Leafs, Wings set for Winter Classic

The National Hockey League announced on Thursday that the Detroit Red Wings will take on the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 Winter Classic on Jan. 1 at Michigan Stadium.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch took part in the press conference on Thursday.

Bettman said Comerica Park will host the Hockeytown Winter Festival, which will be a week-long celebration of the sport.

It will not be the first outdoor hockey game at 'The Big House' as the Michigan State Spartans took on the Michigan Wolverines on Dec. 11, 2010. During that game they drew a crowd of 104,173, which set the record for attendance at a hockey game. The Winter Classic event in Detroit is expected to exceed that number.

The Alumni/Legends game between the Leafs and Red Wings is expected to take place at Comerica Park, which is the home stadium of the Detroit Tigers, during the week leading up to the Winter Classic.

The NHL has reportedly offered to pay up to $3 million for a license to use Michigan's football stadium, according to the recommendation approved by the board.

Detroit has never hosted the Winter Classic before but they took part in the event in 2009 when they beat the Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field.

It will be the first time a Canadian team is involved in the Winter Classic event.