The Winter Classic has become significant piece of the NHL calendar year. It takes place every year around the holiday season at an outdoor stadium. The tradition began in 2008.
Western New York was picked as the opening city and the former Ralph Wilson Stadium as the stadium. The Buffalo Sabres hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins for the inaugural game.
On New Year's Day in 2008, over 70,000 fans of the Sabres and Pens came out and braved the elements to root them on. Buffalo lost 2-1 in a shootout, with Sidney Crosby netting the deciding tally for Pittsburgh.
Although the game ended in a loss it was a remarkable experience. Snow fell during the game and there was freezing temperatures, creating a memorable "snow globe" effect. It was nothing new to the fans of the Sabres, who enjoyed the weather often associated with the NHL's Buffalo Bills.
The organization and the NHL began preparations on Christmas Eve of 2007. It was built on a football field. For football fans, it was made between the 16-yard lines.
The combination of how the city received the game and how the Sabres created the environment was vital to the continuation of the Winter Classic. The league owes a debt to the 70,000 fans and organization who created the atmosphere for the now annual spectacle.
The Sabres were asked to participate in the 10th anniversary of the Winter Classic in 2018
The Winter Classic in 2018 was held a Citi Field in New York City. The Sabres played the New York Rangers and lost in overtime, 3-2. Attendance was over 40,000.
Before the 2018 game, the NHL once again started a tradition with the Sabres. They began a YouTube documentary series about preparations for the annual game. Called Road to the Winter Classic, it followed the Sabres and the Rangers on their journey to the game.
It was a hit on YouTube, and since the NHL has continued to create a documentary series for the game each season.
It demonstrates how important the Sabres are to annual traditions and how they can move hockey and popular culture. And makes last season even more important as they broke the playoff drought and became among the hockey elite yet again.
The Sabres fandom has had very little the last 20 years to celebrate. But, along with this past season, their active part in the tradition of the Winter Classic is a fond and important one.
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