15 venues that should host a future NHL Winter Classic

The NHL has something good going for it with the Winter Classic, but the venues are starting to get predictable and boring. Here are 15 venues the league should definitely consider.

The NHL loves its outdoor hockey games. Its premier one is the Winter Classic. Say what you want about the ridiculous amount of games played outdoors, the Classic is still must-watch television. Unfortunately, the NHL has gotten a bit stale in its marketing of it.

For one, could someone please inform the decision makers that it’s OK to leave the Chicago Blackhawks out of the outdoor hockey schedule? More teams need to be involved and rivalry matchups are a must. Don’t go with the Boston Bruins versus Blackhawks and attempt to tell fans it’s a rivalry. It hasn’t been one for a while now.

Secondly, the venues, while nice, need to be better. Recent venues have started to get a bit bland. There are countless venues the NHL could go with for future Winter Classics. Here’s a list of just 15 of them.

AT&T Stadium

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The Dallas Stars will reportedly be getting the 2020 Winter Classic. If it’s not held at Jerry World (AT&T Stadium where the Dallas Cowboys play), heads ought to be rolling. It’s a top-notch venue that provides a really unique experience. Jerry Jones would never turn down an opportunity for free publicity. While it’s an indoor stadium, it wouldn’t be the first one to host an “outdoor game”.

Matchup: Dallas Stars versus Minnesota Wild. It’s a great Central Division rivalry and there’s a ton of history between the two cities. This is a rare matchup that would make sense for the Blackhawks. But nobody wants to see them in yet another Winter Classic.

Bristol Motor Speedway

Located in Tennessee, Bristol Motor Speedway is one of the largest venues in North America. The NHL would never go with a motor speedway as a venue for an outdoor game because things like fun are frowned upon by the league. However, I’m not the NHL, so why not? Let’s do it. Heck, let’s do a NASCAR and hockey doubleheader.

Matchup: Nashville Predators vs. Winnipeg Jets. These two teams are building a great rivalry and you’d be showing off two huge stars in P.K. Subban and Patrik Laine.

Beaver Stadium

We’re already getting the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers in an outdoor game in back to back years. But I don’t care. Put it in Beaver Stadium and call it “The Battle of Pennsylvania”. Penguins and Flyers fans would fill the second largest stadium in America to the brim.

Matchup: Anything other than Flyers vs. Penguins would be extremely disappointing.

Ohio Stadium

Yet another huge venue, Ohio Stadium is third in capacity among North American stadiums, barely trailing Beaver Stadium and Michigan Stadium. The U makes it a little awkward for hockey, but that’s something we can work around.

Matchup: Obviously, the Columbus Blue Jackets are a given. The Penguins are a bit overused, but they have such a fun rivalry with the Blue Jackets.

Estadio Azteca

This is really thinking outside the box. Located in Mexico City, Estadio Azteca is the largest non-American sports stadium in North America. The NHL is making some strong efforts to grow globally. Sending teams to China, Finland, and Sweden has worked. Why not send them somewhere much closer, into a largely untapped hockey market?

Mexico tends to get hot, but if hockey in California worked, so will hockey in Mexico City on a January evening.

Matchup: The Dallas Stars and Arizona Coyotes would both make sense, seeing as how they’re the two closest hockey markets to Mexico City. But I’d send the Toronto Maple Leafs (led by Hispanic superstar Auston Matthews) and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Send Mexico the best hockey has to offer and hope it sticks.

Lambeau Field

I can’t think of a venue more flawlessly perfect for outdoor hockey than Lambeau. Just imagine, two teams playing in the snow. This is what every kid who plays hockey growing up dreams about. Also, I’d buy the jersey of the first player to do a Lambeau Leap.

Matchup: This is tricky because Wisconsin doesn’t have a local hockey team. The Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs would both make sense. You could throw in any of their rivals if you don’t want a repeat of a previous Winter Classic.

Arrowhead Stadium

As a hockey history geek, I’d love nothing more than to see hockey back in Kansas City. Arrowhead is a legendary venue. Having a hockey game there would be a great idea.

