Curtain Call: Yankee Stadium playing host to the Rangers?

The New York Yankees will be playing their final season in historic Yankee Stadium during the 2008-09 MLB season. Usually, when such a storied stadium closes its doors, you would expect a baseball game to be the last sporting event to take place. But just this past week, it appears the NHL is close to finalizing a deal to host the final sporting event at Yankee stadium with an outdoor NHL game featuring the New York Rangers.

An opponent has yet to be determined, but it makes sense to have the Rangers square off against their subway rivals, the New York Islanders. It would be a ratings bonanza for the NHL, especially in America, to have both New York franchises go head-to-head in the final event at Yankee Stadium.

But does staging on outdoor hockey game do justice for one of the greatest landmarks in the history of sports? Now, I do not watch baseball, nor care much about the sport. However, it is hard for me to imagine seeing Yankee Stadium close its doors to the sounds of bodychecks and slapshots over the more common sounds of fans singing along to "Take me out to a ball game!" during the 7th inning stretch. Obviously, the NHL is mainly using this opportunity to bring in more American viewers. I can't see how they could fail at doing so, since they will not only attract hockey fans, but fans across the sporting world.

But you have to feel for the Yankee faithful, who are used to seeing the likes of Jeter, Ruth, Jackson, Mantle, and Dimaggio create history. Now, instead of picturing the "Bronx Zoo" close down to America's favorite pastime, they will have to witness Canada's game invade their beloved holy ground. I sympathize for them. If the last event to be held at Rexall Place (home of my Edmonton Oilers) were to go to an indoor CFL game, I would be pretty upset. There is a ton of hockey history in Rexall Place, and to see it all washed away with an event that most of Canada pays no attention to is like a kick in the balls. This is very similar to what will take place in New York all for the sake of ratings and increased revenues.