January 28, 2010
Michigan-Michigan State Will Play Another Outdoor Game
CHN Staff Report
Michigan and Michigan State were the first, and now, they will do it again.
The two age-old rivals have finalized a deal to play an outdoor game, this time at Michigan Stadium, 3 p.m. on Dec. 11 of next season.
The first such game, at MSU's Spartan Stadium on Oct. 6, 2001, drew 74,554, still a record hockey attendance. Since then, outdoor games have taken off as a concept, with the NHL now regularly playing one each New Year's Day. This season, there are two outdoor games in college hockey, one already held between Boston University and Boston College at Fenway Park, and the upcoming game at Wisconsin's Camp Randall Stadium between the Badgers and Michigan.
With a capacity much larger then Spartan Stadium, Michigan's "Big House" has a chance to set another record.
"Michigan and Michigan State set the standard for staging outdoor games on a grand scale ... and it’s great to see them collaborating again on an event that should once again put two CCHA teams in the national, and international, hockey spotlight," CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos said.
The Camp Randall game is set for Feb. 6 at 6 p.m., and will be shown on the Big Ten Network. According to Wisconsin coach Mike Eaves, 42,000 tickets have been sold for the game. The lower bowl of the stadium holds 50,000. The rink is currently being constructed.
Michigan State and Michigan will play plain-old regular season games this weekend, with Friday's matchup at Munn Arena in East Lansing, while Saturday's game will be at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.
