The Big House confirmed as venue for Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs 2013 Winter Classic Game
A day after rumours began spreading around about where the 2013 Winter Classic would be taking place between Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings, it was officially confirmed by the National Hockey League (NHL) on Thursday, February 9, 2012.
Going with the wants of not only fans, but also of the players as well, the NHL announced that the Winter Classic event will be held at one of North America’s most historic sports ground at the Michigan Stadium, also known as ‘The Big House’.
"This is just an incredible facility," Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said. "We spent $226 million expanding and renovating it, and we use it eight days a year. To the extent we can come up occasionally with an opportunity - and that's why we're
doing weddings and we're doing corporate parties. We're doing a lot of things to try to say, `You know what, let's use this, let people enjoy it, take advantage of it."'
For fans and players, the 2013 NHL Winter Classic Game will certainly be one of the most exciting in recent years due to the calibre of the two teams participating.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings can be easily said to be some of the most famous and well know sports clubs around the world, making it one of the biggest ever.
"It’s Hockey town versus the centre of the hockey universe," Toronto general manager, Brian Burke, said.
Reportedly, there are more than 115,000 tickets being arranged for the event due to the massive seating capacity in the stadium, but according to NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman, that still would not be enough to satisfy the demand they are expecting to come
from around Canada and the United States.
Being two of the original six teams to have joined the NHL, Toronto and Detroit will certainly make history and the sport of hockey just might be entering into a new era due to these two.
The last Winter Classic was between Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers, which surged viewership to new levels.
Seeing Toronto and Detroit perform, that too in The Big House, will definitely be one of those must see in your lifetime.
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