Michigan, NHL Discussing 2013 Winter Classic at the Big House

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - University of Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon says the school and the NHL are discussing bringing the Winter Classic to Michigan Stadium.

Brandon said conversations about the annual showcase game outdoors were continuing Wednesday amid reports that the Detroit Red Wings would play the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 1, 2013, at the Big House, which holds 110,000 on football game days.

The NHL said it had nothing to announce about the 2013 game.

Buffalo, Chicago, Boston, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia have hosted the event, though the crowd for a Michigan Stadium game would likely be the biggest: Michigan and Michigan State attracted a Guinness World Record 104,173 people for a hockey game on Dec. 11, 2010.