I think the real question is why not have this every year? If we can't have a bowl game or olympics ever in this area...
There is enough of a market for hockey at every level to put on a high school game or two, a Gophers game, a Wild game. As for the college hockey portion, I think making the Dodge holiday classic an annual outdoor event would be a big upgrade from the current setting. If not the DHC, then have it be a matchup of two Minnesota schools (not necessarily the U).
I believe this is the way for the state of hockey to take ownership of this budding hockey tradition.