NHL announces 2016 outdoor games in Boston, Minnesota and Denver
The NHL formally announced their slate of outdoor games for the 2015-16 season, confirming what had leaked over the last few weeks.
The Boston Bruins will host the Montreal Canadiens at Foxboro Stadium in the 2016 Winter Classic on Jan. 1.
The Minnesota Wild will host the Chicago Blackhawks at TCF Bank Stadium on Feb. 21 in the Stadium Series.
The Colorado Avalanche will face the Detroit Red Wings on Feb. 27 at Coors Field. Coors is also the title sponsor of the Stadium Series.
It’s the first outdoor game for both the Wild and the Avalanche. The Boston Bruins are making their second appearance and first since the Fenway Park game in 2010. The Canadiens will be making their third appearance, having appeared in the 2003 and the 2011 Heritage Classics. The Red Wings last appeared in the 2013 Winter Classic at the University of Michigan, and are making their third appearance overall.
The Blackhawks will be making their fourth appearance in the outdoor games, and their third in three years.
Is it unfair to have one franchise play in so many outdoor games?
“Some teams are more comfortable playing in these games than others. We’re happy to have them. They’re a national draw,” said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
Bettman said that the League “very much wanted” to play an outdoor game in Winnipeg next season, but couldn’t settle on a date with the Blue Bombers, the city’s Canadian Football League team.
He also said that the number of outdoor games isn’t overkill.
“I know some of these games have a dilutive effect. If you’ve been to one, you know that’s not the case.”
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