10 Future Outdoor Hockey Venue Locations The NHL Should Consider
- Ottawa Senators @ Toronto Maple Leafs – Rogers Centre (54,000 capacity)
Rogers Centre could have a hockey rink here instead of a pitcher’s mound when it’s Toronto’s turn to get an outdoor game north of the border. (Carlos Osorio – Toronto Star)
-There are talks that the Maple Leafs 100th anniversary celebration in 2017 will include hosting an outdoor game. Whenever Toronto does see outdoor hockey, it will be at the home of the Toronto Blue Jays, and not at BMO Field (21,859 capacity won’t cut it for a fan base as big as Toronto’s). Having the Senators as the visiting team only adds another great chapter to the provincial rivalry between the Ontario hockey teams.
- Calgary Flames @ Edmonton Oilers – Commonwealth Stadium (60,081 capacity)
Commonwealth Stadium is no stranger to outdoor NHL games, having hosted the Canadiens and Oilers back in 2003. (EdmontonJournal.com)
–Edmonton has already hosted the 2003 Heritage Classic against the Habs, and Calgary hosted the 2011 Heritage Classic (also against Montreal), so it would be Edmonton’s turn to get an outdoor game. Commonwealth Stadium also has a much higher capacity than Calgary’s McMahon Stadium (41,022), and the extra seats would be needed to meet the demand in the first outdoor edition of the “Battle of Alberta.”
- Montreal Canadiens @ Winnipeg Jets – Investors Group Field (33,500 capacity)
It didn’t work out for Winnipeg to get an outdoor game in 2015-16, but that doesn’t mean Manitoba won’t be seeing an outdoor game in the near future. (WinnipegSun.com)
-Even though talks fell apart for the Jets to host an outdoor game next season, it seems as it’s a matter of ‘when’ and not ‘if’ at this point. Montreal would continue their role of the perennial road team for outdoor games with Canadian hosts (no outdoor stadiums in the Montreal area have a high enough capacity)in Winnipeg’s first outdoor hockey game. If the Jets keep playing at this pace, they’ll be hosting their first playoff game before their first outdoor hockey game, and that’s always a good thing.
- Philadelphia Flyers @ Pittsburgh Penguins – Beaver Stadium (106, 572 capacity)
An outdoor game between the Flyers & Penguins would provide some of the fiercest outdoor hockey we’ve ever seen. (psu.edu)
-I get it – both teams have hosted outdoor games, and both teams have been the road team (twice for Pittsburgh). Putting that aside, how cool would it be to have the Keystone State Rivalry played approximately halfway between the two franchises (Pittsburgh is a little closer than Philadelphia, so I’m making it their home game). The home of the Penn State Nittany Lions is one of the biggest stadiums in the world, and there would be no problem filling it up if these two bitter rivals are going at it.
- Vancouver Canucks @ TBD – CenturyLink Field (67,000 capacity)
An NHL team calling Seattle home would provide them with another great option for a future outdoor game. (Seahawks.com)
-Sure, there’s no NHL team in the state of Washington…yet. All signs are pointing to the NHL putting a team in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States soon enough, and this would put CenturyLink Field in play. The stadium that the Seahawks call home is one of the loudest in the NFL. Vancouver is a little over two hours away, making them the perfect road team to play in a Seattle-based outdoor game.
Last 5 Venues On The List
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