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Posted on Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 6:26 p.m.

Ready for more outdoor hockey? How about Michigan-Ohio State at Progressive Field?

By AnnArbor.com Staff

Updated 6:04 p.m.

The Michigan hockey team is headed outdoors once again.

The Associated Press reported early Wednesday that Michigan and Ohio State were finalizing plans to play an outdoor hockey game at Progressive Stadium in Cleveland.

Big_Chill_Crowd.jpg

Fans fill Michigan Stadium in December's Big Chill at the Big House.

Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com

Other outlets have since reported that an official announcement of a mid-January game will come on Friday night. A Michigan spokesperson declined to comment on the reports to AnnArbor.com and Curtis Danberg, director of communications for the Indians, would only confirm that Progressive is "in conversations" with both universities and targeting a January 2012 date.

The Detroit News reported that Michigan coach Red Berenson and captain Luke Glendening will participate in a press conference at Progressive Field before Friday night's Cleveland Indians' game against Pittsburgh.

The stadium has a recent history of hosting winter-time events. Last winter it hosted Snow Days, a two-month family-oriented event with a tubing hill and skating track..

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that discussions of an outdoor hockey game resulted in the first Snow Days. The Indians couldn't finalize the game last winter, but appear to have done so this year.

It will be the first major outdoor hockey game in Ohio.

There's not much chance a game at Progressive would outdraw last December's Big Chill at the Big House. Guinness World Records claims that game set a new hockey attendance record of 104,173.

Michigan beat Michigan State 5-0 at the Dec. 11 Big Chill, which was as much spectacle -- with fireworks and flyovers -- as it was a hockey game played at Michigan Stadium.

The Big Chill was Michigan's third outdoor game. The Wolverines and Michigan State also played to a 3-3 tie in front of 74,544 at Spartan Stadium in 2001.

Both Michigan and Ohio State have played outdoor games in Wisconsin. Michigan lost to Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison in 2010. The Badgers beat Ohio State at Lambeau Field in Green Bay in 2006.

Comments

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Jun 16, 2011 : 3:38 p.m.

I hope they have a backup plan to OSU....just in case the NCAA has their whole team in the penalty box ;)

tater

Thu, Jun 16, 2011 : 5:05 a.m.

This game won't sell out in Cleveland. They can barely sell out in Columbus. It would be really funny, though, if there were more Michigan fans than TSIO fans. The Ohio State Troopers don't have enough cars to pull over everyone with a Michigan plate, do they?

Johnny Smith

Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 11:19 p.m.

Hey I just came across this really funny article that features the 10 funniest/meanest OSU tweets of the day. Check it out, it is hilarious <a href="http://www.chatsports.com/michigan-wolverines/a/Top-10-funniest-OSU-tweets-of-the-day-10-2-129" rel='nofollow'>http://www.chatsports.com/michigan-wolverines/a/Top-10-funniest-OSU-tweets-of-the-day-10-2-129</a>

GoBlueGoWing

Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 10:58 p.m.

If I can get tickets I am going. . Does THE!!!!! ohio hockey fan(s) travel?

David Vande Bunte

Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 7:13 p.m.

I would be in favor of it if it was going to be at either Michigan Stadium again or at the Horseshoe, but not at Progressive Field. I don't know, there is just something about it that makes me think that if you are going to have an outdoor game, it ought to be at the football stadium of the designated home team that is playing in it. The Camp Randall Classic, Cold War and Big Chill were all played on campus at the host team's university. I don't mind going to professional stadiums for NHL games, they are pros, and don't have an affiliated outdoor sports facility at their disposal. Most universities that play hockey also play football, so use those facilities instead of outsourcing.

musicnerdsftw

Thu, Jun 16, 2011 : 4:42 p.m.

I think part of the decision to do it in cleveland is a climate concern. Columbus can be fairly mild in the winter so cleveland is a safer bet weather wise. The espn article includes the fact that its actually more of a money maker for the indians then OSU.

BornInA2

Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 6:56 p.m.

As an attendee of both The Cold War and The Big Chill, I can say that these games are GREAT fun and I'm hoping this comes off and I can make it to watch Red's boys STOMP TSIO. We'll have to amend our bumper stickers. Directions to Cleveland: South till you smell it, east till you step in it. Go Blue!

denniso800

Wed, Jun 15, 2011 : 6:40 p.m.

Camp Randall Classic -- Feb. 6, 2010 -- Wisconsin 3, Michigan 2 Cold War - October 6, 2001 - Michigan State 3 - Michigan 3 Big Chill - December 11, 2011 - Michigan 5, State 0 That means Michigan has already played three, not two outdoor games