I hate the premise of Baseball and Football being played in dome stadiums as it is. They now propose taking Hockey out of the Joe and putting it in a dome stadium? Recipe for disaster. At least the game in Buffalo is outdoors, giving some semblance of “getting back to basics.”

Posted by Alan on 12/20/07 at 02:24 PM ET

“ordered to attend”??? What a spoiled little brat. 

I cannot, however, disagree about have an indoor game in a bigger venue.

Posted by Sig from Washington DC on 12/20/07 at 02:46 PM ET

I tend to disagree with Mr. Shoalts and the comments above.  Anything that will promote the sport, even if it is in a recognized “hockey hotbed”, has to be good for the sport—in spite of the fact that it is blatant public relations stunt.

I noticed this comment on the Globe anb Mail article and it sums my opinion quite well:

Carlos Zeigler from United States writes: Yes, I guess it really would be stupid to try anything that could grow the game in the US. What are they thinking?

Besides, if you are lucky enough to be a hockey fan within driving distance of Detroit—who wouldn’t want to go to a double header!!!!

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 12/20/07 at 03:30 PM ET

This is the same writer who complained during last season’s finals that he missed out on the free beer and food because his free shuttle ride back was late because it had to drop someone else off at a different hotel.

Don’t worry Dave, I’m sure the league will have some free grub for you in Buffalo since that’s your biggest worry.

Posted by Bruha on 12/20/07 at 03:35 PM ET

I don’t see the problem with a game at a big stadium either, even if it is a dome.  Teams that sell out regularly and have expensive tickets (kindof Detroit, but definitely Toronto, Montreal, NYR, etc) playing in a huge stadium once a year sounds great to me.  Imagine the spectacle of all those hard core Leaf fans that never get to see the Leafs play at the ACC in say the Skydome?  It would be a tremendous event.

Posted by Darrell on 12/20/07 at 04:04 PM ET

Detroit fans just want to see a home team win at Ford Field!

Too, too true. 

I thought they were considering trying out Ford Field as a possible setting for the NCAA Frozen Four?

In that case, “going back to the roots of the game” isn’t the point at all - the point is to find the problems in putting a rink in the arena so there will be as few hitches as possible.

Yes, I will be at the outdoor game in Buffalo on Jan. 1, but only because I was ordered to attend.

Awww. Poor baby.

I wish I was “ordered to attand!”

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 12/20/07 at 05:18 PM ET

I didn’t think the Wings had agreed to any such thing yet.  In fact, when the idea for the outdoor games first came up, didn’t the Wings give it a thumbs down?  Maybe I’m think of the European games which I know Holland opposes.

The Frozen Four and maybe getting the Wings into the mix, I’ve heard about, but I don’t recall if the Wings org had anything to do with that?

Posted by snafu on 12/20/07 at 09:55 PM ET