Building on January’s highly rated “Winter Classic” game in Buffalo, NY, the National Hockey League (NHL) is planning on staging another outdoor game on New Year’s Day, this time in Chicago at Wrigley Field between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings.

The two hockey teams are long-time Western Conference/Central Division rivals, and two of the NHL’s Original Six teams, and according to the Chicago Tribune newspaper, tickets to the game could be among the most sought-after for a regular season game from any of Chicago’s sports teams.

Tickets will be priced at $75, $225 and $325, and the team expects to sell about 41,000. The rink will be constructed horizontally above second base, and similar to NASCAR, the highest elevation seats, which have the best sight lines to the rink, are the most expensive tickets. On-sale information was not yet released.

Last season’s game, between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres, was held in Ralph Wilson Stadium before more than 70,000 fans. The Penguins won 2-1.

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Before settling on Chicago Cubs’s home field, the NHL considered holding the game in Yankee Stadium involving the New York Rangers. But, that was ruled out, partly because the stadium will be in the throes of being torn down, and there was sentiment that the final event in the stadium should involve the Yankees.

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(This story was edited at 2:10pm on Thursday, October 30, 2008)

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