Michigan Stadium gets ready for NHL Winter Classic

12/12/2013
BLADE STAFF
  • WC-truck-at-Mich-stadium

    Winter Classic truck outside Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.

    BLADE/RACHEL LENZI

  • Winter Classic truck outside Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.
    Winter Classic truck outside Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.

    Crews start laying the foundation for an ice rink for the Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium.
    Crews start laying the foundation for an ice rink for the Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium.

    ANN ARBOR — The hauler has arrived.

    The NHL's Winter Classic Ice Truck made it to the University of Michigan today, and the world's largest mobile refrigeration unit is parked at Gate 1 of Michigan Stadium in preparation for rink construction inside of one of college football's largest stadiums.

    Michigan Stadium will host the NHL's Winter Classic, the annual New Year's Day outdoor hockey game, Jan. 1 between the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

    Former Detroit Red Wing Tomas Holmstrom, NHL vice president of events Don Renzulli and Dan Craig - the NHL's "ice guru" - spoke inside Michigan Stadium. Construction of the facility began Dec. 2, and construction of the temporary rink inside the stadium will start next week.