NEW YORKFlyers president Peter Luukko isnt just a fan of hockey. A few times a week, he laces up his own skates and plays the game with friends and colleagues.
So its fitting that Luukko, when asked what hes looking forward to most about the Winter Classic, didnt miss a beat with his answer.
I cant wait to personally skate on Citizens Bank ballpark, he said with a big smile. We have a group that plays in the morning at the Wells Fargo Center, and were going to steal a little ice time for that group, too. So, personally, thatll be very satisfying.
Luukko, along with former Ranger Adam Graves, NHL COO John Collins, NBC broadcasters Mike Doc Emrick and Bob Costas, and NBC Sports Sam Flood and Jon Miller gathered on the set of Saturday Night Live on Wednesday to discuss the approach of the Winter Classicnow only 12 days away.
The Flyers participated in the event just two years ago at Fenway Park in Boston, but for Luukko, its been a different experience this time around.
I think it was easier being the visitor, he said. We just played here in New York and showed up in Boston and thats all we had to do, as magical as it was. Theres a lot of preparationcertainly, the ticket demand is unbelievable. And amazingly, the ticket demand for the Alumni Game is just huge. Both teams have players from various erasso that demand has been huge.
As much as the Winter Classic feels like a tradition thats been around for ages, the event actually started just five years ago. The Pittsburgh Penguins, who hosted the event last year and played in Buffalo against the Sabres for the first Winter Classic in 2008, are the only other team to have participated twice.
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Philadelphiansfully aware their city is perennially the underdogwatched as other big hockey markets like Boston and Chicago got to host a Winter Classic. The city was excited months ago when news broke that Phillys turn had finally arrived, but the buzz has only grown since then.
I think that buzz, for all the work that our staff has to go through, that buzz is worth it, Luukko said. Were having a lot of fun with itWere always competing with New York and competing with Washington, and you can feel that buzz that, hey, we have the game. Its our game, its our day.
And its a big day. Luukko estimated 150,000 people will head to South Philadelphia for one of the games or other events held on Winter Classic ice.
Its on par with the Super Bowl, in terms of the amount of people coming into town excited for the game, he said. But the good part is, unlike the Super Bowl, the home team is here. The Flyers are there, itll be full of Flyers fans. The Ranger people are coming down from New York, so obviously the crowd will be crazy and the build up is just great.
But he expects the Winter Classic itself, set for Jan 2. at 1 p.m., will be even greater.
As Ive always said, none of us would ever dream that the Flyers would be playing at Citizens Bank ballpark, he said. Thats just special.
E-mail Sarah Baicker at sbaicker@comcastsportsnet.com