Before Wednesday night’s slate of games, the NHL announced the most anticipated event of each season. At a press conference, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced that the 2027 NHL Winter Classic will be held in the league’s newest venue, located in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Utah Mammoth will face the always dangerous Colorado Avalanche outdoors at Rice-Eccles Stadium, the on-campus football venue at the University of Utah. This decision is not just to showcase a new venue for the NHL’s premier outdoor game, but to celebrate Salt Lake City as a whole.
When looking at this news, one thing stands out. This has the makings to be a very “vibey” Winter Classic. For the majority of the event, the league has focused on bringing the game back to its roots. Playing hockey outdoors, whether on a frozen pond or rink, is something every hockey player has experienced at one point in their life.
The NHL’s matchups and venues for the Winter Classic have followed that atmosphere and feeling.
Why Did the NHL Choose Utah?
Looking at not just 2027, but even this past year’s outdoor spectacle in Miami, it’s clear that Bettman and co. are trying to reach a younger audience to grow the game.
They are looking to make the event more eye-popping to non-hockey diehards. From the types of pregame and intermission concerts to the setup they put together, the NHL wants as many people as possible to have a reason to tune in.
The 2027 version of this game features a franchise that will only be in its third year of play in Utah, having left Arizona. For both the Mammoth and the Avalanche, this will be their first Winter Classic. However, the Avalanche have participated in the Stadium Series in 2016 and 2020 as well as the Lake Tahoe event in 2021.
Another fascinating topic will be the jerseys. What the teams wear is one of the NHL’s biggest money makers, depending on the designs and feel. With Colorado, there’s a chance they will do something classic, either with their original uniforms in the 90s or another Quebec Nordiques-like idea.
For the Mammoth, every idea is on the table. Especially considering the franchise’s age. Do they go with a nod to their former name in the Arizona Coyotes? Or do they go for something honoring the new city they call home?
Jersey decisions are just one of the many exciting topics for this event.
All in all, this is an exciting announcement for not just the state of Utah, but for the game of hockey.
After a year of the warm weather environment, the NHL’s Winter Classic will once again be played outdoors in a cold environment with the beautiful Wasatch Mountains as the backdrop. January 2027 can’t come fast enough.