The NHL is hosting its eighth Winter Classic Friday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. (1 p.m., NBC). USA TODAY Sports hockey columnist Kevin Allen recently interviewed Commissioner Gary Bettman about where he sees the Winter Classic going from here.

Q: You have already held Winter Classics in many of the historic venues around the country. But given the appeal of the game, I'm guessing there is no expiration date for the Winter Classic.

Bettman: There is almost an insatiable appetite for these games. These games are on our schedule as we are projecting years out.

Q: Has the Winter Classic become even larger than you envisioned when it was launched at Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium in 2008?

Bettman: When I agreed that we should do this, and then I walked on the field in Buffalo and looked at 70,000 people, the rink and the snow … when the hair on the back of my neck settled down, it was clear we had something very special.

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