Longtime rivals with the University of Michigan in hockey (and other sports), MSU decided not to play this contest atEast Lansing'sMunn Ice Arena, but instead set up the ice rink in the middle of the much largerSpartan Stadium, which they filled to 103.4% capacity. This meant that 74,544[2] packed theBig Tenfootball stadium (the home of theMSU football team) to watch theMSU Spartans and theU-M Wolverines skate to a 3–3 tie.[3][4] Two 300-piecemarching bands were present on field and the game was internationally televised. Country artistShannon Brown sang during the second intermission.
The opening game of the2010 IIHF World Championship took place on May 7, 2010, at the retractable-roofVeltins-Arena, normally used by thesoccer clubSchalke 04. On this occasion, the stadium's configuration allowed for a capacity of 75,976, which would ultimately be exceeded by almost 2,000, breaking the all-time attendance record.[citation needed]
On December 11, 2010, the two teams involved in the Cold War met again, this time with Michigan hosting the game at itsfootball venue,Michigan Stadium. U-M billed the game as "The Big Chill at the Big House".[5] When U-M halted ticket sales to the general public on May 6, 2010, over 100,000 tickets had been sold.[6] As of the2010 football season, Michigan Stadium had an official capacity of 109,901. The game ended with a 5–0 victory for the University of Michigan. The record was officially set at 104,173 people.[citation needed]
