COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The NHL has made an annual tradition since 2008 to have at least one regular season game outdoors and after many years, Columbus will host one.

Ohio Stadium will be the center of the hockey world Saturday night when the Columbus Blue Jackets play the Detroit Red Wings at 6 p.m. in the NHL Stadium Series. The first outdoor NHL game in Ohio will also be the 42nd since the 2008 Winter Classic in Buffalo, New York.

COLUMBUS, OHIO – FEBRUARY 22: Crews continue to work on building out the rink for the 2025 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series at Ohio Stadium on February 22, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/NHLI via Getty Images)

The traveling circus of outdoor NHL games has hit every corner of the United States and Canada, setting up shop at some of the most iconic stadiums in the country. From baseball cathedrals and college football coliseums to NFL and MLS stadiums, the NHL has made its mark in so many iconic venues.

Ohio Stadium will join that exclusive list on Saturday. Here are some notable stadiums that hosted an outdoor NHL game.

Highmark Stadium – Buffalo, New York (2008)

After a handful of attempts over the decades, the NHL decided to make outdoor hockey a marquee event every regular season by adding the annual New Year’s Day Winter Classic in 2008.

Fans in Buffalo braved the cold to watch the Sabres play the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Buffalo Bills’ stadium to see the first Winter Classic. Broadcast on NBC4, the game lived up to the hype with the Penguins winning in a shootout during steady snow showers, capped by Sidney Crosby’s winning shootout goal past Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller.

This game set the stage for the expansion of outdoor hockey across North America.

ORCHARD PARK, NY – JANUARY 01: An overhead view of the Ralph Wilson Stadium as the Buffalo Sabres play the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period of the NHL Winter Classic on January 1, 2008 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Wrigley Field – Chicago (2009, 2024)

Over on the north side of Chicago, the friendly confines of Wrigley Field has welcomed NHL hockey fans on two occasions and featured Ohio State hockey most recently.

A rink was first built over the iconic diamond near the ivy outfield walls in 2009 for the second Winter Classic between the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings. Detroit won 6-4.

Wrigley Field was then chosen to host the most recent Winter Classic last New Year’s Eve where the Blackhawks fell 6-2 to the St. Louis Blues. A few days later, both Ohio State hockey teams won dramatic games with the men ousting Michigan with a last-second goal and the women taking down No. 1 Wisconsin the following day in a lengthy shootout.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 31: A general view of action during the Discover NHL Winter Classic between the St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field on December 31, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Fenway Park – Boston (2010, 2023)

Beantown has a rich hockey history and that was put on display on two occasions for the Winter Classic. Fans saw the hometown Bruins face the rival Philadelphia Flyers while sitting atop the green monster of Fenway Park in 2010, where Boston won 2-1 with a Marco Sturm overtime winner.

NHL hockey returned to Fenway 13 years later when the Bruins hosted the Penguins. Boston won again by the same score thanks to two third period goals from Jake DeBrusk. Fenway Park is one of three venues to host outdoor NHL games in two different seasons since 2008.

BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 02: General view of Fenway Park during the national anthem prior to the 2023 NHL Winter Classic between Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins on January 2, 2023, at Fenway Park in Boston, MA. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Acrisure Stadium – Pittsburgh (2011, 2017)

One of the hallmarks of watching a sporting event at Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium (formerly Heinz Field) is seeing the waving of the yellow terrible towels for the beloved Steelers. But in 2011 and 2017, the towels were waving for the Penguins.

The atmosphere for the 2011 Winter Classic between the Penguins and Washington Capitals was electric as more than 68,000 fans filled the stands for the game. Washington ousted Pittsburgh 3-1 but the tables would turn six years later.

The Steel City had a Stadium Series game at the Steelers’ stadium in 2017, when the Penguins played in-state rivals the Flyers. This time around, hometown fans saw a win as the Pens beat the Flyers 4-2.

PITTSBURGH, PA – JANUARY 01: A general view is seen as the Pittsburgh Penguins take on the Washington Capitals during the 2011 NHL Bridgestone Winter Classic at Heinz Field on January 1, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Michigan Stadium – Ann Arbor, Michigan (2014)

Eleven years before the puck drops at Ohio Stadium, the puck dropped at the Buckeyes’ archrivals home in the most-attended NHL game of all-time.

Over 105,000 attended the 2014 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor where the Red Wings met the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was the first outdoor NHL game at a stadium primarily used for college football but ended with a Leafs win in a shootout after a 2-2 tie in regulation. With Ohio Stadium’s capacity exceeding 102,000, Saturday’s game could be among the most-attended in NHL history.

ANN ARBOR, MI – JANUARY 01: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Aerial view of Michigan stadium during the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings on January 1, 2014 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Levi’s Stadium – near San Francisco (2015)

With multiple successful outdoor games in cold weather cities, the NHL’s confidence grew to bring outdoor hockey to the West Coast. That dream was realized in 2015 for the Stadium Series game between the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks at Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco.

Home of the NFL’s 49ers, 70,000 fans saw this battle of California in temperatures well above 50 degrees. The Kings, who were the defending Stanley Cup champions, beat the Sharks 2-1. The 2015 Stadium Series game is one of two outdoor games to be played in California, with Dodger Stadium hosting the Kings and Anaheim Ducks a year before.

