The Colorado Avalanche are set to play in the NHL\u2019s premier regular-season event in 2027. The league announced that the Utah Mammoth will face the Avs in the 2027 Winter Classic. The venue for said event will be Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.<\/p>\n
While the date of the game itself was not confirmed, the two participants are firmly entrenched, Rob Rossi of The Athletic<\/a> reported on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Rice-Eccles Stadium is the home of the Utah Utes of NCAA football. The field is located on the campus of the University of Utah, making it an ideal spot for the NHL\u2019s signature outdoor game.<\/p>\n NHL.com quoted Avalanche president Joe Sakic<\/a>‘s remarks following the announcement:<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re excited and honored that the League selected us for the Winter Classic. The Avalanche organization is always proud to be in consideration for marquee events like this. We\u2019re looking forward to being matched up with a great team and represent the Rocky Mountain region in a game that appeals to these two markets in this part of the country.\u201d<\/p>\n The 2027 Winter Classic will take place in a much colder environment than this year\u2019s edition in Miami. The ice wasn\u2019t precisely in the best condition for the event. That\u2019s why Utah promises to offer much better conditions for this outdoor game.<\/p>\n Rice-Eccles Stadium was the site of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Olympics. That year, Canada beat the United States in the final to capture gold. Then-Colorado Avalanche captain<\/a> Joe Sakic was the tournament MVP. Sakic led the Canadian side, scoring four goals and adding three assists for seven points in six games.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also worth pointing out that the 2034 Winter Games will return to Utah. The Games are slated from February 10 to 26, 2034. <\/p>\n NHLers are assured participation in the 2030 Games in the French Alps. However, it\u2019s unclear whether professional players will take part in the 2034 Utah Games. Of course, it\u2019s far too soon to speculate about the 2034 Olympics. However, depending on how this year\u2019s tournament goes, NHLers\u2019 participation could come into question. <\/p>\n