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Report: Winter Classic made $20 million profit

Winter Classic Maple Leafs Red Wings Hockey

In a photo provided by National Hockey League Images and taken with a fisheye lens, a record crowd watches the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs play in the Winter Classic outdoor NHL hockey game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich., Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014. (AP Photo/NHLI, Noah Graham)

AP

As reported by Sports Business Journal, apparently the 2014 Winter Classic was a mighty profitable one:

According to an NHL source, the Jan. 1 game at Michigan Stadium posted more than $30 million in revenue against costs of $10 million. Approximately two-thirds of the revenue was derived from ticket sales, with 105,491 fans paying an average ticket price of $186 for an estimated take of $19.6 million. An additional $10 million in revenue came from retail and advertising sales.

We’ve mentioned already that it’s going to be tough to top the 2014 event next season when it’s hosted by the Washington Capitals, likely at Nationals Park.

But the success of holding the Winter Classic at a massive college football stadium certainly raises the possibility of more games in similar venues. Like, say, Flyers-Penguins at Beaver Stadium? Or, how about the Blackhawks hosting one at Notre Dame Stadium? NBC knows its way around South Bend, right?