The Stadium Series is one of the series of regular season outdoor games played in the National Hockey League (NHL). This event is distinct from the NHL's other two series of outdoor games, the NHL Winter Classic, played in a different NHL city every year, and the NHL Heritage Classic (played occasionally at different Canadian stadiums). Games in the Stadium Series are usually played in February or early March, and are typically played in either NFL or college football stadiums when both leagues are in their offseason. In the past, MLB ballparks were also used, though it has been mainly utilized for the Winter Classic. The first Stadium Series was held in 2014 and consisted of seven teams participating in four games held in three venues; this was also the only Stadium Series to have taken place in January. Since 2015, only one Stadium Series game has been played each season,[1] except in 2016 and in 2024, when two games were held.[2][3]
List of games
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- Bolded teams denote winners
- Italicized games are yet to be played
Uniforms
The uniforms worn in the Stadium Series are unique in that they feature enlarged logos, letters and numbers in order to increase visibility for spectators who sit in the upper deck seats (as the Stadium Series is typically played in NFL or college football stadiums). Whereas the Winter Classic and Heritage Classic focused on vintage hockey uniform designs intended on celebrating ice hockey history, the Stadium Series focused on more futuristic and experimental looks showcasing the modernization of the sport.
While a majority of the participating teams were able to create radically new looks for the event, the New Jersey Devils in the 2014 Stadium Series refused to do so, instead wearing their throwback red and green uniforms during the game. This was due to general manager Lou Lamoriello's refusal to adopt the third jersey trend at the time. However, for their 2024 Stadium Series appearance, the Devils wore a different uniform design akin to the game itself, having embraced the third jersey concept following Lamoriello's departure in 2015.
To date, only two teams have promoted its Stadium Series uniform to full third jersey status: the New York Islanders' blue-and-chrome "NY" uniform from the 2014 Stadium Series (used only in the 2014–15 season), and the Philadelphia Flyers' black uniform from the 2017 Stadium Series (used since the 2018–19 season).
Broadcasters
United States
In the United States, the Stadium Series was broadcast on NBC Sports from 2014 to 2020, as they held the U.S. national NHL rights during that period. NBC aired the majority of the Stadium Series games on Saturday nights; the exceptions being the 2014 Ducks–Kings game in Dodger Stadium (aired on NBCSN), the 2014 Islanders–Rangers game in Yankee Stadium (held on Wednesday night on NBCSN), and the 2015 Kings–Sharks game in Levi's Stadium (aired on NBCSN).
From 2022 to 2028, the U.S. national rights are split between the ESPN family of networks and TNT, with the former producing the weekend Hockey Saturday package on ABC. Scheduling conflicts have largely dictated which of the two broadcasters have aired Stadium Series games. The 2022 game aired on TNT, marking a return to cable television for the first time since 2015, while ABC was committed to airing the NBA on that day. In 2023 and 2024, the Stadium Series was scheduled at the same time as TNT's broadcasts of NBA All-Star Weekend, thus ABC has covered these games, with the 2023 game originally scheduled to air on ESPN before being flexed to ABC. The 2025 game was moved to ESPN due to prior NBA and AEW commitments by both ABC and TNT respectively.
Canada
In Canada, the first two 2014 Stadium Series games were aired on CBC, while TSN simulcast NBCSN's broadcast of the Islanders–Rangers game. The Penguins–Blackhawks game did not air in Canada due to CBC's prior commitment to broadcast a Canadiens–Maple Leafs game. Since the 2014–15 season, Sportsnet has been the sole rightsholder of NHL national games in Canada, taking over Hockey Night in Canada in a sublicensing agreement with CBC. However, with the exception of the 2015 game, Sportsnet has generally simulcast the American broadcast feed of the Stadium Series. They would still provide their own broadcast crew if a Canadian team is involved, as was the case in 2018 with the Maple Leafs–Capitals game.
References
- ^ "2025 Winter Classic features Blackhawks, Blues in return to Wrigley Field". NHL. NHL. February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
- ^ a b Masisak, Corey (24 January 2015). "National Hockey League announces 2016 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic and two 2016 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series Games". NHL.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ^ "Devils to play Flyers, Rangers against Islanders at 2024 Stadium Series". NHL.com. June 3, 2023. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
- ^ "Sharks, Kings to play in 2015 NHL Stadium Series". Sports Illustrated. August 6, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
- ^ "Fans Brave Dropping Temperatures For NHL Stadium Series Game". KDKA-TV. February 25, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
- ^ Khurshudyan, Isabelle (May 27, 2017). "Capitals expected to play in outdoor game at Naval Academy next season". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
- ^ Philadelphia Flyers (November 19, 2017). "2019 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series Announced". PhiladelphiaFlyers.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
- ^ "NHL Announces 2021-22 Outdoor Games and 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend" (Press release). NHL. June 28, 2021.
- ^ "2023 NHL Stadium Series opponent, date announced". NHL.com. March 3, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.