The NHL is Set to Dis Hockeytown, and Send a Message: Take Your Outrage and Shove It, but Not so Far that You'll Stop Watching

by E Martin Nolan on Jan 14, 2012 4:59 PM CST

Non-Detroiters don't get Detroit. That is not news. But it is why few outside of the Detroit media seem to have noticed how disrespectful it is that the Winter Classic will, reportedly, be held outside of Hockeytown, USA. Instead of highlighting Detroit with a Classic in one of the greatest hockey cites on Earth--not to mention one of the greatest sports cities in general--the NHL seems bent on gathering recognition for itself by breaking an attendance record at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. In case you don't know, Ann Arbor isn't even considered to be in the Detroit area. And culturally, Ann Arbor might as well be on a different planet. Growing up in Detroit, Ann Arbor was hardly on my radar. So hosting the game in Ann Arbor is not at all like hosting the game in Detroit, or even particularly near Detroit. Nothing against Ann Arbor, but it's not Detroit. You might as well have the Wings and Leafs play in Toledo or Sarnia (I'm sure the league would if there was a 200,000-seat stadium in either place). Given the sensitivity of Detroiters in regard to the city's image and level of respect, the decision to host the game in Ann Arbor was bound to stir up the emotions of a city never lacking in a local pride that easily becomes defensive.

And rightly so. This game should absolutely be played at Comerica Park, in Detroit. The Red Wings have been far and away the best team in the NHL over the last two decades, and have filled up a great many stadiums in the Sunbelt as a result. And they aren't the Yankees, they built these teams the right way (OK, they might have bought the 2002 Cup, but that's it). They've also played a skilled, but not fancy-pants, style over the whole course of their dominance, garnering multiple copycats (the Canucks admit to this) and helping to usher into the NHL mainstream a style of play that has invaluably made the NHL a more entertaining and respectable league. And Red Wings fans, despite all the hardship that has rocked Michigan, have been among the most loyal. Michigan might be Mississippi North, but Michiganders live hockey like they're north of the border. Ann Arbor, on the other hand, deserves none of the hockey credibility the Classic would bring it (it has enough cred already, having hosted the Big Chill, and having been a great college hockey city already). In short, Detroit is getting shafted when it should be getting put up on a pedestal. How great would a Leafs-Wings game played outside, just off Woodward Avenue?

Unfortunately, that's all a moral argument and in the sports industry, apparently, money and attention trumps morality. It would be just, and right, for Detroit to host the Classic, but it will make more money in Ann Arbor. But it is also not like the NHL and its buddies can go for the money and completely ignore the outrage they know their decision will create. They don't want to piss Wings fans off that much. So they throw us some bones: the old-timers can play at Comerica, maybe the Great Lakes Invitational can be there too. Great, so the two people who watch the alumni game, or whatever it's called, will see the Detroit skyline above Comerica's center field wall, and all those devoted collage hockey fans will have to sit out in the cold in bad seats to watch games on potentially-horrible ice. That is no consolation at all, more like a backhanded compliment: "we know you're a great hockey city that had has carried our league for 20 years, that's why you get to host the old-timers!"

If this plan goes through, let me make this clear: Detroit will not have ever hosted a Winter Classic. Ann Arbor will have done so, with Detroit left waiting to receive the recognition it deserves.

I'll be exploring this issue further on Hockeyinsociety.com, as soon as I can wrap my head around the public/private nature of professional sports franchises. But this much is clear now: the public--the fans--of the Red Wings deserve a Classic in Detroit, but the private interests of the league are poised to trump that interest. So much for "our" Detroit Red Wings.

"Introducing Gary Bettman's profit-making machines--I mean your Detroit Red Wings!"

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Comments

I get everything you say...

To an extent it is true that it should not be held anywhere, but Downtown Detroit. It would do great things for the city and the community. It would be a bit like when the SuperBowl was in Detroit, but not as grandiose. Money would be pumped into the city and stores which would do great things.

With all that in the mix, I love the fact that it will be at The Big House. The amount of people cheering and The Wings being able to say they played in the hockey game with the largest crowd ever. And the part that impacts me is that I have a better chance to get a ticket to see it at The Big House than I would if it was at Comerica Park.

So while I am a little upset it isn’t Downtown, I can;t be anything, but excited to see the game at The Big House. And I don’t think it is a slap in the face to Detroit or disrespects us in any way.

