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Liquor License Sought For NHL Winter Classic At The Big House

ANN ARBOR (WWJ) - Hockey fans raise your glasses! Thirsty Maple Leafs and Red Wings fans might just be able to buy alcohol at the Big House during the 2013 NHL Winter Classic in Ann Arbor.

Officials from the University of Michigan are pursuing a liquor license to make the sale of alcohol legal at the annual event.

A House committee will hold a hearing Wednesday morning on the legislation, which school officials say is necessary because they don't have a temporary liquor license large enough to handle the number of fans expected to pack the 109,901-seat stadium, according to a report by The Detroit News.

The proposed law would not only allow the sale of alcohol at Michigan Stadium for the Jan. 1 outdoor game, but also at festivities in the days leading to the game.

NHL officials are reportedly renting the Big House for $4 million. After expenses, school officials expect to net approximately $3 million in profits, athletic department spokesman David Ablauf told The Detroit News.

Sources say the ability to serve fans alcohol was a stipulation in the NHL's agreement to rent the stadium.

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