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11:27 AM ET 11.04 | In the week leading up to Friday's cancellation of the Winter Classic, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the biggest consideration was the logistics of staging a bigger-than-usual event, not the stalled labour negotiations. With the game between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs set for the University of Michigan and a two-week slate of events at a rink in Comerica Park in downtown Detroit, more preparation was required this year and the effort would be more expensive. The actual loss of a $100,000 (all currency U.S.) deposit to the university was only a small consideration. The hit to the local economy is still big: NHL chief operating officer John Collins estimated the game would have produced $75-million for the southeastern part of Michigan. The tipping point may have been the result of the labour negotiations or, specifically, the enormous ill will between the owners, players and fans caused by the lockout. The players were angry about the prospect of playing in a game they think means more to the owners' bank accounts than theirs and the fans were getting fed up with both sides.

Michigan Stadium, Dave Reginek/NHL/Getty Images

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November 4, 2012 11:49 AM ET

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Why NHL cancelled Winter Classic

Because they have a "tool" for a commissioner!

Center Ice

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November 4, 2012 11:54 AM ET

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QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 11:49 AM ET 11.04 by Center Ice

Why NHL cancelled Winter Classic

Because they have a "tool" for a commissioner!

While I cannot disagree with this statement I still maintain that the NFL finally realized that they put To***to in the WC. ;-)

Canuck eh?

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November 4, 2012 11:55 AM ET

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this is really sad. My son and I really enjoy watching this, we're very casual fans, we're the one's that hockey is trying to catch. We started watching about 3 years ago, we went to several Kings games and have become sort of hockey fans. This is a great marketing tool for the game, nothing like watching hockey contested in the great outdoors in the elements.

1to2ot3

Murrieta , CA

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November 4, 2012 12:07 PM ET

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A little dated but still fun.

Canuck eh?

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November 4, 2012 12:12 PM ET

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The actual loss of a $100,000. The actual deal was 250K due friday is why Holy Cheapness cancelled.

shiprock

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November 4, 2012 12:17 PM ET

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QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 11:54 AM ET 11.04 by Canuck eh?

While I cannot disagree with this statement I still maintain that the NFL finally realized that they put To***to in the WC. ;-)

Yeah that was a serious mistake........NFL?

Center Ice

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November 4, 2012 12:27 PM ET

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" NHL chief operating officer John Collins estimated the game would have produced $75-million for the southeastern part of Michigan."

$75M...Not exactly Suter/Parise money, but no small potatoes for the area.

HodgOscar

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November 4, 2012 12:57 PM ET

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Why NHL cancelled Winter Classic

Ummm, because there won't be a season to go along with it!!!

Golden Bay

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November 4, 2012 03:23 PM ET

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Because they didn't want to lose any more money that's why.

Nobody expects…

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November 4, 2012 03:24 PM ET

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QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 12:27 PM ET 11.04 by HodgOscar

" NHL chief operating officer John Collins estimated the game would have produced $75-million for the southeastern part of Michigan."$75M...Not exactly Suter/Parise money, but no small potatoes for the area.

Good point. More innocent victims to add to all the concession workers and other stadium employees who are getting shafted by the lockout.