Could the New York Islanders host an outdoor game? As the NHL looks for new venues, Long Island is one of the potential sites for a future game.
History of the NHL Outdoor Game
The NHL loves to play outdoors.
Since 2008, the NHL has played at least one regular-season game outdoors.
It started with the Winter Classic at Ralph Wilson Stadium, the home of the Buffalo Bills. Over 71,000 people watched the Pittsburgh Penguins defeat the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 in overtime.
The Winter Classic has become a yearly tradition, with the NHL hosting an outdoor game around New Year’s Day.
The Winter Classic started in stadiums with colder climates, including Wrigley Field (home of the Chicago Cubs), Fenway Park (home of the Boston Red Sox), Heinz Field (home of the Pittsburgh Steelers), and Michigan Stadium (home of the Michigan Wolverines).
Over the years, the Winter Classic has expanded into cities with warmer climates, including Dallas’ Cotton Bowl and Miami’s LoanDepot Park.
Next year, the Winter Classic will be played at Rice–Eccles Stadium, the home of the Utah Utes.
Since 2014, the NHL has added another outdoor game per season as part of the Stadium Series.
The very first game in the Stadium Series was played at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Other notable sites include Soldier Field (home of the Chicago Bears), Levi’s Stadium (home of the San Francisco 49ers), Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (home of the Navy Midshipmen), and Ohio Stadium (home of the Ohio State Buckeyes).
This season, the Stadium Series will be played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, and next season, the game will be in Dallas at AT&T Stadium.
All of the tristate teams have played in outdoor games. Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, and MetLife Stadium have all hosted outdoor NHL games.
Could Belmont Park be an Option for an NHL Game?
With the NHL open to new locations, Belmont Park racetrack is an interesting option for a future game.
Belmont Park racetrack has been under construction for a few years. The renovations should finally be complete by this fall. The track is within walking distance from UBS Arena, the home of the Islanders.
On the SportsBash podcast, Steve Mayer, president of NHL events and content, addressed the idea of bringing a game to Belmont Park.
“Yes, we’ve looked and talked and are going to continue discussions about potential games there or other places,” said Mayer. “We’re trying to be as innovative with these outdoor games and the future of them as possible. Belmont…sure, as a possibility for us to explore and to look at. I don’t think there’s a venue in the United States or Canada that we haven’t either looked at, seen, or has been discussed.”
The Islanders will host the 2027 All-Star Game and plan to incorporate Belmont Park into the weekend’s festivities. While it won’t serve as the location for the hockey game, it could be used for a trial run to host fan events.
“We’re really excited about how we’re going to integrate Belmont into the All-Star Game,” Mayer said. “That’s probably the first step of what we’re going to do with our fanfest. We’ll get creative when it comes to the All-Star Game. Look at that facility, and look at what they’ve done. It’s so beautiful. We’ve been out there a few times, and I think there’s going to be some really cool things that we’ll do.”
