NEW YORK - The National Hockey League (NHL) and a substantial lineup of corporate partners will ring in the New Year at the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® - the highly-anticipated, Jan. 1 regular-season outdoor game between the Buffalo Sabres® and New York Rangers® - with The PreGame at Citi Field's Parking Lot F. The hockey-themed, family-friendly official fan festival of the NHL Winter Classic® is a free event and will feature hockey attractions, special appearances, autograph sessions, food, music, and the Centennial Fan Arena touring tribute to a century of hockey thrills.
NHL rings in new year with The PreGame fan festival at Winter Classic
Stanley Cup, Rangers alumni on hand for Citi Field event on Jan. 1
© Jared Silber/Getty Images
The PreGame, including the NHL Centennial Fan Arena, will be free and open to the public prior to the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. ET.
The Stanley Cup® will be in attendance at the NHL Centennial Fan Arena from 11 a.m. - Noon. Rangers alumni Adam Graves (10:15 - 11:15 a.m.) and Rod Gilbert (11:15 - 12:15 a.m.) will stop by Discover's display and be on hand to sign autographs. NBC Hockey Analyst Jeremy Roenick (9:30 - 11:30) and Ranger's alumni Mike Richter (10:30 - 10:50 a.m.) will meet fans at the Coors Light Upcycled Bar.
NHL® corporate partners will offer free fan attractions throughout The PreGame's operating hours:
• Bridgestone: The title sponsor will offer a variety of fun challenges that put fans in control, from slapshot Tic-Tac-Tire to a gaming skills competition with Xbox's NHL18. Fans can also capture a digital New Year's keepsake with a unique photo in the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® "freeze frame."
• Centennial Fan Arena: The NHL Centennial Fan Arena is a touring tribute to a century of hockey thrills. The main attraction is a 53-foot museum truck with an innovative interior featuring more than 1,000 square feet of interactive digital displays, original video content, one-of-a-kind historical memorabilia, unique photo moments and a social media wall. Customized to each market, the museum truck will showcase the history of the NHL and the Rangers at the NHL Winter Classic®. In addition, the Stanley Cup - the oldest and most revered trophy in all of professional sports - will be available to fans who can get their photo taken from 11 a.m. - Noon on Monday, Jan. 1.
• Coors Light Responsibility: Fans can add their name to the Coors Light Responsibility Puck and join thousands of NHL® fans making the pledge to never drive drunk, and to always have a designated driver. Make the pledge with Coors Light, the official beer of the NHL, and TEAM Coalition to receive a souvenir photo and fans 21 years and older can be entered for a chance to win an NHL prize pack.
• Coors Light Slapshot and Mobile Party Bar: Coors Light will be right alongside its fans at The PreGame, bringing a double-lane slapshot - allowing fans 21 years and older to crush their own recyclable cans and compete against fellow Coors Light drinkers for bragging rights. In addition to the slapshot, the area will have a full mobile party bar and ample space for fans looking to celebrate all the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® excitement.
• Coors Light Upcycled Bar: Join the World's Most Refreshing Beer at the upcycled Silver Bullet Bar. Coors Light has sustainability in its DNA as the pioneer of the recyclable aluminum can, and is excited to bring an upcycled bar to the space - built with NHL pucks, sticks, nets, and even blades. Stop by the Upcycled Bar to see Jeremy Roenick (9:30 - 11:30 a.m.) and Mike Richter (10:30 - 10:50 a.m.) before the game!
• Discover: Stop by the Discover Card tent to get an autograph from Rangers legends Adam Graves (10:15 - 11:15 a.m.) and Rod Gilbert (11:15 - 12:15 p.m.).
• Dunkin Donuts: Check out Dunkin' Donuts at the NHL Winter Classic® - enjoy free coffee, hot chocolate, and Munchkins® donut hole treats, play games, and take a picture raising the Dunkin' Cup.
• GEICO: Happy New Year, hockey fans! Be sure to stop by the GEICO Hockey Fan Zone to have a picture taken in the GEICO Penalty Box and enter for a chance to win a $200 gift card - courtesy of GEICO! Fans can also test their hockey skills, collect some free GEICO swag, and meet the GEICO Gecko!
• Honda: Get Plugged In with Honda! Fans can experience the 2018 Clarity Plug-In Hybrid, test their hockey skills with the SlapShot Challenge, and enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win fun prizes.
• NHL Network: NHL Network and Optimum, a brand of Altice USA, are teaming up at The PreGame to give fans an interactive experience with the TV home for the National Hockey League. Fans can test their stick skills with a target practice shooting drill set up on a mini-rink.
• Nickelodeon: Nickelodeon will bring a one-of-a-kind hockey experience to Citi Field, giving fans an opportunity to play a life-size game of air hockey. Within a 40'x20' rink, two competitors will navigate giant bumper car-type vehicles in an attempt to score the most goals. In addition, attendees will be able to play table bubble air hockey games, take photos with SpongeBob SquarePants-themed Zamboni ice resurfacer, and pose in front of a slime waterfall.
• Oscar Mayer: America's Favorite 27-Foot-Long Hot Dog on Wheels celebrates the NHL Winter Classic®!
• Pepsi: Pepsi Zero Sugar invites fans to its custom backyard winter pond to take a picture with a Zamboni® machine and sample Pepsi Zero Sugar.
• PPG: At PPG, we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and materials that our customers have trusted for more than 130 years. Fans can play PPG's Power Play Goal to test their hockey skills and try to hit our paint cans.
• Ticketmaster: Practice makes perfect! Fans can test their shooting accuracy by shooting pucks at targets - just like the pros do - at the TICKETMASTER Accuracy Challenge.
• Upper Deck: Upper Deck is making childhood dreams of appearing on an NHL® trading card come true! Visit the Upper Deck Trading Card Zone to get a personalized hockey card for FREE! This is always a very popular activity so arrive early to take part! Also, be sure to ask about Upper Deck e-Pack™, the best new way to open NHL® packs and trade cards online at UpperDeckePack.com.
