2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic - A Week Long Hockey "PHest" in Philadelphia

Dec. 21, 2011 - PRLog -- 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia


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 is more used to Phillie Baseball but  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

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


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.

Spectator Plaza

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.

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.
•The Geico “cave” will have a “Guess the Puck” contest for chances to win prizes, an accuracy shooting contest and 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
•The ZOO, a local cover band, will be playing during the pre-game celebration at Spectator Plaza on Jan. 2

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. (sold out)
8:15 – 9:15 p.m. (sold out)

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. (sold out)

For more information on the 2012 NHL Winter Classic clck below:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=603820

With so much happening its hard to enjoy the Winter Classic Experience in one day.  Why not make it a mini vacation?  Only 10 minutes away the Embassy Suties Philadelphia AIrport is featuring overnight specials that are sure to please every new and old  fan of Hockey.  Every Guest at Embassy Suites Philadelphia AIrport enjoys:


*Two Room Suite
*Full Cooked-to-Order breakfast
*Evening  Manager's Reception with complimentary drinks and snacks
*Complimentary shuttle to and from Philadelphia International Airport
*Indoor Heated Pool
*Fitness Center


Let Embassy Suites Philadelphia Airport be where your fun begins at the 2012 NHL Winter Classic by clicking below now:

http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_US/es/hotel/PHLAPES-E...


Embassy Suites Philadelphia Airport Hotel. Located less than a mile from Philadelphia International Airport, 4 miles from Citizens Bank Park, Lincoln Financial Field and the Wells Fargo Center. Major League Soccer and the Philadelphia Union are 5 miles away at PPL Park and Harrah's Chester Casino and Raceway in nearby Chester, PA, the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, NJ, the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge and so much more…


•National Constitution Center.
•Independence Hall.
•Liberty Bell.
•Franklin Institute.
•Philadelphia Museum of Art.
•Academy of Natural Sciences - Natural History Museum.
•Philadelphia Zoo.
•Convention Center.
The Sports and Entertainment complexes near the Embassy Suites Philadelphia - Airport hotel include the following venues:

•Wells Fargo Center - home of the 76ers & Flyers.
•Citizen's Bank Park - home of the Phillies.
•Lincoln Financial Field- home of the Eagles.
•PPL Park home of the Philadelphia Union pro soccer team.
•Harrah’s Chester Casino and Raceway

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Embassy Suites Philadelphia Airport Hotel is less than one mile from Philadelphia International Airport. All rooms are full two room suites and include complimentary cooked to order breakfast and eve manager's reception with free drinks and snacks.