Matchup: St. Louis Blues versus Colorado Avalanche. Two (sort of) local markets who would love to travel to Kansas City to see their teams play. Plus, there’s no better Kansas City tradition than booing a St. Louis sports team.

U.S. Bank Stadium

No state resonates more with hockey than Minnesota. Having an outdoor game there makes a ton of sense. You’d just have to hope it doesn’t interrupt the Minnesota Vikings’ usual January disappointment.

Matchup: The Minnesota Wild would obviously be one of the teams. So would the Dallas Stars. Again, there’s a lot of history there and the boos the former Minnesota North Stars would get in Minnesota would rival those received by Hulk Hogan when he joined the NWO.

Charlotte Motor Speedway

As I said earlier, I’m all for getting more teams involved in the Winter Classic. There’s only one way we’re getting a national television audience for the Carolina Hurricanes in a Winter Classic – if it’s held at a ludicrous venue like a speedway. The only North American venue with a larger capacity than Charlotte Motor Speedway is Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Matchup: How about the Carolina Hurricanes versus the New York Rangers? That would give this matchup enough clout to draw a huge national audience. Locally, the Nashville Predators would make sense as well. Sadly, there’s not much of a rivalry there.

Honorable mention: Bank of America Stadium

Daytona Speedway

Yes, another speedway! I promise this is the last one, so hear me out. What would make those stuck up hockey snobs in Canada more pissed off than an outdoor hockey game at a speedway? How about one held on the same day as a NASCAR race in a southern hockey market? Let’s make it happen! And make it a doubleheader. NASCAR and the NHL can split the profit. Yes, we’d have to delay the Classic a little bit, but the tears would be worth it.

Matchup: It has to be the Tampa Bay Lightning versus the Florida Panthers. There’s no other way.

Olympic Stadium

Unless you want yet another speedway, Olympic Stadium is the best option for a Winter Classic in Montreal. It’s an extremely versatile stadium that has hosted countless sporting events. Oddly enough, it’s never hosted an NHL game. Let’s change that.

Matchup: Let’s not overthink this. Montreal Canadiens versus Toronto Maple Leafs or Boston Bruins.

Sam Boyd Stadium

Want to get the Vegas Golden Knights a Winter Classic? Unless you want another speedway, Sam Boyd Stadium, home of the UNLV Rebels, is the best option. MacKay stadium in Reno is another option, but since the Rebels have a larger capacity, they’re the more logical option.

Matchup: I’d pay good money to watch the Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings in an outdoor game.

Rogers Centre

There’s only one venue with the name “Rogers” in Canada that doesn’t host hockey. It’s the one in Toronto. Giving Toronto an outdoor game might make Leafs fans insufferable, but they’d make up for it by spending a ton of their money.

Matchup: Again, let’s not overthink this. It’s simple. The Toronto Maple Leafs versus the Montreal Canadiens. How has the oldest rivalry in hockey not had a Winter Classic (or an outdoor game) yet?

Century Link Field

Want to make sure Seattle gets really excited about hockey? Give them a Winter Classic at one of the NFL’s finest venues. Trust me, Seattle fans would go hardcore for their team in an outdoor game.

Matchup: Seattle [insert name here] versus Vancouver Canucks. It’s going to be a huge rivalry. But if you really want to make Seattle fans hate Vancouver, have one of the replacement refs from the Fail Mary show up in a Canucks jersey with an Oklahoma City Thunder hat. That’ll get the crowd going.

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Wembley Stadium (London, England)

The NFL is sending teams to London. Copying the NFL is usually not a very good idea, but the NHL should do it if they’re serious about growing globally. European soccer fans are the most passionate fans in the world. Why not introduce them to the NHL? Just don’t tell them there aren’t any ties. The time difference would be weird, but that’s just an excuse to have two outdoor games in one day. Which, deep down, is what everybody wants.

Matchup: Much like Mexico City, it makes no sense to send anything less than the best. Toronto Maple Leafs versus Tampa Bay Lightning.

What do you think? Which venues would you love to see an outdoor hockey game at? On a boat? On the moon? There’s no wrong answer! Let us know in the comments.

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