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Ice venue: Wrigley Field in Chicago will stage NHL game

Wrigley Field, the home of the MLB's Chicago Cubs, has been chosen as the venue for the NHL's third ever 'Winter Classic' outdoor ice hockey game between the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings.

The match will be the third regular season NHL game to be played outdoors, with the latest Winter Classic being played on New Year's Day 2009.

The original outdoor game was played between the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens in November 2003.

A second Winter Classic, the first on American soil, was played last season at the home of NFL side Buffalo Bills when 71,217 fans watched the Buffalo Sabres take on the Pittsburgh Penguins as snow fell during the game.

Reigning Stanley Cup champions Detroit have been chosen for the next outdoor game, and a famous old venue has been chosen in the shape of the Cubs' Wrigley Field.

The 'Friendly Confines' has been the home to the Cubs since 1916 and is the second-oldest ballpark in the existence behind Boston's Fenway Park.

The Chicago Bears had their previous home in the ivy-laced surroundings of Wrigley Field, with the 1963 NFL championship game being staged there.

"The NHL is delighted to bring its most historic rivalry to one of the most historic venues in sports," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said.

The Blackhawks and the Red Wings have been carefully chosen to take part in the game, with both members of the 'Original Six' teams in the NHL and with it being the 701st meeting between the two teams no sides have a longer regular-season history.

"We expect interest to be on an international level for this once-in-a-lifetime event," Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz said.

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland added: "We've been a candidate to play in this for a long time and everybody in our organization is excited about being a part of what is becoming an annual outdoor classic.

"It's a tremendous opportunity to promote our game, our league and our team and have a one-in-a-lifetime experience at the same time."

Bettman also said that he will continue to talk to the New York Yankees about the possibility of staging an outdoor game at their new Yankee Stadium that opens next year.