Next NHL Winter Classic to still be at Michigan Stadium
According to Ken Holland of the Red Wings, the NHL is going to have the Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium On 1/1/14.
Other events at Comerica in December 2013
From Tweets by @FSDwakiji, Dana Wakiji from Fox Sports Detroit.
Sounds like they're going to do everything they had planned this past year. And who said the lockout was a waste of time and accomplished nothing? /raises hand
January 16th, 2013 at 1:14 PM ^
Was hoping they would change the team. Would love to see the Blackhawks play here.
January 16th, 2013 at 1:18 PM ^
As a Hawks fan myself, that would be awesome. But the NHL has yet to have a canadian team in a Winter Classic, and the Hawks and wings played a few years ago at Wrigley.
January 16th, 2013 at 1:39 PM ^
Didn't Edmonton host one of these a few years back?
January 16th, 2013 at 1:43 PM ^
2008: Orchard Park, NY (Penguins v. Sabres)
2009: Chicago, IL (Red Wings v. Blackhawks)
2010: Boston, MA (Flyers v. Bruins)
2011: Pittsburgh, PA (Capitals v. Penguins)
2012*: Ann Arbor, MI (Maple Leafs v. Red Wings)
*Obviously not played.
Only one Canadian team scheduled, none have played and none have hosted.
January 16th, 2013 at 1:51 PM ^
OK, I was thinking of the "Heritage Classic" (Edmonton and Calgary have each hosted one), not the "Winter Classic." Typical NHL - come up with two different names for the same thing, thereby diluting its recognition.
January 16th, 2013 at 3:15 PM ^
Not really... the Heritage Classic was a one off game that then inspired the idea of the Winter Classic and it was resurected when Canadian teams whined about never getting to host the Winter Classic (for obvious ratings reasons). That's to say nothing of the fact that the original Heritage Classic was played in November, so calling it the Winter Classic wouldn't have made sense. Considering the shortage of Canadians venues (there's no useable outdoor venues in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa or Vancouver and Winnipeg is much too cold) and the effect a Canadian team other than Toronto or Montreal would have on American ratings, it makes sense to have two separate brands for these events.
January 16th, 2013 at 1:45 PM ^
If I am not mistaken they played a game in the early 2000's outdoors against Montreal?
January 16th, 2013 at 1:45 PM ^
Edmonton and Montreal played in 2003 and Calgary and Montreal played in 2011. They were both outdoor games.
January 16th, 2013 at 1:15 PM ^
Yes, hockey fans have been screwed this year. Thankfully though, we will not be penalized and they will not move the game elsewhere. The only questions I ask are, 1 Do we really have to allow the OHL be involved in this event? With their SEC like recruiting tatics, I really wish we could remove them from this event. 2. Will Michigan have a goalie that can finish 3 periods?? ( OK i kid about number 2, but seriously!!!!)
January 16th, 2013 at 1:17 PM ^
until the next lock out
January 16th, 2013 at 1:23 PM ^
Too bad, New Years Day was georgeous this year, sad face.
January 16th, 2013 at 1:26 PM ^
I just as upset to miss 247 than I was to not go to the game. Glad we get em both back.
January 16th, 2013 at 1:37 PM ^
The 24/7 series has been awesome for the Winter Classic games the past few seasons. It was fun to see colorful characters like Torts and Bruce Boudreau. Will be real interesting to see how the wings will look behind the scenes, as we have always had a business first mentality.
January 16th, 2013 at 3:18 PM ^
the sad part is we won't get any of that rad footage of Lidstrom and Holmstrom having their ritual pregame meal at Amatao's in Livonia, as we saw in day in the life doc NBCSN did on Lids last year
January 16th, 2013 at 1:41 PM ^
Only problem with 1/1/14 is that New Years day is a pretty good day for watching football.
January 16th, 2013 at 1:42 PM ^
Figure the Wings game will start around 1pm, whereas Michigan should be kicking off at the Rose Bowl just a little after 5. Perfect time to go from the Big House to an on campus bar.
January 16th, 2013 at 1:43 PM ^
I heard that before
January 16th, 2013 at 2:03 PM ^
Eh...knowing Gary Bettman's incompetence it'll probably be canceled again.
/s (?)
January 16th, 2013 at 2:24 PM ^
January 16th, 2013 at 2:32 PM ^
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
January 16th, 2013 at 3:03 PM ^
If the Winter Classic were earlier on Super Bowl Sunday or even the previous weekend when there is no football, then they would be able to capitalize on the nation's attention. Instead, the Winter Classic will have a smaller tv audience than the taxslayer.com bowl.
January 16th, 2013 at 3:25 PM ^
The Winter Classic gets perfectly good ratings going against college football, much better than the Gator Bowl... think about it, if Michigan isn't playing on NYD what do you do? Blindly watch one other game from kick off till the whistle blows? No, I'm guessing you flip between several games. And with the Winter Classic on, you probably flip between that, too. And since most of the country has no vested interest in Ole Miss vs Iowa, say, it's a good bet that a lot of people will find their way to the Winter Classic.
The event is actually one of the most successful things the NHL has ever done... tinkering with it in the hopes of making it even bigger would be the stupidest thing ever, and even the NHL isn't that stupid. And Super Bowl Sunday is a no-go... NBC's contract with the NFL stipulates that they can't show the NHL on NFL Sundays, meaning that it couldn't be played in that spot every third year.
January 16th, 2013 at 3:58 PM ^
Also, I've personally never watched a winter classic and haven't invested a dime in NHL products since the last lockout. Maybe I'm not the best target demo, but I really think they're missing an opportunity to grow the audience.
January 16th, 2013 at 5:35 PM ^
this was common knowledge.
Nothing was going to change but the year.