If the NHL and NHLPA are unable to conclude the ongoing labor dispute by Nov. 20, then the 2013 Winter Classic will be cancelled, according to a report by Ansar Kahn of MLive.com.
Citing sources close to the situation, Kahn learned that the host of this year’s event, the Detroit Red Wings, are under the impression that a new collective bargaining agreement needs to be in place by that date for the event to be held. Due to the millions of dollars that are required (in addition to the construction of two rinks), the league will have to determine in the near future whether it is a feasible operation.
As of Friday afternoon, the NHL had already announced the cancellation of the NHL schedule through Nov. 1.
Following Thursday’s meeting where the NHLPA provided three different proposals that were rejected by the NHL, commissioner Gary Bettman expressed how the process had taken a step backwards.
He also addressed the Winter Classic, via MLive.com:
“The issue is, and I know there’s been a lot more of 24/7 and, in particular, the Winter Classic, it takes a lot of time and it takes the commitment of a lot of money in order to put on the Winter Classic. We’re going to have to go back and revisit, but my understanding is at some point in the not-too-distant future we will have to commit many millions of dollars if we’re going to play the Winter Classic on Jan. 1.”
This year’s Winter Classic is scheduled to be held at Michigan Stadium between the Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs.
This story originally appeared on SBNation.com.