SANTA CLARA, CA – FEBRUARY 21: A overhead general view of the first period of the 2015 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series game between the Los Angeles Kings and the San Jose Sharks at Levi’s Stadium on February 21, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

Notre Dame Stadium – South Bend, Indiana (2019)

Ohio Stadium and Michigan Stadium are two of the most iconic college football stadiums in the Midwest. Another one that rivals them is Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, which hosted the 2019 Winter Classic between the Bruins and Blackhawks on New Year’s Day.

With no NHL teams in Indiana, this game marked the first time an outdoor matchup took place outside either team’s immediate media market. The gamble paid off with 76,000 filling the Notre Dame stands to watch the Bruins beat the Blackhawks 4-2 with Touchdown Jesus overlooking each goal.

SOUTH BEND, IN – JANUARY 01: A overhead view of the action as the Chicago Blackhawks play the Boston Bruins in the 2019 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic game at Notre Dame Stadium on January 1, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)

MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, New Jersey (2024)

The crown jewel of New York sporting venues welcomed over 150,000 hockey fans over two days to see two Stadium Series games.

MetLife Stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, hosted the first set of two consecutive outdoor games since 2016. Things began on Feb. 17, 2024 when the New Jersey Devils beat the Flyers 6-3 in an energetic matchup. The next day brought the Battle of New York to life as the Rangers and Islanders clashed in an epic game. The Rangers came back from down 5-3 late in the third period to win 6-5 in overtime.

The home of the NFL’s Giants and Jets has an impressive resume of events, hosting NHL games, Super Bowl XLVIII, WrestleMania 29, the 2021 Army-Navy game, and countless international soccer games. MetLife Stadium is scheduled to host the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final and 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – FEBRUARY 18: A general view of the NHL Stadium Series game between the New York Rangers and New York Islanders on February 18, 2024 at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Other stadiums to host since 2008

  • McMahon Stadium – Calgary, Alberta (2011)
  • Citizens Bank Park – Philadelphia (2012)
  • Dodger Stadium – Los Angeles (2014)
  • Yankee Stadium – New York (2014)
  • Soldier Field – Chicago (2014)
  • BC Place – Vancouver, British Columbia (2014)
  • Nationals Park – Washington (2015)
  • Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, Massachusetts (2016)
  • TCF Bank Stadium – Minneapolis (2016)
  • Coors Field – Denver (2016)
  • Investors Group Field – Winnipeg, Manitoba (2016)
  • BMO Field – Toronto (2017)
  • TD Place Stadium – Ottawa (2017)
  • Citi Field – New York (2018)
  • Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium – Annapolis, Maryland (2018)
  • Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia (2019)
  • Mosaic Stadium – Regina, Saskatchewan (2019)
  • Cotton Bowl – Dallas (2020)
  • Falcon Stadium – Air Force Academy, Coloado (2020)
  • Edgewood Tahoe Resort – Stateline, Nevada (2021)
  • Target Field – Minneapolis (2022)
  • Nissan Stadium – Nashville, Tennessee (2022)
  • Tim Hortons Field – Hamilton, Ontario (2022)
  • Carter-Finley Stadium – Raleigh, North Carolina (2023)
  • Commonwealth Stadium – Edmonton, Alberta (2023)
  • T-Mobile Park – Seattle (2024)
  • LoanDepot Park – Miami (2026)
  • Raymond James Stadium – Tampa, Florida (2026)
  • LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 25: An overall view prior to the game between the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings during the 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series at Dodger Stadium on January 25, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/NHLI via Getty Images)
  • A panoramic view of Yankee Stadium during the New York Rangers Vs New York Islanders NHL regular season game held outdoors at Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York, USA. 29th January 2014. Photo Tim Clayton (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
  • TORONTO, ON – DECEMBER 28: An overall view is seen during the build out of the outdoor rink for the 2017 Scotiabank NHL Centennial Classic between the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs at Exhibition Stadium, on December 28, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
  • ANNAPOLIS, MD – MARCH 03: A general view of the ice surface is seen after the singing of the Canadian and U.S. National Anthems prior to the 2018 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Washington Capitals at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on March 3, 2018 in Annapolis, Maryland.
  • DALLAS, TEXAS – JANUARY 01: (EDITOR’S NOTE: This image was created using a drone.) A general view is seen of Cotton Bowl during the first period of the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic between the Nashville Predators and the Dallas Stars at Cotton Bowl on January 01, 2020 in Dallas, Texas. The Stars defeated Predators 4-2. (Photo by Nicole Abbett/NHLI via Getty Images)
  • TAHOE, NV – FEBRUARY 20: General view during the first period of the Bridgestone NHL Outdoor game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, February, 20, 2021 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Lake Tahoe, Nev. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
  • EDMONTON, ALBERTA – OCTOBER 29: A general view is seen of the unfurling of the Canadian flag during pre-game ceremonies before the 2023 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic between the Calgary Flames and the Edmonton Oilers at Commonwealth Stadium on October 29, 2023 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)