• December 12, 2011

The National Hockey League (NHL), in conjunction with the City of Philadelphia, will extend the celebration of the Jan. 2 outdoor game between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers with its official 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic Spectator Plaza, a free, three-day fan festival just outside the gates of Citizens Bank Park.

From Dec.  31  through Jan. 2, the NHL will turn Citizens Bank Way, between  Phillies Drive and Pattison Ave., into an outdoor hockey and entertainment festival. 

In addition to live music, performances, interactive hockey-themed attractions, prizes and giveaways, food, beverage, and merchandise, supporting brands will have a presence. Bridgestone will have a shooting-skills event; Molson Canadian will have a “Made from Canada” experience at Molson Canadian Hockey House with bubble hockey and video games, and a competition to see who can suit up in goalie gear the fastest. There will also be Coors Light or Molson Canadian on tap. 

Honda will use the event to show the 2012 Honda CR-V and updated 2012 Honda Pilot, and pair it with fan autograph sessions with an NHL alumnus. 

Geico will include a “Guess the Gecko” contest for chances to win prizes, an accuracy shooting contest, a hockey suit-up challenge, as well as other trivia games. Verizon will will show 4G LTE technology and the NHL GameCenter mobile app. Verizon will also give away a custom rally towel personalized with a photo in their team’s colors.

Other sponsors with events on site include McDonald's and Reebok.