There are few things that say the Winter Classic is really real, and really here, like the arrival of ice. The NHL has brought its experts, and the Cotton Bowl is getting ready for its moment in the sun – or wind, or snow, or (heaven forbid) rain.
A veritable army of technicians will build out the rink and install a 300-ton refrigeration unit that removes heat from the ice surface and stabilizes its temperature at about 22 degrees Fahrenheit. Dallas Stars legends Marty Turco and Brenden Morrow were on hand to watch the process begin, and they shared their excitement with correspondent Josh Clark:
“This is a big day for us,” Turco said.