In January, we reported how it was possible that the final event at Yankee Stadium wouldn’t be a baseball game but an outdoor hockey contest. And now the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS follows up that such a dream is coming closer to reality.

After the Yankees clear out & move to a brand-new stadium across the street, the plan is for the New York Rangers to close down the 85-year-old ballpark with an outdoor game.

NBC & the NHL have already been scouting the stadium to see if they can pull off another successful Winter Classic, like the Sabres vs. Penguins matchup held at Ralph Wilson Stadium earlier this season. And this time, rink crews will have at least two months to set up shop after the Yanks vacate, unlike the 8-day rush to build everything in Buffalo.

As for the Rangers’ opponent, the network & league are said to be eying either the Boston Bruins or Detroit Red Wings, as a nod to the NHL’s Original Six lineup. The New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils have also been mentioned as possibilities, but NBC wants a chance at higher ratings by featuring a team from a different U.S. market.

You’d think the NHL wouldn’t care so much about ratings, since they’re still on Versus.