The Stadium Series is one of the series of regular season outdoor games played in the National Hockey League (NHL). This event is distinct from the NHL's other two series of outdoor games, the NHL Winter Classic, played in a different NHL city every year, and the NHL Heritage Classic (played occasionally at different Canadian stadiums). Games in the Stadium Series are usually played in February or early March, and are typically played in either NFL or college football stadiums in the United States when both leagues are in their offseason. In the past, MLB ballparks in the United States were also used, though it has been mainly utilized for the Winter Classic. The first Stadium Series was held in 2014 and consisted of seven teams participating in four games held in three venues; this was also the only Stadium Series to have taken place in January. Since 2015, only one Stadium Series game has been played each season, except in 2016 and in 2024, when two games were held.
List of NHL Stadium Series
Bolded teams denote winners Italicized games are yet to be played
No. Year Date Primary team at venue Venue Location Visiting team Home team Score Attendance 1st 2014 January 25 Los Angeles Dodgers Dodger Stadium Los Angeles, California Anaheim Ducks Los Angeles Kings 3–0 54,099 2nd January 26 New York Yankees Yankee Stadium New York City, New York New York Rangers New Jersey Devils 7–3 50,105 3rd January 29 New York Rangers New York Islanders 2–1 50,027 4th March 1 Chicago Bears Soldier Field Chicago, Illinois Pittsburgh Penguins Chicago Blackhawks 1–5 62,921 5th 2015 February 21 San Francisco 49ers Levi's Stadium Santa Clara, California Los Angeles Kings San Jose Sharks2–1 70,205 6th 2016 February 21 Minnesota Golden Gophers TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, Minnesota Chicago Blackhawks Minnesota Wild 1–6 50,426 7th February 27 Colorado Rockies Coors Field Denver, Colorado Detroit Red Wings Colorado Avalanche 5–3 50,095 8th 2017 February 25 Pittsburgh Steelers Heinz Field Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins2–4 67,318 9th 2018 March 3 Navy Midshipmen Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, Maryland Toronto Maple Leafs Washington Capitals 2–5 29,516 10th 2019February 23Philadelphia EaglesLincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh Penguins Philadelphia Flyers 3–4 (OT) 69,620 11th 2020February 15Air Force FalconsFalcon Stadium Air Force Academy, Colorado Los Angeles Kings Colorado Avalanche 3–143,574 12th 2022February 26Tennessee TitansNissan Stadium Nashville, Tennessee Tampa Bay LightningNashville Predators 3–2 68,619 13th 2023 February 18 NC State Wolfpack Carter–Finley Stadium Raleigh, North Carolina Washington Capitals Carolina Hurricanes 1–4 56,961 14th 2024 February 17 New York GiantsNew York Jets MetLife Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey Philadelphia Flyers New Jersey Devils 3–6 70,328 15th February 18 New York Rangers New York Islanders 6–5 (OT) 79,690 16th 2025 March 1 Ohio State Buckeyes Ohio Stadium Columbus, Ohio Detroit Red Wings Columbus Blue Jackets 3–5 94,751 17th 2026 February 1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Raymond James Stadium Tampa, Florida Boston Bruins Tampa Bay Lightning 5–6 (SO) 64,617 18th 2027 February 20 Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium Arlington, Texas Vegas Golden Knights Dallas Stars TBD TBA
Appearances Team Appearances Last Wins LossesNew York Rangers3202430Los Angeles Kings3202021Pittsburgh Penguins3201912Philadelphia Flyers3202412Tampa Bay Lightning2202620Chicago Blackhawks2201611Washington Capitals2202311New Jersey Devils2202411Detroit Red Wings2202511Colorado Avalanche2202002New York Islanders2202402Anaheim Ducks1201410Minnesota Wild1201610Carolina Hurricanes1202310Columbus Blue Jackets1202510San Jose Sharks1201501Toronto Maple Leafs1201801Nashville Predators1202201Boston Bruins1202601
Winning and losing teams TeamsWinLossTotalYear(s) wonYear(s) lostNew York Rangers3032014, 2014, 2024Los Angeles Kings2132015, 20202014Tampa Bay Lightning2022022, 2026Pittsburgh Penguins12320172014, 2019Philadelphia Flyers12320192017, 2024Chicago Blackhawks11220142016Detroit Red Wings11220162025Washington Capitals11220182023New Jersey Devils11220242014Anaheim Ducks1012014Minnesota Wild1012016Carolina Hurricanes1012023Columbus Blue Jackets1012025New York Islanders0222014, 2024Colorado Avalanche0222016, 2020San Jose Sharks0112015Toronto Maple Leafs0112018Nashville Predators0112022Boston Bruins0112026
Uniforms The uniforms worn in the Stadium Series are unique in that they feature enlarged logos, letters and numbers in order to increase visibility for spectators who sit in the upper deck seats (as the Stadium Series is typically played in NFL or college football stadiums). Whereas the Winter Classic and Heritage Classic focused on vintage hockey uniform designs intended on celebrating ice hockey history, the Stadium Series focused on more futuristic and experimental looks showcasing the modernization of the sport.
