5 Locations Deserving of an Outdoor NHL Game
Grant White
Host · Writer
Montreal, Quebec, Canada - Percival Molson Memorial Stadium
The oldest and most-storied franchise in the league has yet to host an outdoor game, and that's a travesty the NHL needs to correct. The Montreal Canadiens have participated in four outdoor games but have never hosted one. With Percival Molson Stadium located downtown, it would be the ideal locale to celebrate the Habs.
Canadiens allegiance is not for the faint of heart, and hosting a Heritage Classic would prove as much. Although Percival Molson Stadium would be one of the smallest venues to host an outdoor game, basic supply and demand principles support that it could be one of the priciest games to get into.
Even on a mid-week game against the lowly Anaheim Ducks, Montreal draws a crowd of over 21,000. Pairing them against the Boston Bruins or Toronto Maple Leafs for their first outdoor game would create a frenzy, unlike anything the city has seen since winning the Stanley Cup in 1993.
Delivering a top-end experience is paramount, and there aren't many cities better equipped than Montreal to offer as much. Gathering the league in historic downtown is the majesty an NHL outdoor game deserves.
It's time to make it happen, Gary.
Salt Lake City, Utah - Rice-Eccles Stadium
Just a few weeks ago, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman dropped a bombshell that the league is considering the feasibility of expanding into Salt Lake City. Before jumping in head first, the league would be wise to run a litmus test, and what better way of testing the waters than with an outdoor game?
There's no shortage of venues in scenic Utah, but Rice-Eccles Stadium would be the ideal location. The stadium served as an Olympic venue when Salt Lake City hosted the Olympics in 2002, illustrating its usage as an outdoor venue. More importantly, it has the picturesque views the NHL craves for its Winter Classics. With seating for 51,444, there's more than enough space to gauge how interested Salt Lake City fans would be in adopting a franchise.
Snuggled next to Nevada, the Vegas Golden Knights would be the natural home team. Still, there's an argument to be made that the Colorado Avalanche should be included as the preferred option. Whatever you do, don't bother including the Arizona Coyotes in the conversation.
Lake Louise
The NHL went the rustic route, playing a pair of games at Lake Tahoe in 2021. But the league might not know just how rustic it can get. Lake Louise would be the ideal backdrop for an outdoor contest in the untouched wilderness of the Rocky Mountains.
For the uninitiated, the league could stage a game in two locations. Playing on the lake would be a perfect nod to the sport's grassroots; however, the mountain resort might be the more appropriate venue. Used to house World Cup ski events, the resort has all the facilities needed to accommodate an event of this magnitude.
Madison, Wisconsin - Camp Randall Stadium
Neutral zone sites are not an uncommon phenomenon for outdoor games. In 2019, the NHL branched into Saskatchewan for a showdown between the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets. The season before that, Notre Dame Stadium hosted the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks. If the league wants to test just how big of an egg they can crack, it's time for them to invade Camp Randall in Madison, Wisconsin.
Prague
The NHL loves nothing more than growing its brand internationally, regularly hosting games in European countries. Incorporating an outdoor venue into an overseas game could be the marquee event the NHL is missing out on.
Renowned as one of the most pristine cities in Europe, Prague should be the first overseas location to host an outdoor contest. Czechia has been a hockey powerhouse for years, developing some of the finest NHL players of the past few decades. Jaromir Jagr, Dominik Hasek, and Patrick Elias are just a few of the countrymen who carved out prominent NHL careers and would be front and center for an event of this caliber.
Further, with David Pastrnak and Tomas Hertl leading this generation of Czech hockey players, more than a few teams could draw a crowd in Prague.
Montreal, Quebec, Canada - Percival Molson Memorial Stadium
The oldest and most-storied franchise in the league has yet to host an outdoor game, and that's a travesty the NHL needs to correct. The Montreal Canadiens have participated in four outdoor games but have never hosted one. With Percival Molson Stadium located downtown, it would be the ideal locale to celebrate the Habs.
Canadiens allegiance is not for the faint of heart, and hosting a Heritage Classic would prove as much. Although Percival Molson Stadium would be one of the smallest venues to host an outdoor game, basic supply and demand principles support that it could be one of the priciest games to get into.
Even on a mid-week game against the lowly Anaheim Ducks, Montreal draws a crowd of over 21,000. Pairing them against the Boston Bruins or Toronto Maple Leafs for their first outdoor game would create a frenzy, unlike anything the city has seen since winning the Stanley Cup in 1993.
Delivering a top-end experience is paramount, and there aren't many cities better equipped than Montreal to offer as much. Gathering the league in historic downtown is the majesty an NHL outdoor game deserves.
It's time to make it happen, Gary.
Salt Lake City, Utah - Rice-Eccles Stadium
Just a few weeks ago, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman dropped a bombshell that the league is considering the feasibility of expanding into Salt Lake City. Before jumping in head first, the league would be wise to run a litmus test, and what better way of testing the waters than with an outdoor game?
There's no shortage of venues in scenic Utah, but Rice-Eccles Stadium would be the ideal location. The stadium served as an Olympic venue when Salt Lake City hosted the Olympics in 2002, illustrating its usage as an outdoor venue. More importantly, it has the picturesque views the NHL craves for its Winter Classics. With seating for 51,444, there's more than enough space to gauge how interested Salt Lake City fans would be in adopting a franchise.
Snuggled next to Nevada, the Vegas Golden Knights would be the natural home team. Still, there's an argument to be made that the Colorado Avalanche should be included as the preferred option. Whatever you do, don't bother including the Arizona Coyotes in the conversation.
