NHL Stadium Series
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 on New Year's Day in a different NHL city every year, and the NHL Heritage Classic (played occasionally at different Canadian stadiums). Games in the Stadium Series have been held in either late January, February, or early March in a football or baseball stadium in the United States. The first Stadium Series was held in 2014 and consisted of seven teams participating in four games held in three venues. In 2015, only one game in the Stadium Series was held, while in 2016, two games were held.[1] From 2017 to 2023, only one game was scheduled per year. Two Stadium Series games have been scheduled in 2024.[2]
National Hockey League | |
---|---|
First played | January 25, 2014 |
Times held | 11 |
Teams participated | 14 |
Most appearances | 3: Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins |
Most recent | 2023 |
List of games
- Bolded teams denote winners
- Italicized games are yet to be played
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. Since 2023, the Stadium Series have been scheduled at the same time as TNT's broadcasts of NBA All-Star Weekend, thus ESPN/ABC has covered these games.
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
- 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.