The NHL announced Sunday that the long-anticipated Winter Classic matchup between the Maple Leafs and Red Wings at Michigan Stadium on the campus of U. of Michigan will take place on Jan. 1, 2014.

A world record crowd for an ice hockey game could attend the event, potentially surpassing the 104,173 people attending the game between the U. of Michigan and Michigan State U. at Michigan Stadium in 2010.

"The history of the teams' cross-border rivalry, the nobility of The Big House and the growing tradition of the NHL Winter Classic will raise the anticipation for this event to new heights," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said.