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Dallas Stars to Host 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Cotton Bowl Stadium

The National Hockey League and the Dallas Stars announced today that the club will host the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® at Cotton Bowl Stadium® in Dallas, Texas on Jan. 1, 2020.

The contest will mark the first NHL regular-season outdoor game for the Stars. The game continues the tradition the League established in 2008 of hosting a regular-season outdoor game at the onset of the new year, with the 2020 edition marking the 12-year anniversary of the first NHL Winter Classic® in Buffalo. Dallas' opponent for the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® will be announced at a future date.

"The entire Stars organization is honored to be selected by the NHL to host the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®," Dallas Stars owner Tom Gaglardi said. "Cotton Bowl Stadium® is one of the most iconic and recognizable sports venues in the United States. For nearly a century, the stadium has hosted premier sporting events and has featured some of the greatest players to ever to play their sport. The city of Dallas and the entire Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex has become a destination for the world's biggest sporting events and hosting the NHL Winter Classic® will continue that trend. We will have a unique opportunity to showcase the growth of the game of hockey in Texas over the last 26 years through our tremendous fan support, grassroots efforts and player and alumni involvement in the community. I would also like to thank NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and the Dallas Sports Commission for helping us secure this event."

Dallas is the ninth team to host the annual classic, joining the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals. The 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® will set the record for the southern-most location for any signature NHL outdoor contest (NHL Winter Classic®, NHL Stadium Series™, and NHL Heritage Classic™).

Tickets for the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® will go on sale at a later date. Dallas Stars Season Ticket Holders and American Airlines Center suite and premium seat holders will be given the first opportunity to purchase 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® tickets before the general public. For more information about the game and to enter for a chance to win tickets to the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®, please visit DallasStars.com/WinterClassic.

"On behalf of the city of Dallas, thank you to Commissioner Gary Bettman and the National Hockey League for giving Dallas the opportunity to follow up on the success of the 2018 NHL Draft," Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said. "I can't think of a better way to celebrate the great history of New Year's Day at Cotton Bowl Stadium® than by welcoming thousands of fans to witness the first ever outdoor professional hockey game in Texas. This great event is yet another example of how Dallas continues to be one of the most sought-after locations to host major sports events."

Located just east of downtown Dallas, the historic Cotton Bowl Stadium® becomes the sixth football stadium to host the NHL Winter Classic®. Cotton Bowl Stadium® is the third college football venue to host the game, joining Michigan Stadium (2014) and Notre Dame Stadium (2019).

In its 89 years of existence, Cotton Bowl Stadium® has featured some of the greatest players and coaches in the history of college football. From 1937 to 2009, the venue hosted the Cotton Bowl Classic, an annual NCAA Division I bowl game. Seven Heisman Trophy winners have participated in the annual bowl game while it was being hosted at the venue: Doak Walker (Southern Methodist University), Roger Staubach (United States Naval Academy), Earl Campbell (University of Texas), Doug Flutie (Boston College), Bo Jackson (Auburn University), Tim Brown (University of Notre Dame) and Ricky Williams (University of Texas). The stadium's sidelines during the Cotton Bowl Classic have featured some of the most iconic coaches in the history of the sport, such as Darrell Royal (University of Texas), Tom Osborne (University of Nebraska), Frank Broyles (University of Arkansas), Paul "Bear" Bryant (University of Kentucky, University of Alabama), Lou Holtz (University of Notre Dame), Bob Stoops (University of Oklahoma) and Nick Saban (Louisiana State University).

Since 1932, the annual University of Texas/University of Oklahoma "Red River Showdown" football game has been held at Cotton Bowl Stadium® during the State Fair of Texas. Along with college football, the stadium has served as the home field for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League and the Dallas Texans of the American Football League. Both the Southern Methodist University Mustangs football team and FC Dallas of Major League Soccer have called Cotton Bowl Stadium® home on several occasions. Cotton Bowl Stadium® also served as a venue for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, one of nine stadiums in the United States selected to host matches during the international event.

Cotton Bowl Stadium® becomes only the third venue in the state of Texas to host a regular-season NHL contest, along with American Airlines Center and Reunion Arena.