2023 NHL Stadium Series

The 2023 NHL Stadium Series is an upcoming outdoor regular season National Hockey League (NHL) game, part of the Stadium Series of games. The game will take place on February 18, 2023, at Carter–Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina, with the Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Washington Capitals.[1][2] The Hurricanes were originally scheduled to host the 2021 Stadium Series but the game was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2023 NHL Stadium Series
123 Total
Washington Capitals --- 0
Carolina Hurricanes --- 0
DateFebruary 18, 2023
ArenaCarter–Finley Stadium
CityRaleigh, North Carolina
← 2022 2024 →

History

The NHL originally announced on February 15, 2020, that the 2021 Stadium Series would be hosted by the Carolina Hurricanes at Carter–Finley Stadium.[3] After he took majority control of the team in 2018, Hurricanes owner Thomas Dundon made it a goal to have his club play in its first outdoor game. In 2019, Dundon invited NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to take a tour of Carter–Finley Stadium to see if it was feasible.[4] Before the league could finalize the game, the Hurricanes had to seek additional funding from the local government and other organizations to help offset the cost of hosting the game.[5]

The NHL delayed the start of the 2020–21 season to January 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic having forced the 2019–20 playoffs to conclude in late September.[6] On October 22, 2020, the NHL postponed both the 2021 NHL Winter Classic and the 2021 All-Star Game due to "ongoing uncertainty" since both January events rely on fan participation.[7][8] The decision to further postpone the Stadium Series game was made on December 23.[9]

The Hurricanes later asked the league to move their outdoor game to the 2022–23 season,[10] with team president and general manager Don Waddell stating that he wanted "to assure a safe environment".[11] On February 4, 2022, the league officially confirmed that the team will host the 2023 game.[1] The league then announced on March 3, 2022, that the Washington Capitals would be the opponent.[2]

References
  1. "2023 NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park, Bruins opponent not announced". NHL.com. NHL. February 4, 2022.
  2. "Hurricanes to host Capitals in 2023 Stadium Series at NC State". NHL.com. NHL. March 3, 2022.
  3. "Hurricanes to host 2021 NHL Stadium Series at N.C. State". NHL.com (Press release). NHL. February 15, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  4. Smith, Michael (February 27, 2019). "Bettman Talks Outdoor Game in Raleigh, Storm Surge". NHL.com. Carolina Hurricanes.
  5. Alexander, Chip (February 6, 2020). "Hurricanes seek funding for 2021 NHL Stadium Series outdoor game in Carter-Finley Stadium". The News & Observer.
  6. "NHL, NHLPA targeting Jan. 1 as start date for 2020-21 season". Sportsnet. Associated Press. October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  7. "NHL postpones Winter Classic, All-Star Weekend for upcoming season". Sportsnet. October 22, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  8. "NHL postpones 2021 Winter Classic, All-Star Game". ProHockeyTalk. October 22, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  9. "2021 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series Game Postponed". NHL.com (Press release). Carolina Hurricanes. December 23, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  10. Russo, Michael (June 28, 2021). "Blues-Wild Winter Classic in Minneapolis set for Jan. 1; All-Star Game to Vegas". The Athletic. A source said the Carolina Hurricanes, whose 2021 Stadium Series game in Raleigh, N.C., was postponed in December, deferred their outdoor game to the 2022-23 season.
  11. "Minnesota's Target Field to host 2022 NHL Winter Classic". Sportsnet. June 28, 2021.
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