
But with projected ticket revenue of $9 million for the Classic at Heinz Field on New Year's Day between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals, plus countless streams from broadcasting and merchandising, Collins is grateful to the many executives who have built the event.
"When I started with the NHL four years ago, a lot of my colleagues had these amazing photos in their offices from the outdoor game in Edmonton," Collins told FanHouse while preparing to leave for Pittsburgh. "I'd been with the NFL and I wasn't familiar with the Heritage Classic. I was mesmerized by the photos. I would say to everyone, 'Tell me about this game' and 'Do you think we can do it again?' and 'How can we grow it as an event?' From there, it has been a completely collaborative effort."
Collins went on to name some of the collaborators. Consider these some of the founding fathers:
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