2014 NHL Winter Classic Breaks Attendance Record & Ties Rating High

The 2014 NHL Winter Classic, for sale which was attended by the largest crowd ever to watch a hockey game of 105,491 fans, also received a 2.9 overnight rating, tying it with the 2009 Winter Classic as NBC’s best-ever overnight for an NHL regular-season game, according to metered market data from The Nielsen Company.

The game, which saw the Toronto Maple Leafs defeat the Detroit Red Wings, was played outdoors at Michigan Stadium, a.k.a., “The Big House”. The Maple Leafs’ Tyler Bozak scored the decisive goal during a shootout after the teams were tied 2-2 through regulation and overtime. Snow fell for most of the game, which began with a temperature of 13 degrees.

The 2.9 overnight for yesterday’s game tied the overnight rating for the 2009 Winter Classic, which was played at Wrigley Field between the then-defending Stanley Cup champion Red Wings and host Chicago Blackhawks. Yesterday’s overnight is up 21 percent from the 2012 iteration of the game, played between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Due to last season’s work stoppage, the 2012 Winter Classic was the last Winter Classic played and generated a 2.4 overnight.

The NHL Winter Classic, which NBC Sports co-created along with the NHL, debuted in 2008.