GEDDES -- Outdoor hockey is coming to Central New York this winter. Sen. Charles Schumer has confirmed the Syracuse Crunch will be playing a hockey game this February 20th at the New York State Fairgrounds grandstand in Geddes. The game will be against an upstate New York rival, the Binghamton Senators.
After a deal fell apart to play a game at Alliance Bank Stadium, several people - including Senator Schumer and Governor Paterson - fought for the new venue. Schumer says the final details of contracts still have to be signed, but the game is good to go.
This will be the first outdoor hockey game in the history of the American Hockey League. The game will cost about $700,000 to put on. Senator Schumer says the majority of the money will come from the Crunch and private investors and some will come from state tourism funds.
About 20,000 fans are expected for the game.
