Renzulli

Renzulli: It's similar, but the difference is it's new and it's ours.

Checking in: NHL's Don Renzulli discusses the Winter Classic 2009

Renzulli: The Fenway field drops off from pitcher's mound to first base and to second base a couple of inches, but the other side to the third it's more like five inches.

Checking in: NHL's Don Renzulli discusses the Winter Classic 2009

Renzulli: Last year, the big thing was we wanted to use the ivy (on the outfield wall) and they said, 'no' you can't touch it.

Checking in: NHL's Don Renzulli discusses the Winter Classic 2009

Renzulli, who previously worked for the NFL, headed up the two previous games in Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium and Chicago's Wrigley Field.

Checking in: NHL's Don Renzulli discusses the Winter Classic 2009

With two months to go before the NHL goes to Fenway Park for its third Winter Classic on New Year's Day, USA TODAY hockey reporter Kevin Allen talked to Don Renzulli, the NHL's executive vice president of events, about the preparations for the outdoor game between the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers.

Checking in: NHL's Don Renzulli discusses the Winter Classic 2009

Renzulli: It's harder dealing with a stadium that is dropped into a residential/retail component of the city.

Checking in: NHL's Don Renzulli discusses the Winter Classic 2009

Renzulli: Flash forward to this year and we went into Fenway and said the exact same thing.

Checking in: NHL's Don Renzulli discusses the Winter Classic 2009

Renzulli: The first thing is you have to differentiate between a baseball and football stadium.

Checking in: NHL's Don Renzulli discusses the Winter Classic 2009

Renzulli: That was a big thing last year to get the Cubs to understand that we will do every-thing in our power to limit the wear and tear on the field, but when Mother Nature plays a part it's out of our control.

Checking in: NHL's Don Renzulli discusses the Winter Classic 2009

Renzulli: The first year was a scramble to put it on, but it was in a football stadium and I was accustomed to football stadiums.

Checking in: NHL's Don Renzulli discusses the Winter Classic 2009