The NHL may be on verge of a lockout beginning on Sept. 15, but it wouldn't necessarily mean an immediate cancellation of the 2013 Winter Classic. That game— between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs— is scheduled to be held at the University of Michigan's Michigan Stadium on Jan. 1. According to the New York Times, a clause in the NHL's contract stipulates that the league can announce a cancellation of the game as late as the day of, which would allow the NHL to put the game on even if the lockout was resolved in mid-to-late December.
NHL Lockout Wouldn’t Guarantee Cancellation Of 2013 Winter Classic
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According to the NYT, many around the league see the lucrative Winter Classic as the ultimate impetus for the league and the union to strike a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement. If the NHL did cancel the Winter Classic, it would only be on the hook for $100,000 of the $3 million stadium rental fee.
For all the news surrounding the NHL's collective bargaining agreement and the ongoing quest to replace it, stick with this StoryStream.