Minnesota plays Wisconsin in the second period of a college hockey game in Chicago's Soldier Field on Feb. 17.(Photo Charles Rex Arbogast AP)
The NHL officially launched the expansion of its outdoor game series Wednesday by announcing that it is returning to Chicago for a game between the Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins on March 1.
The games will come two months after the Jan. 1 Winter Classic between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings on New Year's Day at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor Mich.
When you see how these games light up a market big markets like Chicago you are left with the question of why wouldn't you do more of these said NHL Chief Operating Officer John Collins.
Although the NHL only announced one game league officials have been in talks for games at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and Yankee Stadium in New York as part of a new stadium series concept. The league will view these games as being different from the Winter Classic and the Heritage Classic. There's also discussion of a game in Vancouver.
The stadium series takes what everyone loves about those games being outdoors giving fans the opportunity to tailgate and celebrate the sport in fun venues said Collins. And this allows us to get into markets that we haven't been able to get into or get back to markets that we should get back to every 10 or 15 years.
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The NHL's second Winter Classic was played at Wrigley Field between the Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings
Soldier is one of those iconic venues a phenomenal stadium and Chicago is a great market Collins said. We loved the experience at Wrigley but we need as big a venue as we can have to get in as many fans into this game as possible.
Soldier Field has a seating capacity of about 61 500.
The Winter Classic is a special event from a sponsorship and broadcasting standpoint just like the Heritage is Collins said. But what you really take away when you attend one of these games is the power of these games in the local market.
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The Winter Classic has been the most watched national game of the season for the NHL and merchandise sales of Winter Classic apparel is similar to what the league expects during a Stanley Cup Final.
If you look at the local television ratings in the local markets that have hosted and you (see) NFL AFC NFC championship like numbers in those markets Collins said. This event can light up a market.
PHOTOS WINTER CLASSIC JERSEYS
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