U-M board OKs Big House Winter Classic

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - The University of Michigan Board of Regents on Wednesday authorized athletic director Dave Brandon to seek a contract with the NHL to host the Winter Classic.

The board called the special meeting to discuss renting Michigan Stadium to the league for the outdoor hockey game. The NHL also said it would have a major announcement Thursday at Detroit's Comerica Park -- with additional media availability in Ann Arbor that same day.

Buffalo, Chicago, Boston, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia have all hosted the Winter Classic, but a game at Michigan Stadium could draw the league's largest crowd.

The Wolverines and rival Michigan State attracted a Guinness World Record 104,173 people for a hockey game on Dec. 11, 2010.

This year's Winter Classic at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park drew 46,967, and the New York Rangers beat the Flyers 3-2.

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From Yahoo! Sports Puck Daddy Blogger Sean Leahy:

The Detroit News reports ----- A liquor license would be obtained -- liquor is not served on campus at Michigan -- and the NHL will have advertising and other sponsorship agreements throughout the stadium. There is no advertising at Michigan Stadium for football games.

Chuck Pleiness of the Macomb Daily reports ----- Comerica Park will host an American Hockey League game between the Grand Rapids Griffins and Toronto Marlies, the minor league affiliates of the Wings and Leafs. It will also be the site of the Great Lakes Invitational, along with two Ontario Hockey League games and numerous high school and youth games. Michigan and Michigan State will be two of the GLI teams. Three OHL teams -- the Plymouth Whalers, Saginaw Spirit and Windsor Spitfires -- have already been confirmed.
Comerica could also host the alumni game between the Wings and Leafs.