Michigan Hockey to Play State at Soldier Field

Submitted by michchi85 on

Great news for us in the Chicago area wanting to see the Michigan Hockey Team.

 

Outdoor hockey! Michigan will play Michigan State at Soldier Field in Chicago on Feb. 7. The game is part of the Hockey City Classic.

— Mich. Daily Sports (@theblockm) August 11, 2014

Uapologetic-RR…

August 11th, 2014 at 1:51 PM ^

Well how fortunate for Dave Brandon's athletic department that everyone just had to pony up for season tickets... Just before losing one of the biggest games of the year to a venue 3 hours away.

goblueram

August 11th, 2014 at 1:21 PM ^

I like the idea, and would definitely make the trip.

Semi related story - back in 2010, the football and hockey schedules lined up nicely - Wings/Jackets on Friday night, Michigan/OSU on Saturday.  It was pretty funny, during a stoppage in the hockey game they announced something along the lines of "good luck to the Buckeyes tomorrow".  I had my Michigan flag with me in the rink, so I stood up and waved it proudly.  I think almost 1/2 of Nationwide started yelling and booing me.  Quite an experience to have 8 or 9 thousand people booing in my direction!  Thankfully no beer bottles or poop coolers were thrown at me.  

Alton

August 11th, 2014 at 1:18 PM ^

Assuming Michigan is the one giving up the home game (I certainly believe that is the case, since the JLA game is Michigan State's home game), this will be 3 straight years with only one home game against MSU. 

And now there is an enormous gap in the middle of winter--exactly zero home games from January 10 to February 22.  Also, Michigan only plays 15 games at home this year--the fewest in about a half century, I think.   I know deep down I am over-reacting... but I really, really hate this. 

Uapologetic-RR…

August 11th, 2014 at 1:49 PM ^

Whoever is in charge of handling scheduling for Michigan's athletic teams the past few years sure has been bent over a barrel by the rest of the Big Ten.

gwkrlghl

August 11th, 2014 at 1:53 PM ^

I think it'd be cool if the home schedule wasn't already stretched thin. If you're going to do this, pull the Joe Louis game at the very least. I don't even know why we do the Joe game every year anyway

stephenrjking

August 11th, 2014 at 2:03 PM ^

That's ok, nobody is interested in going to hockey games in January and February.

Oh, wait...

I don't mind a stadium game in Chicago in principle. But MSU? Why not Wisconsin? And stripping another home game in absolutely the best time to attend college hockey at a home site is poor timing.

goblueram

August 11th, 2014 at 1:24 PM ^

For those of us in Chicago, this will be a fun one to attend.  I'm also hoping to do a trip to Boston for the BU game.  Would much rather see BC but unfortunately the weekend doesn't work. 

Alton

August 11th, 2014 at 1:36 PM ^

I'm ordinarily no conspiracy theorist, but the timing of this announcement is curious.  The hockey season ticket renewal deadline was 5 days ago.  Everybody who renewed their tickets did so under the reasonable assumption that there would be 16 home games, including 2 against Michigan State. 

I wonder if either (a) this announcement was intentionally delayed until after the season ticket renewal deadline, or (b) the season ticket renewal deadline was set given advace knowledge of when this event would be announced.

I am assuming that no adjustment of the price of the (alrady paid for) season tickets will be forthcoming.

Alton

August 11th, 2014 at 1:59 PM ^

I'm not trying to turn this into another anti-Brandon thing, and I'm not looking for a villan.  But I feel like the way this happened does a disservice to loyal Michigan hockey season ticket holders.  I don't care about the money--I would have bought the season tickets either way--but it just feels dishonest and leaves a bad taste in my mouth...not to mention the fact that we lost a home game against Michigan State in 2 different sports this year!

Indiana Blue

August 11th, 2014 at 1:52 PM ^

No freaking way there a really good seat ANYWHERE in a football stadium for a hockey match.  You're there for the event ... not to actually see .... ANYTHING.

It's a gimmick event.  Yeah Big Chill 1 was a blast with tailgating, new lights, nice weather and kicking Sparty's ass ... but actually seeing the game as compared to Yost - no way.

Go Blue!

Wolverine Devotee

August 11th, 2014 at 1:53 PM ^

Is anyone else tired of outdoor hockey?

The novelty has died. Especially with the new idiotic stadium series from the NHL. That killed any "once a year" fanfare surrounding the Winter Classic. 

It's been beaten to death in college hockey, too. Michigan has played in an outdoor game in 4 of the last 5 years. The only reason there was a break was because of the NHL strike screwing the GLI at Comerica. (That event went real well the following year......not)

Canadian

August 11th, 2014 at 2:01 PM ^

Not for me. I don't give a shit about outdoor hockey in Los Angeles so I don't pay attention to it. I went to frozen diamond in Cleveland and last years winter classic. Loved both events. Will likely attend this one as I've never been to Chicago and would like to see soldier field

JeepinBen

August 11th, 2014 at 2:07 PM ^

As a local who now lives here, this event will be a great time. Soldier field is relatively easy to get to - cabs are super easy, there will be parking, and trains are $2.25 if you can walk about 3/4 of a mile.

Soldier Field is built very vertically, so you'll be right on top of the action.

JeepinBen

August 11th, 2014 at 2:06 PM ^

Nationally, I agree with you. The buzz has worn off. It's no longer the very cool national event that it once was.

that said, locally it's still awesome and any time I can make a game I will.

That said, I still think it's really dumb for the NHL to host their marquee event on Jan 1 - that's a day for college football.

Bando Calrissian

August 11th, 2014 at 3:48 PM ^

I went to the first three outdoor M games. I'm kinda over it. The ice perpetually sucks, the sight lines suck, and the novelty just doesn't hold up. I like it as a conceptual idea, and the Cold War and Big Chill were cool and all, but it never takes more than about a period to remember why I'd rather be watching a game at Yost or Munn.

Doc Brown

August 11th, 2014 at 6:20 PM ^

Disagree about the Big Chill. I have been to every outdoor game except for the GLI last year, and the Big Chill has by far the best sight lines and the best lines outside of an indoor game. 

Ok, the GLI sucked. I heard about the holes in the ice surface that caused the game to be delayed. 

25dodgebros

August 11th, 2014 at 3:53 PM ^

Yost will continue to empty out as the schedule is geared towards TV not live spectators thus eventually destroying one of the best home ice experiences in college or pro hockey and a reason kids decide to play at UM.   Bo clearly did not get through to DB when he had him.  Rather than, "The team,the team, the team" it's "The money, the money, the money."  Michigan athletics will eventually be destroyed by one of its own - a true demon seed.  

StephenRKass

August 11th, 2014 at 3:54 PM ^

As a Michigan fan living in the Chicago burbs, it doesn't get better than this. What better game to see? Fortunately, I have enough friends who have season tickets to the Bears that I should be able to score some decent tickets.

Zoltanrules

August 11th, 2014 at 5:44 PM ^

I think Soldier Field will be half, or more, empty. I lived in the northern burbs of Chicago and enjoyed going to Northwestern to see MIchigan football and basketball (and now you can go up to Madison to see hockey) - but this makes no sense to me, other than for about 10,000 alums of the schools that turn out to see this.

Zoltanrules

August 11th, 2014 at 5:38 PM ^

Lord knows we have some East Coast alums and more marketing opportunities for that "wow" experience....And who really cares about the season ticket holders anyway?

On a more serious note, Miami and WMU as the other game in this hockey match up. Any guesses on how many fans will attend this match up on Feb 7th?