Yankee Stadium proposed for NHL game

NEW YORK -- "The House that Ruth Built" may be used to host a hockey game as its final sports event before meeting the wrecking ball.

The New York Daily News reported Monday that the NHL is looking at the possibility of having the New York Rangers play a to-be-determined opponent in a regular-season game at Yankee Stadium in early 2009, a proposal that was first floated two years ago.

The Yankees are set to play their final season in the historic ballpark, with the team moving next door to the new $1 billion-plus Yankee Stadium in April 2009.

If the NHL grants approval to the Yankee Stadium game, it may affect the Blackhawks' hopes of playing an outdoor game at Wrigley Field or another Chicago location as early as next season.

"It's something we've spoken to both the Yankees and to the city about, but it's not a done deal," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the Daily Hews, "There sre still a lot of other possibilities and a lot of moving pieces."

The NHL held a successful outdoor game on New Year's Day at the Buffalo Bills' Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., matching the host Sabres and Pitsburgh Penguins. More than 70,000 watched the Penguins' 2-1 victory in snowy conditions.

The only other outdoor game was on Nov. 22, 2003, when the Edmonton Oilers played the Montreal Canadiens at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium. More than 56,000 fans were in attendance as the Canadiens won 4-3.