{{short description|Series of regular season outdoor games played in the National Hockey League}} {{Infobox | bodystyle = | title = NHL Stadium Series | titlestyle = | image = | imagestyle = | caption = | captionstyle = | headerstyle = background:#ccf; | labelstyle = | datastyle = | header1 = National Hockey League | label1 = | data1 = | header2 = | label2 = First played | data2 = January 25, 2014 | header3 = | label3 = Times held | data3 = 17 | header4 = | label4 = Teams participated | data4 = 19 | header5 = | label5 = Most appearances | data5 = 3:{{plainlist| *Los Angeles Kings *New York Rangers *Philadelphia Flyers *Pittsburgh Penguins }} |header6 = |label6 = Most wins |data6 = 3:<br>New York Rangers | header7 = | label7 = Most recent | data7 = February 1, 2026 |header8 = |label8 = Most recent winner |data8 = Tampa Bay Lightning | belowstyle = background:#ddf; | below = }}
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,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/2025-winter-classic-chicago-to-host-st-louis-at-wrigley-field |title=2025 Winter Classic features Blackhawks, Blues in return to Wrigley Field |work=NHL |publisher=NHL |date=February 7, 2024 |access-date=February 7, 2024}}</ref> except in 2016 and in 2024, when two games were held.<ref name=NHL24Jan15>{{cite web|last1=Masisak|first1=Corey|title=National Hockey League announces 2016 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic and two 2016 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series Games|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=750092|website=NHL.com|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=24 January 2015|date=24 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Devils to play Flyers, Rangers against Islanders at 2024 Stadium Series|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/new-jersey-devils-philadelphia-flyers-new-york-rangers-new-york-islanders-to-play-2024-stadium-series/c-344712990|website=NHL.com|date=June 3, 2023|access-date=June 4, 2023}}</ref>
==List of NHL Stadium Series== [[File:2014 NHL Stadium Series Dodger Stadium (12154522856).jpg|thumb|Dodger Stadium being prepped for the NHL's inaugural game of the Stadium Series in January 2014]] *'''Bolded''' teams denote winners *''Italicized'' games are yet to be played
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! No. !!Year !! Date !! Primary team at venue !! Venue !! Location !! Visiting team !! Home team !! Score !! Attendance |- | 1st || rowspan="4"|2014 || January 25 || Los Angeles Dodgers || Dodger Stadium || Los Angeles, California || '''Anaheim Ducks''' || Los Angeles Kings || 3–0 || 54,099 |- | 2nd || January 26 || rowspan="2"|New York Yankees || rowspan="2"|Yankee Stadium || rowspan="2"|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<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/nhl/2014/08/06/san-jose-sharks-los-angeles-kings-stadium-series|title=Sharks, Kings to play in 2015 NHL Stadium Series|work=Sports Illustrated|date=August 6, 2014|access-date=August 6, 2014}}</ref> || San Francisco 49ers || Levi's Stadium || Santa Clara, California || '''Los Angeles Kings''' || San Jose Sharks||2–1 || 70,205 |- | 6th || rowspan="2"|2016<ref name=NHL24Jan15 /> || 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<ref>{{cite news|title=Fans Brave Dropping Temperatures For NHL Stadium Series Game|url=http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2017/02/25/fans-brave-dropping-temperatures-for-nhl-stadium-series-game/|access-date=February 27, 2017|publisher=KDKA-TV|date=February 25, 2017}}</ref>|| February 25 || Pittsburgh Steelers || Heinz Field || Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania || Philadelphia Flyers || '''Pittsburgh Penguins'''||2–4 || 67,318 |- | 9th || 2018<ref>{{cite news|last1=Khurshudyan|first1=Isabelle|title=Capitals expected to play in outdoor game at Naval Academy next season|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capitals-insider/wp/2017/05/27/capitals-expected-to-play-in-outdoor-game-at-naval-academy-next-season/|access-date=May 29, 2017|work=The Washington Post|date=May 27, 2017}}</ref> || March 3 || Navy Midshipmen || Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium || Annapolis, Maryland || Toronto Maple Leafs || '''Washington Capitals''' || 2–5 || 29,516 |- | 10th || 2019<ref>{{cite web|author1=Philadelphia Flyers|title=2019 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series Announced|url=https://www.nhl.com/flyers/news/2019-coors-light-nhl-stadium-series-announced--philadelphia-flyers/c-293158878|website=PhiladelphiaFlyers.com|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=November 20, 2017|date=November 19, 2017}}</ref>||February 23||Philadelphia Eagles||Lincoln Financial Field ||Philadelphia, Pennsylvania||Pittsburgh Penguins || '''Philadelphia Flyers''' || 3–4 (OT)|| 69,620 |- | 11th || 2020||February 15||Air Force Falcons||Falcon Stadium || Air Force Academy, Colorado ||'''Los Angeles Kings''' ||Colorado Avalanche || 3–1||43,574 |- | 12th || 2022||February 26||Tennessee Titans||Nissan Stadium<ref name="NHL20210628">{{cite press release | title=NHL Announces 2021-22 Outdoor Games and 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend | url=https://media.nhl.com/public/news/15150 | publisher=NHL | date=June 28, 2021}}</ref> || Nashville, Tennessee ||'''Tampa Bay Lightning'''||Nashville Predators || 3–2 || 68,619 |- | 13th || 2023 || February 18 || NC State Wolfpack || Carter–Finley Stadium || Raleigh, North Carolina<ref name="NHL2023">{{cite news | url=https://www.nhl.com/news/2023-nhl-stadium-series-to-feature-hurricanes-hosting-capitals-at-north-carolina-state-campus/c-331393126 | title=2023 NHL Stadium Series opponent, date announced | website=NHL.com|access-date=March 3, 2022|date=March 3, 2022}}</ref> || Washington Capitals || '''Carolina Hurricanes''' || 1–4 || 56,961 |- | 14th || rowspan="2"|2024 || February 17 || rowspan="2"|New York Giants<br />New York Jets || rowspan="2"|MetLife Stadium || rowspan="2"|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 == {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! Team ! Appearances ! Last ! Wins ! Losses |- |New York Rangers |3 |2024 |3 |0 |- |Los Angeles Kings |3 |2020 |2 |1 |- |Pittsburgh Penguins |3 |2019 |1 |2 |- |Philadelphia Flyers |3 |2024 |1 |2 |- |Tampa Bay Lightning |2 |2026 |2 |0 |- |Chicago Blackhawks |2 |2016 |1 |1 |- |Washington Capitals |2 |2023 |1 |1 |- |New Jersey Devils |2 |2024 |1 |1 |- |Detroit Red Wings |2 |2025 |1 |1 |- |Colorado Avalanche |2 |2020 |0 |2 |- |New York Islanders |2 |2024 |0 |2 |- |Anaheim Ducks |1 |2014 |1 |0 |- |Minnesota Wild |1 |2016 |1 |0 |- |Carolina Hurricanes |1 |2023 |1 |0 |- |Columbus Blue Jackets |1 |2025 |1 |0 |- |San Jose Sharks |1 |2015 |0 |1 |- |Toronto Maple Leafs |1 |2018 |0 |1 |- |Nashville Predators |1 |2022 |0 |1 |- |Boston Bruins |1 |2026 |0 |1 |}
===Winning and losing teams=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%" !Teams!!width="30"|Win!!width="30"|Loss!!Total!!Year(s) won!!Year(s) lost |- |style="text-align:left"|New York Rangers |3 |0 |3 |style="text-align:left"|2014, 2014, 2024 | |- |style="text-align:left"|Los Angeles Kings |2 |1 |3 |style="text-align:left"|2015, 2020 |style="text-align:left"|2014 |- |style="text-align:left"|Tampa Bay Lightning |2 |0 |2 |style="text-align:left"|2022, 2026 |style="text-align:left"| |- |style="text-align:left"|Pittsburgh Penguins |1 |2 |3 |style="text-align:left"|2017 |style="text-align:left"|2014, 2019 |- |style="text-align:left"|Philadelphia Flyers |1 |2 |3 |style="text-align:left"|2019 |style="text-align:left"|2017, 2024 |- |style="text-align:left"|Chicago Blackhawks |1 |1 |2 |style="text-align:left"|2014 |style="text-align:left"|2016 |- |style="text-align:left"|Detroit Red Wings |1 |1 |2 |style="text-align:left"|2016 |style="text-align:left"|2025 |- |style="text-align:left"|Washington Capitals |1 |1 |2 |style="text-align:left"|2018 |style="text-align:left"|2023 |- |style="text-align:left"|New Jersey Devils |1 |1 |2 |style="text-align:left"|2024 |style="text-align:left"|2014 |- |style="text-align:left"|Anaheim Ducks |1 |0 |1 |style="text-align:left"|2014 |style="text-align:left"| |- |style="text-align:left"|Minnesota Wild |1 |0 |1 |style="text-align:left"|2016 |style="text-align:left"| |- |style="text-align:left"|Carolina Hurricanes |1 |0 |1 |style="text-align:left"|2023 |style="text-align:left"| |- |style="text-align:left"|Columbus Blue Jackets |1 |0 |1 |style="text-align:left"|2025 |style="text-align:left"| |- |style="text-align:left"|New York Islanders |0 |2 |2 |style="text-align:left"| |style="text-align:left"|2014, 2024 |- |style="text-align:left"|Colorado Avalanche |0 |2 |2 |style="text-align:left"| |style="text-align:left"|2016, 2020 |- |style="text-align:left"|San Jose Sharks |0 |1 |1 |style="text-align:left"| |style="text-align:left"|2015 |- |style="text-align:left"|Toronto Maple Leafs |0 |1 |1 |style="text-align:left"| |style="text-align:left"|2018 |- |style="text-align:left"|Nashville Predators |0 |1 |1 |style="text-align:left"| |style="text-align:left"|2022 |- |style="text-align:left"|Boston Bruins |0 |1 |1 |style="text-align:left"| |style="text-align:left"|2026 |}
==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== {{main|List of NHL outdoor games 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 == {{Reflist}}
{{NHL outdoor games}} {{NHL}}
Category:NHL Stadium Series Category:NHL outdoor games Category:2014 establishments in the United States Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2014