NHL Outdoor Games

Multiple Locations, North America

  • Building Activities

    Hockey, Ice Hockey

  • Services

    Event

  • Completion

    Multiple Years

CHALLENGE. In 2008, the National Hockey League started a fresh New Year’s Day tradition – an outdoor game called the Winter Classic. The league had dabbled with a handful of outdoor exhibitions in the past, but few of this scale and complexity. Dropping a regular season professional hockey game into a stadium requires big picture thinking and an attention to detail.

INNOVATION. When it comes to the big picture, our event designers have a leg up thanks to their unrivaled knowledge of large-scale venues. During the early stages of planning for the original Winter Classic, we completed sightline studies to place the rink in the perfect location within the stadium.

From there, the planning kicked into overdrive. We provided overlay planning and documentation for the event as well as site supervision and oversight. From fan activations and broadcast compounds to rink details and refrigeration lines, our plans created an efficient and accurate layout. Our team spent the weeks leading up to event day on-site, helping with the overlay installation and event management.

IMPACT. Bringing the game of hockey back to its outdoor roots has captivated fans across the North American continent. A record 105,000 fans gathered to watch the 2014 Winter Classic in Michigan Stadium. What started as a single game in 2008 has blossomed into a series of annual outdoor games including the Stadium Series. Our event designers to continue to raise the bar with each one.

Outdoor Games Designed
2018
Stadium Series / Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium / Annapolis, Maryland, United States
2018
Winter Classic / Citi Field / New York City, New York, United States
2017
NHL 100 Classic / TD Place Stadium / Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
2017
Stadium Series / Heinz Field / Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
2017
Winter Classic / Busch Stadium / St. Louis, Missouri, United States
2017
Centennial Classic / BMO Field / Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2016
Heritage Classic / Investors Group Field / Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
2016
Stadium Series / Coors Field / Denver, Colorado, United States
2016
Stadium Series / TCF Bank Stadium / Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
2016
Winter Classic / Gillette Stadium / Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States
2015
Stadium Series / Levi’s Stadium / Santa Clara, California, United States
2015
Winter Classic / Nationals Park / Washington, District of Columbia, United States
2014
Heritage Classic / BC Place / Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
2014
Stadium Series / Soldier Field / Chicago, Illinois, United States
2014
Stadium Series / Yankee Stadium / New York City, New York, United States
2014
Stadium Series / Dodger Stadium / Los Angeles, California, United States
2014
Winter Classic / Michigan Stadium / Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
2012
Winter Classic / Citizens Bank Park / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
2011
Heritage Classic / McMahon Stadium / Alberta, Calgary, Canada
2011
Winter Classic / Heinz Field / Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
2010
Winter Classic / Fenway Park / Boston, Massachusetts, United States
2009
Winter Classic / Wrigley Field / Chicago, Illinois, United States
2008
Winter Classic / Ralph Wilson Stadium / Buffalo, New York, United States