We just had a new liner installed a week ago. The pool drained itself over the fall and winter last year due to leaks that had developed in the 10 year old liner. We had a tad bit of frost damage to the vermiculite bottom, but the installers cleaned that up with no problem when they put the new liner in. Just filled it a few days ago and now getting the water balanced (adding CYA, TA, Hardness) and it looks great and is crystal clear. Hit 80 hear today in Charlotte, and the pool water temperature is 62. After working in the yard I was tempted to jump in..lol..but not quite yet.
Couldn't you close it a couple weeks early, have the work done, fill it as normal and then winterize it? Bummer to not get use of a brand new pool..but I think winterizing in a "normal" state might be better unless you rig up something like Isaac did. I just have visions of a ice building up in an unfilled pool and slicing into that new liner...
Good luck!
PS - We went with a different liner pattern/bottom combination than our old one and it looks great...
BeachAV8R