Outdoor Hockey Games At Fenway Park This Season? Reports Are Saying The Bruins Are Talking To City Officials To Make It Happen

Elliotte Friedman is reporting that multiple NHL teams are considering playing there home games outside for this upcoming season. With the possibility of no fans being in arenas, owners are looking for anything and everything to make some money and that includes playing games at places like Fenway Park. Obviously no fans are allowed at stadiums in Massachusetts right now. But with a vaccine on the horizon that could soon change. 

The NHL doesn’t yet have an official start date for the 2020-21 season, and local rules would not allow Anaheim and Los Angeles to commit to this plan at this time. But, the Kings and Ducks are doing due diligence for somewhere down the road if they learned they would be allowed more fans at outdoor events than indoor ones.

The thought process is similar in Boston and Pittsburgh.

The Bruins have been in contact with state and city officials about different options. I had heard specific mention of Fenway Park, and was told that is in an “exploratory phase,” but it was stressed all venue options are being considered.

The Penguins have looked into both Heinz Field and PNC Park. (Major problem with Heinz Field: the Steelers may need it until late January.)

Pittsburgh, LA, Anaheim and Boston are the cities considering playing their games outdoors. Part of me thinks this is just someone trying to play the media against the owners. But regardless, Friedman mentions Fenway Park as a potential place for the Bruins to play their home games and as someone who sat behind a pole in the Grandstand in 2010 at the Winter Classic at Fenway, I feel like we can do better.

FENWAY PARK

Location: Boston, Ma

Capacity: 37k

Brian Babineau. Getty Images.

There really aren't many good seats at Fenway to watch a hockey game. Granted, the 2010 Winter Classic was a electric. Mix in Bruins fans with the bar scene around Fenway and you have a receipt for a good fucking time. But after a game or two I think it would get pretty old, pretty quick. 

GILLETTE STADIUM

Location: Foxboro, Ma

Capacity: 65k

Jim Rogash. Getty Images.

So what could be a better option? Gillette is too far, I get that. While I still think Gillette may be the best option because of Patriots Place, I understand people not wanting to troop to Foxboro on weeknights. But the scene around Patriots Place after a Bruins win over the Leafs would be a blast. Gotta love giving business to Krafty too. Love that dude.

Boston College - Alumni Stadium

Location: Chestnut Hill, Ma

Capacity: 44k

Collegiate Images. Getty Images.

Nickerson Field at BU is FAR to small, but could work if they added some legitimate infrastructure. Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill is a possibility but i'm sure the town and BC wouldn't allow that to happen. So what does that leave us with? I like Harvard Stadium.

HARVARD STADIUM

Location: Cambridge, Ma

Capacity: 30k

Brooks Kraft. Getty Images.

Harvard Stadium has history, it's like the oldest stadium in the country, it can hold a shit ton of people, has ZERO blindspots, and most importantly you'd be close as fuck to the action. I used to work in the grounds crew for the Boston Cannons who play at Harvard Stadium, the viewing experience is quite nice and I actually think they could pull this off. Granted its in Cambridge and there isn't a bar scene like Fenway or Gillette, but I think there are bars close enough to Harvard to make it work. 

There are a lot of positives to choosing Harvard Stadium over Fenway. First and foremost, there is a rink on campus. If there was ever a weather issue the game could easily be switched to be played inside at Harvard's hockey rink which is right next to the stadium.

To be honest, I just want to see hockey played this season. If teams are playing outdoors it would be fucking electric. I dont want to hear the idiots saying it would water down the product. Who cares. If it's hockey outside or no hockey at all? I don't care if the Bruins are playing at Everett Memorial Stadium. I think I speak for everyone when I say we just want to see Bruins games live in person.