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UM-MSU Game At Spartan Stadium In '01 Set
Attendance Record For Outdoor Hockey Game |
Univ. of Michigan (UM) Exec Associate AD Mike Stevenson yesterday said that UM and Michigan State Univ. (MSU) have reached a deal to play an outdoor hockey game at Michigan Stadium during the ’10-11 season, according to Kevin Ryan of the ANN ARBOR NEWS. Stevenson said that the game at Michigan Stadium, which will have a projected "post-renovation capacity of about 108,000, must be approved by the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA)." It is tentatively scheduled for December 11, 2010. Stevenson noted that UM “considered no other opponents for the game,” including the Univ. of Wisconsin, whom UM agreed to play at Camp Randall Stadium on February 6, 2010 (
ANN ARBOR NEWS, 3/5). Ryan yesterday noted the game "likely would shatter the world record for outdoor hockey attendance." Stevenson said that the completion of renovations to Michigan Stadium, combined with UM's "first football season in the re-done stadium, make the time right to plan an outdoor game." He added that the school is in the process of "gathering details about outdoor games held at other venues," including Wrigley Field and Camp Randall Stadium. The current attendance record for an outdoor hockey game is the 74,544 that attended the UM-MSU game in '01 at Spartan Stadium (
ANN ARBOR NEWS, 3/4). CCHA Commissioner Tom Anastos: "You'd be going into a stadium known for its size and tradition and it'll create a platform where more people can attend this game than any other in history. That'll create all sorts of dynamics." However, MSU Associate AD/Communications John Lewandowski said that reports calling the deal complete are "premature" (
LANSING STATE JOURNAL, 3/5).
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Babcock (r) Is Open To Having Red Wings
Play Outdoor Game At Michigan Stadium |
DOUBLEHEADER UNLIKELY: Stevenson said that he “plans to talk to NHL officials about the possibility of having the Red Wings play at Michigan Stadium" the day after the MSU-UM game (DETROIT NEWS, 3/5). Red Wings coach Mike Babcock "repeatedly" has said that he would like his team to play a game at Michigan Stadium (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 3/5). But the ANN ARBOR NEWS' Ryan writes it is unlikely the Red Wings will be "joining the spectacle." Red Wings GM Ken Holland said that he "has not been contacted by the NHL, and he doesn't expect the league to want Detroit in an outdoor game anytime soon." The Red Wings defeated the Blackhawks 6-4 at Wrigley Field during the Winter Classic this past January (ANN ARBOR NEWS, 3/5). In Michigan, George James Malik writes selling a Winter Classic game at Michigan Stadium "becomes doubly difficult as the NHL takes full control of both staging the event and deciding whether it should share any profits with the teams and/or hosts involved" (MLIVE.com, 3/5).
