The Super Bowl won’t be the only high-profile sporting event being played in the New York area this winter.
The NHL announced Thursday that Yankee Stadium will be one of three host venues for the first-ever Coors Light NHL Stadium Series this season, which will also feature games at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and Soldier Field in Chicago.
Each of the three local New York teams — the Rangers, Islanders and Devils — will participate in the new event that is set to include four outdoor games. On Jan. 26, the Rangers will play the Devils in a matinee game at the ballpark before the Rangers play the Islanders in a night game on Jan. 29.
The Kings and Ducks will begin the series with a game at Dodger Stadium on Jan. 25, and the Penguins and Blackhawks will play on March 1 at Soldier Field. These games are in addition to the annual Winter Classic on Jan. 1 — this season being played between the Red Wings and Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium — and the Heritage Classic on March 2 between the Canucks and Senators, to make it six total outdoor games this season.
“To take this wonderful, iconic venue and do something that’s never been done in it before, play hockey games, we thought would be a lot of fun,” commissioner Gary Bettman said Thursday during the official announcement at Yankee Stadium.
“It’s no secret that people have urged us to play at Yankee Stadium since the moment it became clear that our outdoor games were such special, unique and fun events,” Bettman added.
Since 2008, in fact, outdoor games have become an NHL staple. That’s when the Winter Classic debuted its annual tradition with a game between the Penguins and Sabres. Last season, it was pushed off the schedule due to the league’s lockout. However, outdoor games promise to come back bigger and better this season.
