On January 1st of 2020, the city of Dallas silenced it’s doubters when they hosted an outdoor hockey game. More than 85,000 fans packed the Cotton Bowl nearly six years ago when the Dallas Stars hosted the Nashville Predators. If the Stars are getting another outdoor game it’ll likely be a Stadium Series one. Since they’ve already played a Winter Classic.

Whether or not Dallas will host, the Stars should see another game outside. Especially under Gary Bettman, where non-traditional markets have gotten a considerable amount of exposure throughout the league. There are plenty of teams that would be great to matchup against the Stars outside. We’re also going to note a team the Stars don’t need to take it outside with.

Dallas’ best option for hosting another team outside is AT&T Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers is a good option too since the Stars’ only outdoor game was at a football field. A game at a baseball field would be unique to the Dallas/Fort Worth area, but football stadiums hold more in attendance.

Either way Arlington, Texas would get an outdoor NHL game. Today we’ll also look at the best bets for the Stars to play outside, if they’re chosen to be the road team.

We’re not going to say Minnesota

This one may surprise a lot of Stars fans. The Minnesota Wild don’t need to have an outdoor meeting with the Stars. Truth be told, they surely don’t want it. There was a time when Gary Bettman, and NHL fans had Chicago Blackhawks fatigue, and didn’t want to see them outdoors yet again. Not even many Blackhawks fans want them playing outside. People wanted more representation outside of the indoor arena games. The Wild thumbed their noses at hosting the Stars in a stadium series game. They opted to play the Blackhawks instead.

The story lines of a Dallas/Minnesota outdoor game would’ve been great. But it wasn’t meant to be. The modern day Minnesota NHL team didn’t want to host the city’s previous NHL team who were once the Minnesota North Stars. Oftentimes you hear Wild fans hating Norm Green more than cheering for their own team.

Stars, as well as Wild fans knows which team runs this rivalry all-time. Not only did the Stars defeat the Wild a couple months after that game in the 2016 WCQFs, they did it again in 2023. Dallas is the team with a Stanley Cup, and had yet to lose a playoff meeting.

Best bet: Colorado

Dallas has played the Colorado Avalanche three times in the first six years of the 2020s with two of those meetings going the full seven games. They’re both in the same central division. These two teams see each other a lot, and meeting outside should be thrown in the mix.

On February 27th, 2016 the Avalanche played the Detroit Red Wings at Coors Field. Since the Avalanche played where the Colorado Rockies play, it’d make more sense to host the Stars at Mile High Stadium. The home of the Denver Broncos.

St. Louis is a great idea

Playoffs make the best rivalries. And nobody has played the North Stars/Stars franchise more often than the St. Louis Blues. Jim Montgomery will be the head coach against Dallas for the Blues this year, and Radek Faksa has already played with both teams. This would be great for the Stars given the history, and right now St. Louis is the closest team to Dallas in proximity.

St. Louis has already played in the Winter Classic twice. Both times against the Chicago Blackhawks. It’s about time they play somebody else. So who’s going to argue two teams that play one another the most often in the playoffs?

If the Stars are to play an outdoor game in St. Louis, Busch Field would probably be the front runner. The Blues hosting a game at a new field, The Dome at America’s Center might be the best option for the city to show off to the rest of the country.

Don’t forget VGK

Dallas has played the Vegas Golden Knights three times in the playoffs this far (all in the 2020s). If consideration for an outdoor game with Colorado is in the mix, Vegas should be a potential play too. This potential outdoor matchup gives off pure western vibes for an outdoor game. The festivities would be something whether the event is played in Dallas, or Las Vegas. Two contrasting cultures known for the country side, and the city life going head to head in a Marquee event.

Photo credit: Tony Gutierrez

Las Vegas is currently in construction for a new Baseball stadium. But if the Stars are to play the Golden Knights in Sin City, they would play at Allegiant Stadium. Home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders. Which already has hosted a Super Bowl, UNLV Rebels football, and will host Wrestle Mania next year. Adding an outdoor hockey game to the mix will make for richer history for sporting events.

Featured photo: sportingnews.com

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Categorized: Stars