The Winter Classic is headed north. After the success that the event has been so far in Dallas, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced the Minnesota Wild will host in 2021. The game will be held on January 1st at Target Field where the MLB’s Minnesota Twins play. Chris Johnston of Sportsnet reports that the Winnipeg Jets, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues have been discussed as possible opponents.
It has been a long wait for the State of Hockey, seemingly the perfect place for an outdoor game thanks to the strong fanbase and climate in Minnesota. The Wild have played in a single outdoor game, the 2016 Stadium Series matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks. Bettman released a statement about next year’s game:
The Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic is about taking hockey back to its outdoor roots – and there is no better place to celebrate the incredible strength surrounding our game than in Minnesota. The Minnesota Wild organization and their fans in the Twin Cities and across the state have been anxiously awaiting the opportunity to host the NHL’s New Year’s showcase and we are thrilled to be bringing next year’s game to Target Field.
Though the opponent won’t be announced for some time, fans can already start making plans to find their way down to the ballpark for some New Year’s Day hockey.
Finally they bring the Winter Classic to the State of Hockey!
Please, not Chicago. I’m tired of several of the same teams playing in most of these outdoor games. Having Dallas and Nashville made a lot of sense. Winnipeg makes a lot of sense for next year.
I agree, Winnipeg would be my choice.
I agree. Please keep the Hawks out of any future outdoor games. They’re not very good in these types of games. Give other teams a chance to play in these games
as a Hawks fan I can agree with this. Chicago doesn’t need another outdoor game. Give it to the Jets or someone else.
100% Winnipeg
Finally!!! Go Wild!!!
6 Teams-Carolina,Florida, Tampa Bay, Columbus,Arizona & Vegas have yet to play in Winter Classic and NHL doesn’t usually release schedule somewhere around NHL Draft in late June, unless it sneaks out on schedule.
It’s truly hard to believe that it has taken this long for the Winter Classic to be held in “The State of Hockey”. It’s about time. How the NHL can have Dallas host the game before MN is beyond me.
The Wild organization will do a knock out job in showing what the game of hockey is truly about in the way they host this game! Should be a ton of fun.
Go Wild!
had to give it to the north stars first. hahaha.
Blues and Wild would be sweet
No on the Blackhawks. They have played in enough Winter Classics & outdoor games. Give another team a chance
Can we stop the non-sense of hosting in baseball stadium’s. The sightlines suck. The University of Minnesota in Minneapolis has a outdoor football stadium that holds 50,000 fans. That would be a much better option.
Colorado would have been the best choice but since they are playing in the Stadium Series this year they are unlikely. Though you know the NHL would love to market McKinnon and Makar (pride of UMass).
I think Winnipeg is a tough sell because they aren’t a very marketable team. Plus they played in the last 2 Heritage Classics.
Blues could be picked even with them hosting a few years ago (we know the NHL likes to overkill with some teams – cough cough Chicago).
I think a big wildcard would be Vegas with their exploding fanbase and popularity.
What is your prediction for the 2022 Winter Classic location? Keep in mind you can’t use an NFL stadium due to the season still going on at that time. So no MetLife stadium – though they could be used for the Stadium Series.
Popular choices are Ohio Stadium (OSU/Columbus) and Beaver Stadium (Penn State).
Finding a venue in the Carolinas would be neat: likely one of Duke, UNC, Clemson, NC State’s football stadiums.
Vegas would be interesting likely at UNLV’s stadium. Or at BYU’s stadium in Utah – right between Nevada and Colorado.
Unfortunately I don’t see Florida getting one as it’s too hot/humid there and ice condition would be an issue.. Pity because there’s a lot of great venues.
What’s your thought on the 2022 Winter Classic? (I left out CA cities due to the fact they will likely host a Heritage Classic in ’21 or ’22)