2013 Winter Classic Announced. Receives The Mickey White Of Approval.

The NHL got it right by picking Ann Arbor
for the Winter Classic in 2013.

Last night was spent driving from suburban Chicago to Columbia, Missouri. As a result, I missed the news break of the 2013 Winter Classic. For those hockey fans who are living under a rock, the Wings are playing the Leafs in the Big House. Toronto. Detroit. Ann Arbor. This is easily the third best idea the NHL has produced for the Winter Classic. In honor of this successful choice and due to the fact that I did not post about this yesterday, I will be giving you my personal list of non-traditional venues I would love to see a hockey game played in.

The Carrier Dome

10. Carrier Dome: Syracuse, New York

Why have a hockey game in Syracuse? Simple. It's relatively medium sized city smack dab in the middle of Toronto, Montreal, Boston, New York and Buffalo. It's a respectable college town with a large town and some history behind it. I promise you it's not the most farfetched venue on this list.

Lucas Oil Stadium

9. Lucas Oil Stadium: Indianapolis, Indiana

Another venue that will never get a hockey game, a game at Lucas Oil could gauge the city's interest in potentially having an NHL team. Currently, Hamilton and Kansas City are far more likely to get a team. However, Indy would be far more profitable than having teams in Phoenix and Sunrise. Along with a Final Four and a Super Bowl coming up, a hockey game (or team) would make Indy all of the rage. It's not just a Peyton Manning city anymore. Who am I kidding? Of course it is.

The Mercedez-Benz Superdome

8. The Mercedez-Benz Superdome: New Orleans, Louisiana

Obvious Disadvantage: Closest markets are St. Louis, Nashville and Dallas. So yes, this will never happen. It's fun to pretend because though because I get chills just thinking about the Superdome. All of the sports history behind it. The Super Bowls. The National Championships. Final Fours. Katrina. The City of New Orleans. Bourbon Street. It would just be cool to add neutral site NHL game to that resume.

Yankee Stadium

7.Yankee Stadium: Bronx, New York

Need I explain? It's New York. The house that Steinbrenner built have he knocked down the one Ruth built. Putting hockey games in Wrigley and Fenway warrants considering a game in the Bronx. Out of this list, I see this venue as the most likely to happen.

Neyland Stadium

6. Neyland Stadium: Knoxville, Tennessee

The second college town on this list is conveniently placed between two successful souther hockey markets. The advantage of a hockey game at Neyland is not particularly one that will be of large profit to the entire league, but would definitely be a major boost to hockey in the south and would give more national exposure to hockey in Tennessee and Carolina. I honestly think there would be a large crowd at this game and all of the atmosphere of a fall saturday at Neyland Stadium would be ever present.

CenturyLink Field

5. CenturyLink Field: Seattle, Washington

Let me start by saying that Seattle is a very underrated sports city. Anybody who knows a great deal about football knows about the atmosphere in Seattle when you go into a Seahawks game. It's electric and full of local culture. Combine that with the fact that Seattle is near Vancouver, a team known for having a rabid fan base. Just sit and think about that.

AT&T Park

4. AT&T Park: San Francisco, California

In the Sharks' television market, AT&T Park is probably the 2nd coolest location on this entire list. Out by the San Francisco Bay on McCovey Cove. Arguably in one of the best stadiums in the National League, San Francisco would provide a great atmosphere for an outdoor hockey game. It also gives millions of people a chance to go see their "local" hockey team

Sports Authority Field at Mile High

3. Sports Authority Field at Mile High: Denver, Colorado

Denver is the perfect city for an outdoor hockey game. The Mile High City. Despite the fact that the Avalanche have not been relevant in what seems like forever, but that doesn't take away from the fact that Mile High a great place for a hockey game. Denver is a great location for the same reasons Seattle is. It's a cold weather city in the western part of the country with a solid hockey fan base in the area. It could also be a great venue to rekindle the Red Wings/Avalanche rivalry that was once more relevant.

Cowboys Stadium

2. Cowboys Stadium: Arlington, Texas

Everything's bigger in Texas. Big state, big food, big personality, big stadium, big ass television. Introduce big hockey games. It could be the most important hockey game in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex since the 2003 Western Conference Finals. Jerry Jones has a reputation for doing things big, and how much bigger does it get than watching a hockey game in Cowboys Stadium under the world's largest television.



1. Faurot Field: Columbia, Missouri

I'll admit this is a total homer pick. A St. Louis Blues game on Faurot Field. The Rock M in the background. Laws hall appearing on national television during the national anthem. Every true son would be more than eager to tune in to a Winter Classic at THE ZOU! Granted, St. Louis seems like a more logical venue for an outdoor hockey game for Faurot. That's what makes this a complete homer pick.

Faurot Field