Could we one day see the NHL host outdoor games outside Canada and the U.S.? The league's chief content officer thinks it's part of the evolution. Avry Lewis-McDougall lists five possible spots.
Could we one day see the NHL host outdoor games outside Canada and the U.S.? The league's chief content officer thinks it's part of the evolution. Avry Lewis-McDougall lists five possible spots.
On Oct. 29, the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers will square off in the 20th Anniversary game of the Heritage Classic at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium.
Outdoor NHL games have boomed since that frigid day in Edmonton 20 years ago, but they've only been played in venues in Canada and the United States, so what's next? Could this type of NHL event leave these two countries or even North America? It could be possible one day, according to NHL chief content officer Steve Mayer.
"I think that is the evolution," Mayer told The Hockey News at Commonwealth Stadium last Wednesday. "We did a game in Lake Tahoe, which was really special that was during the pandemic. I think more games like that and around the world. We're playing international games this year, we're going to Sweden, but why not play in an outdoor game? Some of the most iconic venues in the world are overseas – that, I do believe is the future of these games."
So where should the NHL look if they decide to take outdoor games abroad? One big challenge would be the climate, but the league's successfully hosted games as warm as 65 F (18 C) in Canada and the United States, and holding the game at night would help avoid any scorching sunlight.
Many countries come to mind, including Finland, Czechia, Switzerland, France, Austria and Germany, who have attracted huge crowds to local league outdoor games before. But let's take a look at a few of this writer's ideal places that should also be on the radar:
London, England: Wembley Stadium
Think of a major sporting event to take place in the United Kingdom, and many of them have been held at Wembley Stadium. The largest stadium in the UK is the home for England's national soccer teams, the FA Cup final and rugby's Challenge Cup final. It was also part of the 2012 London Olympics and the 2015 Rugby World Cup and has hosted boxing matches, wrestling contests, and even NFL games.
The U.K. hasn't hosted an NHL game since a 2010 pre-season matchup between the Boston Bruins and Belfast Giants Select in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The last regular-season game came in the 2007 NHL Premier Series in London. But the NHL's ties to games in the United Kingdom stretch back to 1938 when teams embarked on exhibition tours outside North America after the regular season ended.
A grand return to the area should involve an outdoor game at one of the most recognizable sports arenas in the world. Although winters in London often come with rainy weather, the average high in January and February is 48 F (9 C), with the average low being 41 F (5 C).
And there are some big connections to the United Kingdom: Fenway Sports Group owns Liverpool of the Premier League and the Pittsburgh Penguins, and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris is also a general partner of Crystal Palace F.C. in South London.
Whether it's the Penguins and Devils battling it out or even the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers, how much fun would it be to see an NHL game in front of more than 60,000 fans at Wembley?
Stockholm, Sweden: Friends Arena
The NHL is returning to Sweden this season with the upcoming Global Series games, but it should also be in the running to host an outdoor game from outside the borders of North America.
Friends Arena currently hosts the Swedish national soccer team and Allsvenskan's AIK in the country's top soccer league, but of all the markets listed in this feature, it has to be the best-equipped climate to host an outdoor NHL game. There's even a retractable roof to better prepare the ice before the big contest.
Sweden is also no stranger to professional outdoor hockey games, as the Swedish League staged an annual outdoor match between 2009 and 2013.
With the number of Swedish names in the NHL, you'll have no shortage of teams to pick to market a game with. A Toronto-Tampa Bay game or a Nashville-Minnesota in front of a packed Stockholm crowd would be a great sight.
Sydney, Australia: Sydney Cricket Ground
Later this month, the NHL will be holding their first-ever game in Melbourne when the Los Angeles Kings take on the Arizona Coyotes at Rod Laver Arena, which technically does have a retractable roof, on Sept. 24. Taking the game to Australia is a major step for getting the NHL's brand to new areas, but the game in Melbourne should not be the only league venture down under.
When you talk about stadiums with prestige in Australia, you have to bring up the Sydney Cricket Ground. Opened in its current form in 1886, the SCG is one of the oldest stadiums in the world still in use and has been host to international Cricket matches, Australian Rules Football matches, Rugby League and Union games, as well as MLB games and tennis matches.
Climate-wise, Australia's coldest temperatures come between June and August. A night game in September or October would be the best option, and if sunlight is a concern, Docklands Stadium in Melbourne has a retractable roof.
An NHL game at the SCG wouldn't break records in terms of attendance as the stadium seats 48,000, but it has to be the place for the league to hold a first-ever outdoor event in Australia's largest city.
Tokyo, Japan: Japan National Stadium
Fans of a certain age will remember when the NHL played regular-season games in Japan in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The 1997-98 season began with Vancouver and Anaheim playing the league's first-ever regular-season game outside of North America in Tokyo. While the NHL's time in Japan only spanned just a handful of years, Japan has to be on its radar when it comes to growing the league's presence in different international markets.
Japan's National Stadium, which is among the newer stadiums on this list, played host to Athletics events during the 2020 Summer Olympics and has been home to Japan's national rugby union and soccer squads.
No North American league has attempted to stage a game yet at the stadium; for the NHL to get the jump on the NFL or another league would be quite the win if they desire a return to the nation.
Mexico City, Mexico: Estadio Azteca
Talk to any soccer fan, and they'll probably have a moment to share about a historic match from Estadio Azteca. The stadium is home to the Mexican national team as well as Liga MX's sides Cruz Azul and Club America. It has also been the main stadium for both times Mexico hosted the men's FIFA World Cup in 1970 and 1986, with the latter event seeing Argentina legend Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal scored at the stadium.
While the NHL has yet to take a game to Mexico, the Arizona Coyotes have expressed an interest in playing a future game in the country. This could be a chance to take an outdoor game south of the United States if it can be pulled off. A night game is the best option, as winter temperatures average daily highs of around 22 C (71 F) and lows of around 5 C (41 F).
Honorable Mention: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India: Narendra Modi Stadium
Go big or go home.
Not only has the Narendra Modi Stadium been host to three Cricket World Cups and dozens of major cricket matches, but it is also the largest cricket stadium in the world, with a capacity of 132,000 seats.
While the NHL has never taken any events to India, and it may be a while before this even comes on the radar of league venues, it would show a major step in the league truly wanting to break into a brand-new market for growth in multiple areas. But keeping the ice frozen with upgraded refrigeration technology will be crucial.
A trip to India shouldn't just be a one-off event, much like the game in Melbourne later this month; it should be a plan to get the NHL's brand into a newer market long-term.