- A Detroiter

by EuroCap on Jan 14, 2012 6:00 PM CST reply actions

Wasn't the Super Bowl....

actually at the Pontiac Silverdome?

by wingsluver4ever on Jan 16, 2012 6:14 PM CST up reply actions

Ummmmm.....

Not like 4 years ago or whenever it was…

Datsyuk and Friends

by Dubie on Jan 16, 2012 10:07 PM CST up reply actions

The Super Bowl

was held at the Pontiac Silverdome once – the 49ers beat the Bengals in an awesome game – the 49ers 1st SB Championship (I think).

It was held at Ford Field in 2006, when the Steelers beat the Seattle Seahawks – the game is known for two things – the 1st time a #6 seed won the SB, and a number of questionable penalty calls and non-calls that ultimately benefited the Steelers.

by Kendal on Jan 17, 2012 9:43 AM CST up reply actions

Detroit or not, The Red Wings are still in the winter classic and the winter classic is in Michigan.

by CrowClown on Jan 14, 2012 6:51 PM CST reply actions

I can see what you're saying

But as a Detroiter, I’m fine with it being in Ann Arbor

"Goaltending is a normal job, sure. How would you like it in your job if every time you made a small mistake, a red light went on over your desk and 15,000 people stood up and yelled at you."
-Jacques Plante

by DetroitSports on Jan 14, 2012 9:59 PM CST reply actions

GO Wings and GO Blue!!!

11-11-11 !!!

Go Wings !!!

Marcelo Garcia rules.

by KGW on Jan 14, 2012 11:20 PM CST reply actions

meh

I lack some perspective on this, being from Ohio, but I think there’s one thing that should be mentioned here: promoting the sport. The Big House is the largest stadium in the US, and the visibility/coverage is just as important to me as cash is to the League. For example, I’m not primarily a Blue Jackets fan, but I want them to do well because when they do (for all of the maybe three or four weeks when they could have said this over the last decade), people in my city care about hockey. I see what the OP is getting at, but I’m willing to make a similar concession here if I think that having the WC in the Big House will be good for the sport, which I think it will.

No Limits.

by arkanfel on Jan 15, 2012 9:47 AM CST reply actions

The Winter Classic needs something extra other than just being played outdoors.

The venue really didn’t make sense this year. The two baseball venues used before this year were classics with Wrigley Field and Fenway Park. Comerica Park is nowhere near those two and with the Big House so close, the chance to put a stranglehold on the NHL record for single game attendance shouldn’t be passed up.

Fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings.

by Elfuego51 on Jan 15, 2012 12:31 PM CST reply actions

Like everyone else has said

I get what you’re saying, but I don’t mind it being at the big house. There’s some benefits in that as well. The Wings will probably hold a pretty unbeatable attendance record, and it’d be pretty cool to say you were part of the largest crowd ever.

by JWurm on Jan 15, 2012 2:01 PM CST reply actions

From a Detroiter and DRW employee:

I see why it will be at that stadium in AA, but I also don’t understand it. The WC is about a DETROIT team, not an Ann Arbor team. With it being in AA, the extraneous revenue created by patrons going to restaurants, bars, shops, etc. is not going to the city of Detroit, which is where it should be going. Will it be cool to say it’s the biggest crowd? Sure, I guess. If you’re into looking things up in Guinness. Other than that, seriously, how cool would the camera angle be of the rink with RenCen and the rest of the skyline in the background? It would be a great event that would help revitalize the city of Detroit, which is one thing Mr. I has always wanted to do. I’m sure he doesn’t want to take this out of Detroit and I hope he’s fighting tooth and nail to keep it here. Playing it in AA would remind me of the Pissed-ons…playing in a suburb but taking the city’s name. We’re the DETROIT Red Wings, not the Ann Arbor Red Wings. In every prior game that’s been played, it has been played at a stadium in the host team’s city….the ACTUAL city. I don’t want our team’s fan’s dollars going to a city/university that doesn’t ever host our team. It’s not right. But unfortunately, we’re not the entity that controls where this game is played. The NHL does, and you know they will go for the biggest money grab. They could give two you-know-whats about the city or the patron’s dollars, they just want the biggest ticket. As such, I give this game less than 5% chance of being played at CoPa. And there’s nothing we can do about it. I guess I’ll just have to accept that the NHL is nothing but greedy and taking advantage of the Red Wings in this situation and giving us collectively the middle finger. It really makes me mad but like I said there’s nothing we can do. I hope to God I’m wrong, but I just don’t see it.

