Dave Brandon says discussions with NHL about 2013 Winter Classic discussions ongoing

Ever since Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon confirmed that he was having discussions with the NHL about possibly hosting the 2013 Winter Classic, the rumor mill has been swirling.

It seems that every day there is a new source calling a Detroit Red Wings-Toronto Maple Leafs New Year's date at Michigan Stadium an all but done deal.

Brandon shed some light on the situation at Progressive Field this weekend in an interview with the Detroit Free Press.

“There’s so many rumors and so much misinformation flying around about this,” Brandon told the Free Press. “We’re still having conversations, and we’ll see if we can work something out. But it’s still a work in progress.”

Brandon ruled out the possibility of the Michigan hockey team playing a separate game if the Winter Classic were at the Big House. And he said rumors about the Great Lakes Invitational being at Comerica Park are exactly that: rumors.

Among the many complications Brandon cited is the fact that he hopes the Michigan fan base is busy on Jan. 1 2013.

"I hope a lot of people are at a bowl game and watching our football team. So there’s a lot of complications as it relates to that," Brandon said.