> At a Glance
> – The Utah Mammoth will host the 2027 NHL Winter Classic at Rice-Eccles Stadium against the Colorado Avalanche
> – This marks the first outdoor game for the franchise, making Utah the last of 31 teams to participate
> – The stadium, home of the 2002 and future 2034 Winter Olympics ceremonies, will host 50,000-plus fans
> – Why it matters: The game cements Utah’s place in NHL tradition and celebrates its winter sports identity
The Utah Mammoth are set to make history as the final NHL team to play an outdoor game, hosting the 2027 Winter Classic at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The matchup against the Colorado Avalanche will cap a league-wide milestone nearly two decades in the making.
A Milestone 31 Years in the Making
Since the NHL began outdoor games, every active franchise has taken part-except the team now known as the Utah Mammoth. Originally the Winnipeg Jets, then the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes, the club relocated to Salt Lake City in 2024 under new owners Ryan and Ashley Smith.
Ryan Smith called the Winter Classic opportunity “a dream,” adding:
> “We actually came up here early in the process of even getting the team because we said this is what we want. We wanted our players to be able to have it.”
Venue With Olympic Pedigree
Rice-Eccles Stadium, which seats 51,444, previously hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics’ opening and closing ceremonies and will do so again in 2034. Commissioner Gary Bettman praised the venue’s sight lines and intimacy, projecting a crowd of 50,000-plus for the hockey spectacle.
Avalanche Return to the Elements
Colorado will make its fourth outdoor appearance, holding a 1-2-0 record in prior Winter Classics. Joe Sakic, the Avalanche’s president of hockey operations, stated:
> “The Avalanche organization is always proud to be in consideration for marquee events like this. We’re 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.”
Embracing Utah’s Winter Culture
Ryan and Ashley Smith emphasized that hosting the Winter Classic aligns with Utah’s identity.
Ashley Smith noted:
> “We don’t hide from the winter here. We live in the mountains. It’s what we breathe. It’s very authentic to us and all of Utah.”
Although University of Utah athletic events prohibit alcohol sales inside the stadium, the Winter Classic-classified as a private event-will allow them.
Key Takeaways
- The 2027 Winter Classic will be the first outdoor game for the Utah Mammoth franchise
- Rice-Eccles Stadium will provide an Olympic-caliber backdrop with 50,000-plus fans expected
- The Colorado Avalanche will appear in their fourth outdoor game
- Alcohol sales will be permitted, differing from standard university events
With the date still to be announced, anticipation builds for the historic matchup that will bring NHL outdoor hockey to the mountain west.
