A few weeks ago, TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported that Boston is the frontrunner for the 2016 Winter Classic. Assuming that turns out to be true, it would be the second time since 2010 that the Bruins would host the annual New Year’s Day event.

Nothing is set in stone yet, but it’s never too early to break down the potential venues for next January 1. The two obvious choices here are Fenway Park and Gillette Stadium. Let’s breakdown both stadiums, and some other outside the box venues.

Fenway Park

The legendary home of the Boston Red Sox has already hosted several outdoor hockey games and would be a pretty good fit should the Bruins face the Canadiens. A historic rivalry deserves a historic venue like the one on Yawkey Way, but the sightlines of the 100-plus year old ball park are not very good. That was evident as I was walking around in the stadium during the game.

What it lacks in sight lines, it makes up for in amenities. The game day experience outside Fenway was top notch. The surrounding bars were mobbed well before faceoff. The entertainment once you enter the ball park was also a sight worth perusing before faceoff.

Scheduling wise, Fenway will be wide open to host the game. Plus, if the same pattern holds true with Hockey East hosting Frozen Fenway (as they have in 2010, 2012 and 2014), they can make another two-week event out of it.

Even with the lack of parking around Fenway, it is very easy to get to on the T – even if the experience getting there is a little painful. Still, it would be a little surprising to see another Winter Classic at the Fens.

Fenway Park hosted the Winter Classic in 2010. Will it host again in 2016? Photo credit: Tim Rosenthal

Gillette Stadium

According to reports dating as far back as last year, the Bruins are interested in hosting an outdoor game at Gillette Stadium. Originally, the rumors suggested that the Black and Gold would’ve been hosting a Stadium Series game this year, but that did not come to fruition.

Enter 2016 where the home of the Patriots is back in play. And with the NFL regular season ending after New Year’s Day next year, the Pats could vacate their home for the last two weeks of their season to accommodate the 2016 Winter Classic – although I’m sure Bill Belichick would not approve of this if he were making the decision.

Of course there are some setbacks to holding the Winter Classic in Foxborough. For one, the lack of hotels around the area would be a problem for fans and media traveling outside of the New England area. The stadium is at least an hour away from Boston and traffic getting to and from Patriots Place is a nightmare on a Pats game day.

Still, despite its critics, there is plenty to like about Gillette Stadium. The views are outstanding, the pregame tailgating is tremendous and the bars around Patriots Place are a good take if you get an opportunity to stop by for food and drinks before, or during a game. It may not be the loudest stadium in the world, but for a marquee game Pats fans are certainly “lubed up” and supporting their team. That would be no different for Bruins fans if “The House that Robert Kraft built” hosts the 2016 Winter Classic, regardless whether they play the Habs or not.

Gillette Stadium would offer fans the best views if they were to host the 2016 Winter Classic. Photo credit: Tim Rosenthal

Other venues?

Aside from Fenway and Gillette, the NHL could even think outside the box. Harvard Stadium is one of the original American Football fields in the country, so there would certainly be some intrigue there. Perhaps they could even hold it at Alumni Stadium (home of the Boston College Eagles) or even Boston University’s Nickerson Field (the first home of the Patriots and the Boston Braves).

That said, it would be a long shot if any of those venues get to host an outdoor game. It’s either Fenway or Gillette.