Datsyuk and Friends

by Dubie on Jan 16, 2012 1:06 AM CST reply actions

Disclaimer:

The above is my personal belief and opinion and in no way represents the views of the Detroit Red Wings organization. Just giving my perspective.

Datsyuk and Friends

by Dubie on Jan 16, 2012 8:20 AM CST up reply actions

Maybe I’m outside on this, but I’m not outraged over it. In fact, I’ve been hoping for this game since the first Winter Classic was announced in 2007.

This game is giving the RED WINGS the opportunity to set the NHL attendance record. And by a sufficient enough margin that it will take some crazy canuck building a 130,000 seat purpose built stadium to break it.

And as much as I like Comerica, it doesn’t have any history to it. If Tigers Stadium still stood, that would be a good venue (if just for the history) but CoPa doesn’t have that attachment. Not to mention, baseball stadiums are built for playing and viewing baseball. A hockey rink just doesn’t seem to fit the way it does in a football stadium.

And all this is even before we get to the point that I likely wouldn’t be able to get tickets at the 41,000 seat CoPa. But at the 109,000+ Michigan Stadium, my odds are slightly increased.

Dancing Datsyuk Decidedly Dazzles Dainty Defensemen

by Robocop on Jan 16, 2012 10:49 AM CST reply actions

I agree - partially

I’m from Detroit, and though I haven’t lived there in a very long time – I understand and at least partially agree with your perspective. The Classic won’t be IN Detroit, and that in and of itself, is a (partial) slap in the face of the city. That said, I also agree that Ann Arbor really isn’t (and like you, I never considered it) part of Detroit – I do bleed Maize & Blue to this day – but AA is still a 30-45 minute ride on I-94 from the real city of Detroit.

However, I also agree with Robocop – Comerica Park has zero “history” surrounding it. Tiger Stadium – yes, but Ford Field and/or Comerica Park – no. Now if Tiger Stadium was still there – totally different story – can you imagine if Tiger Stadium was still standing – sitting in the Right Field seats, in the overhang, directly above Kaline’s corner watching the Red Wings play the Leafs???? Now that would be something to see and behold on National TV, but alas, the obstructed view seats and the lovely forest green poles are gone, as are the old wooden seats we used to sit on and pound to cheer on the Tigers or the Lions. Fortunately or unfortunately, we’ve moved on – Olympia Stadium is gone, Tiger Stadium is gone – but the Big House still stands – it’s probably THE stadium in all the area with the most history and memories surrounding it.

So I’m down and wholly supportive of having the Classic at Michigan Stadium. Yes, we’ll hear more about the Wolverines than we will about the Tigers or Lions than we would if it were in Detroit proper, but setting the attendance record and hosting the Classic is awesome, and I’m completely ok with Ann Arbor putting on a show for all the world to see.

Your point is valid, I’m not sure if the NHL is really doing a smack-down on Detroit or not, or if they’re just looking at the $$$$ they’ll get with a crowd of 110,000+ people and setting an attendance record that will drive all Blackhawks fans crazy as well as Canada too. My sense is they’re in it for the $$$.

by Kendal on Jan 17, 2012 9:36 AM CST reply actions

Let me off another perspective

This isn’t about Detroit. This isn’t about Ann Arbor. This is about a location that will allow the Red Wings (and yes, the NHL as well) set a world record for outdoor hockey game attendance.

If the stadium was in Toledo, Lansing, or Battle Creek, I have not doubt it would have been seriously discussed as a location for the game. But it’s not. It just so happens to be in Ann Arbor.

The NHL doesn’t run this even to revitalize cities (although that might have been a nice by-product), it runs it to get attention first and foremost FOR THE LEAGUE. The actual teams involved have ALWAYS taken a back-seat to the spectacle of an outdoor NHL game. The NHL’s attitude about the game, and it’s decision to hold in in Ann Arbor rather than Detroit, is absolutely consistent with how they’ve treated the game in the past, and I would expect them to continue to treat it in the future.

by Big Z in Orlando on Jan 18, 2012 1:55 PM CST reply actions