With the 2012 Winter Classic in the rear-view mirror, speculation on where next year's edition of the game will be played is heating up. More specifically, the speculation revolves around if the game will be at Michigan Stadium or Comerica Park. All signs point to the Detroit Red Wings hosting the game, and right now the only question seems to be about which venue will actually host the event.
Right now it appears the NHL is in the early stages of gathering information about where to stage the event, as evidenced by what Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon had to say about the Winter Classic on Thursday.
"We have been approached by the NHL about utilizing our facility for the 2013 Winter Classic," Brandon said in a statement. "There are a lot of complex circumstances that need to be ironed out before anything moves forward. We will have more to say if/when something materializes."
There are factors working in favor of each possible site for the 2013 Winter Classic. On the one hand, Comerica Park makes a lot of sense because it's in Downtown Detroit and is the home of the Tigers, which are owned by Mike Ilitch, the owner of the Red Wings. On the other hand, Michigan Stadium holds a lot more people and could give the NHL a chance to break the hockey attendance record.
It remains to be seen where specifically the event will be played, but I think it's safe to say it's coming to Michigan in 2013. The Red Wings have been waiting for their chance to take part in the game as the host team, and it appears they are next in line.