On Monday, Fenway Park in Boston hosted the NHL's 14th annual Winter Classic. Fans of both teams, the Boston Bruins and the Pittsburgh Penguins, lined up around the park hours before the game, dressed in black and gold and wearing vintage white Red Sox uniforms. The championship banners of the Red Sox were replaced by banners of the Bruins, Penguins and the Winter Classic logo. The rink stretched from just beyond what’s usually second base across the middle of the diamond, over the pitcher’s mound, and toward the visitors’ dugout.
The Winter Classic also featured a free concert that was held in a parking lot across the street from Fenway. Country music star Sam Hunt performed for nearly an hour and sang his hit song “23”. An additional unique element of the game was the fact that the Penguins are owned by Fenway Sports Group, the same group that owns the Red Sox and is headed by Principle Owner John Henry.
The 14th annual Winter Classic provided a unique and exciting experience for both hockey and baseball fans. The atmosphere and enthusiasm of the crowd was palpable and made for an enjoyable experience. Fans commented on the strange circumstance of the Penguins being owned by the same group as the Red Sox, with one fan even offering advice for the Red Sox in light of their recent free agent departure. All in all, the Winter Classic provided a memorable event for both sports fans and non-sports fans alike.