NHL Winter Classic "Back Up Date"
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=616022&navid=DL|NHL|home
In the press release in the above link, it states that Jan 2nd has been listed as a back up date for the clash between the Wings and the Leafs in the 2013 Winter Classic. It seems to me that the growing fear of having to choose between the WC and Michigan in a potential New Years bowl game is all but alleviated.
Thoughts?
February 9th, 2012 at 11:38 AM ^
The Winter Classic will be on January 1. The backup date has nothing to do with Michigan football, it is only for weather postponements. The network won't tolerate moving the game for anything short of a torrential rain.
February 9th, 2012 at 11:39 AM ^
is more for weather concerns then if Michigan has a bowl game that day.
February 9th, 2012 at 11:47 AM ^
How can you have a backup date the day after for weather? That seems like something you need to figure out based on a forecast around that time.
February 9th, 2012 at 11:56 AM ^
Well...when else are you going to have the backup date? They will do everything they can to play it on the 1st, but if they can't they still have the stadium for the 2nd. I assume that they will play in JLA on the night of the 2nd if they can't play in Michigan Stadium on the 1st or 2nd.
Really only a heavy rain or a Snow Bowl-level blizzard would keep them from playing. NHL teams play 3+ games a week, and they can't keep a large number of dates open to play a game.
February 9th, 2012 at 12:18 PM ^
in Pittsburgh was postponed 8 hours to allow rain to move out and colder weather to move in. The 2012 game in Philly was postponed 3 hours for the same reason.
February 9th, 2012 at 11:55 AM ^
Seems that they would want to leave all options on the table.
February 9th, 2012 at 12:01 PM ^
I think this is a back up date in case of scheduling conflicts with football. Why on earth would the university risk scheduling a major event that would detract from a television and in-person audience for it's biggest and greatest marketing tool. Also, why would the NHL put a game in the big house without at least considering and planning for the fact that an estimated 70% of its television and in-person viewership would miss it because not only a favored local team, but one with as much tradition as Michigan would be playing at the same time. It may be halfway across the country, but the potential loss in ratings and in attendance must certainly warrant a back up plan. Not for rain or snow, but for this very type of conflict.
February 9th, 2012 at 12:16 PM ^
The game will be on Jan. 1 (a Tuesday which is also a legal holiday) if at all possible. Jan. 2 is a highly disfavored date because is it not a legal holiday and the size of the crowd (never mind the TV audience) would be much diminished. Only the weather would cause a move to Jan. 2.
February 9th, 2012 at 12:18 PM ^
You are looking at this from a University of Michigan perspective, and this game has nothing to do with the University of Michigan. The NHL is taking over the stadium, and they have sold commercial time to (NBC?) and to CBC in anticipation of a New Years Day game. Do you really think they would have it on the afternoon of Wednesday, January 2, when half of the fans planning to attend and 80 percent of the TV audience will be back at work?
This is a New Years Day event, and Michigan football won't affect that.
February 9th, 2012 at 12:11 PM ^
The backup date is for weather only. They're not going to move the game just because Michigan's bowl is on Jan. 1. This is the NHL's event, not Michigan's.
February 9th, 2012 at 12:18 PM ^
I Agree
February 9th, 2012 at 1:11 PM ^
its not going to be any good
The GLI will be played in slush
too many events going on
February 9th, 2012 at 3:54 PM ^
I dunno. Dave Brandon does love money. I'm betting he has thought of some way to convince the NHL to push it back if we are playing on that day.
February 9th, 2012 at 6:34 PM ^
February 9th, 2012 at 9:12 PM ^