The Stars will host the 2020 Winter Classic at Cotton Bowl Stadium, commissioner Gary Bettman announced Tuesday.
This will be the southernmost and westernmost location for a Winter Classic game. The NHL has previously held other outdoor games in the western United States, including the 2014 and 2015 Stadium Series games in California. The first officially sanctioned outdoor NHL game was in Las Vegas in 1991.
Hockey history heads down south. #WinterClassic pic.twitter.com/B3LZTYhS9J
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) January 1, 2019
With the Stars playing in their first outdoor game, 2020 will be a welcome break from the usual Blackhawks vs. Bruins/Rangers/Penguins contest.
Bettman also announced the return of the Heritage Classic, the outdoor series of games featuring Canadian teams. The Flames and Jets will play at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Saskatchewan, on Oct. 26, 2019. The most recent Heritage Classic game was in Oct. 2016 in Winnipeg.
Finally, Bettman announced that the 2020 NHL All-Star Game will be held in St. Louis.
The 2020 Honda #NHLAllStar Game is coming to St. Louis!!!
DETAILS: https://t.co/IAbADlX1Im #stlblues pic.twitter.com/wOhPYm5LCk
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) January 1, 2019
It will be the first All-Star Game in St. Louis since 1988.