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The National Hockey League (NHL) is bringing outdoor hockey to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey with a four-team doubleheader in the league’s “Stadium Series” next year. On Saturday, February 17th, the New Jersey Devils will play against the Philadelphia Flyers and the following day, the Islanders will play against the Rangers. The league estimates that more than 75,000 spectators are expected to attend each game, aiming to extend its streak of 37 consecutive sellouts for regular season outdoor games since 2003.
Steve Mayer, the NHL’s chief content officer, stated there to be big goals in bringing the stadium to life in a way that has not been seen before. “We are going to get super creative and highlight the area,” he said.
The idea of an outdoor game at MetLife Stadium has long been in the works, according to Mayer and Dean Matsuzaki, the league’s executive vice president for events; however, the home of two NFL teams, the Giants and the Jets, posed numerous logistical issues. Nevertheless, the large venue allows for the accommodation of four teams with adequate practice time as well as recreational ice time with their families.
In the event of bad weather conditions over the weekend, both teams will be scheduled off on the following Monday to postpone or cancel the games. The exact seating capacity depends on lower seating area construction scheduled for the preparation of the 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup.
In 2014, the Rangers played the Devils and the Islanders, three days apart, at Yankee Stadium, with each game drawing approximately 50,000 fans. The largest regular-season outdoor NHL game was held at Michigan Stadium in 2014, where 105,491 fans watched the Detroit Red Wings play Toronto Maple Leafs. The last outdoor game held in the New York area was the Winter Classic, when the Rangers played the Buffalo Sabres at Citi Field, with 41,000 fans braving the elements sitting through temperatures that started at 7 degrees Fahrenheit in the morning and peaked at 25 on New Year’s Day in 2018.
Organizers hope to promote the event with additional entertainment, youth hockey games, and music performances. Mayer jokingly asked a reporter if he had Bruce Springsteen’s phone number, adding they would love to talk to the New Jersey native about a performance.
