There's been a lot of scuttlebutt surrounding the potential of the 2013 Winter Classic coming to the Big House at the University of Michigan, hosted by the Detroit Red Wings. There's been even more regarding the potential of the Toronto Maple Leafs playing in the game as the visitor, despite the fact that they're in a Canadian market and thus essentially useless to the American television interests that control the NHL's marquee event.
Winter Classic 2013: Chances Of Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs At Michigan Stadium ‘Extremely High’
But as reports have surfaced and those rumors have grown stronger, it’s seemed less and less like the NHL and NBC care about the downsides of having Toronto play in the 2013 game. According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, speaking on television Thursday evening, it’s almost a done deal that this will be the matchup come New Year’s Day next year.
Extremely high. I can in fact confirm those reports that the NHL’s desire is that the Toronto Maple Leafs play the Detroit Red Wings at the Big House, the University of Michigan football field. It’ll be configured for 115,000 in terms of attendance. It’s not finalized yet, but by the end of the month there’s expected to be a formal announcement. The NHL is well down the road.
Who knows? Maybe the announcement will even come at the All-Star Game in Ottawa in late January. The news is getting Leafs fans very, very excited, and our friends at Leafs blog Pension Plan Puppets are just downright giddy about the possibilities. Better start saving your Loonies and Toonies now, guys.
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