While a majority of the participating teams were able to create radically new looks for the event, the New Jersey Devils in the 2014 Stadium Series refused to do so, instead wearing their throwback red and green uniforms during the game. This was due to general manager Lou Lamoriello's refusal to adopt the third jersey trend at the time. However, for their 2024 Stadium Series appearance, the Devils wore a different uniform design akin to the game itself, having embraced the third jersey concept following Lamoriello's departure in 2015.
To date, only two teams have promoted its Stadium Series uniform to full third jersey status: the New York Islanders' blue-and-chrome "NY" uniform from the 2014 Stadium Series (used only in the 2014–15 season), and the Philadelphia Flyers' black uniform from the 2017 Stadium Series (beginning in the 2018–19 season until the 2025-26 season). Meanwhile, the Carolina Hurricanes' 2023 Stadium Series uniform served as the inspiration for the team's road uniform they started wearing in the 2025–26 season.
Broadcasters
United States In the United States, the Stadium Series was broadcast on NBC Sports from 2014 to 2020, as they held the U.S. national NHL rights during that period. NBC aired the majority of the Stadium Series games on Saturday nights; the exceptions being the 2014 Ducks–Kings game in Dodger Stadium (aired on NBCSN), the 2014 Islanders–Rangers game in Yankee Stadium (held on Wednesday night on NBCSN), and the 2015 Kings–Sharks game in Levi's Stadium (aired on NBCSN).
From 2022 to 2028, the U.S. national rights are split between the ESPN family of networks and TNT, with the former producing the weekend Hockey Saturday package on ABC. Scheduling conflicts have largely dictated which of the two broadcasters have aired Stadium Series games. The 2022 game aired on TNT, marking a return to cable television for the first time since 2015, while ABC was committed to airing the NBA on that day. In 2023 and 2024, the Stadium Series was scheduled at the same time as TNT's broadcasts of NBA All-Star Weekend, thus ABC has covered these games, with the 2023 game originally scheduled to air on ESPN before being flexed to ABC. The 2025 game was moved to ESPN due to prior NBA and AEW commitments by both ABC and TNT respectively. The 2026 game, which falls on the Sunday before Super Bowl LX (and is traditionally scheduled a Pro Bowl week, though the 2026 Pro Bowl Games was moved to Tuesday, February 3), is slated to air on ESPN, with ABC instead committing to a college basketball doubleheader while the Stadium Series will serve as a lead-out program to ESPN's NBA coverage. After a two-year absence, the Stadium Series will return to ABC in 2027.
Canada In Canada, the first two 2014 Stadium Series games were aired on CBC, while TSN simulcast NBCSN's broadcast of the Islanders–Rangers game. The Penguins–Blackhawks game did not air in Canada due to CBC's prior commitment to broadcast a Canadiens–Maple Leafs game. Since the 2014–15 season, Rogers Sports & Media has been the sole rightsholder of NHL national games in Canada, taking over Hockey Night in Canada in a sublicensing agreement with CBC. However, with the exception of the 2015 game, Sportsnet has generally simulcast the American broadcast feed of the Stadium Series. They would still provide their own broadcast crew if a Canadian team is involved, as was the case in 2018 with the Maple Leafs–Capitals game.
References