The following is a list of NHL regular season outdoor games broadcasters, including those in Canada and in the United States.
The first NHL Heritage Classic was played in 2003 at Commonwealth Stadium between the Edmonton Oilers and the Montreal Canadiens. Although the Oilers had suggested the idea of hosting an outdoor game as early as the mid 1980s, the genesis of the 2003 event was the "Cold War" outdoor game played two years prior between Michigan State University and the University of Michigan.
One year later, NBC Sports Executive VP Jon Miller pitched the idea of an annual outdoor television event to the NHL in 2004 "but they didn't find the concept workable." In December 2006, Miller found an ally in then NHL Executive VP/Business & Media John Collins, who embraced the idea. The first Winter Classic was held January 1, 2008, between the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The game had an NHL-record crowd of 71,217 fans in attendance. The success of the 2008 NHL Winter Classic led the NHL to schedule a second one for 2009, held at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, on January 1, 2009, matching the Detroit Red Wings against the Chicago Blackhawks.
That game had the highest American television ratings of any hockey game in 33 years. The success of the 2009 NHL Winter Classic has solidified "the Classic" as an annual event from then on. The Winter Classic was officially made a permanent part of the NHL schedule through at least January 1, 2021, as part of the league's television contract with the NBC Sports Group. The Winter Classic is also broadcast in Canada by the league's TV partner there too.
Unlike the annual Winter Classic and Stadium Series games, Heritage Classic games have been held infrequently.
For the 2013–14 NHL season, the NHL introduced three other outdoor games known as the Stadium Series. The 2014 Stadium Series was held in Los Angeles, California, New York City and Chicago, Illinois. Another Stadium Series game was held the following season in Santa Clara, California, with two more games scheduled for the 2015–16 season in Denver, Colorado and Minneapolis, Minnesota.
To celebrate the league's centennial anniversary in 2017, two special outdoor games were held: The NHL Centennial Classic on January 1, 2017, to kickoff the year; and then the NHL 100 Classic played on December 16.
United States[]
| Year | Network | Play-by-play | Color commentators | Ice level reporters | Studio host | Studio analysts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Stadium Series | NBC | Mike Emrick | Mike Milbury | Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick | Kathryn Tappen | Jeremy Roenick and Keith Jones |
| 2018 Winter Classic | NBC | Mike Emrick | Mike Milbury | Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick | Liam McHugh | Keith Jones |
| 2017 100 Classic | NBCSN | Jim Hughson | Craig Simpson | Garry Galley and Kyle Bukauskas | Kathryn Tappen | Keith Jones and Brian Boucher |
| 2017 Stadium Series | NBC | Mike Emrick | Eddie Olczyk | Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick | Liam McHugh | Mike Milbury and Keith Jones |
| 2017 Winter Classic | NBC | Mike Emrick | Eddie Olczyk | Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick | Bob Costas and Liam McHugh | Mike Milbury and Keith Jones |
| 2017 Centennial Classic | NBC | John Forslund | Brian Boucher | Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick | Kathryn Tappen | Jeremy Roenick |
| 2016 Heritage Classic | NHL Network | Jim Hughson | Craig Simpson | Scott Oake | David Amber | Nick Kypreos, Kelly Hrudey and Elliotte Friedman |
| 2016 Stadium Series (Denver) | NBC | Mike Emrick | Eddie Olczyk | Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick | Kathryn Tappen | Jeremy Roenick |
| 2016 Stadium Series (Minneapolis) | NBC | Mike Emrick | Eddie Olczyk | Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick | Liam McHugh | Mike Milbury and Keith Jones |
| 2016 Winter Classic | NBC | Mike Emrick | Eddie Olczyk | Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick | Liam McHugh | Mike Milbury and Keith Jones |
| 2015 Stadium Series | NBCSN | Dave Strader | Eddie Olczyk | Brian Engblom and Carolyn Manno | Kathryn Tappen | Jeremy Roenick |
| 2015 Winter Classic | NBC | Mike Emrick | Eddie Olczyk | Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick | Liam McHugh | Mike Milbury and Keith Jones |
| 2014 Heritage Classic | NBCSN | Gord Miller | Brian Engblom | Kathryn Tappen | Jeremy Roenick | |
| 2014 Stadium Series (Chicago) | NBC | Mike Emrick | Eddie Olczyk | Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick | Liam McHugh | Mike Milbury and Keith Jones |
| 2014 Stadium Series (New York) | NBC (Rangers–Devils)
NBCSN (Rangers–Islanders) |
Mike Emrick | Eddie Olczyk | Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick | Liam McHugh | Mike Milbury, Keith Jones and Jeremy Roenick |
| 2014 Stadium Series (Los Angeles) | NBCSN | Dave Strader | Anson Carter | Brian Engblom and Jeremy Roenick | Russ Thaler | Jeremy Roenick |
| 2014 Winter Classic | NBC | Mike Emrick | Eddie Olczyk | Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick | Liam McHugh | Mike Milbury and Keith Jones |
| 2012 | NBC | Mike Emrick | Eddie Olczyk | Pierre McGuire and Darren Pang | Bob Costas | Mike Milbury |
| 2011 Heritage Classic | Versus (now NBCSN) | Dave Strader | Andy Brickley | Brian Engblom | Bill Patrick | Keith Jones and Jeremy Roenick |
| 2011 Winter Classic | NBC | Mike Emrick | Eddie Olczyk | Pierre McGuire and Darren Pang | Bob Costas | Mike Milbury |
| 2010 | NBC | Mike Emrick-Eddie Olczyk-Pierre McGuire | Eddie Olczyk | Pierre McGuire and Darren Pang | Bob Costas | Mike Milbury |
| 2009 | NBC | Dave Strader | Eddie Olczyk | Pierre McGuire and Darren Pang | Bob Costas | Mike Milbury |
| 2008 | NBC | Mike Emrick | Eddie Olczyk | Darren Pang | Bob Costas | Mike Milbury |
Notes[]
- The first outdoor game between two NHL teams was an official pre-season match-up on September 27, 1991. The game took place in the parking lot of Caesars Palace[10] in Las Vegas, Nevada, and featured the Los Angeles Kings and the New York Rangers.[11] The game was televised live on Prime Ticket, and, due to its uniqueness, has since been repeated numerous times on other networks, such as MSG Network and the NHL Network.[12] During the game, Kings goaltender Kelly Hrudey wore a camera mounted on his mask, and shots from his point of view were used during the broadcast.[13]
- There was no separate American live telecast of the 2003 Heritage Classic. ESPN, the American rights-holder at the time, was already committed to broadcasting college football on its channels during that day. American viewers who wanted to watch the game live could view the Canadian CBC broadcast on NHL Center Ice.
- In 2008, some NBC affiliates decided instead to air the game on secondary channels often used for weather service. Therefore, in some markets, fans with a satellite service carrying DirecTV or DISH Network were unable to watch the game. Despite this, and competing with broadcasts of college football bowl games (this was particularly noted in the Detroit, Michigan market, usually a strong market for hockey ratings, where the Wolverines were playing in the Capital One Bowl), the game garnered a 2.6 rating and 5 share, the highest rating for a regular season NHL game since 1996, and the highest share since Wayne Gretzky's final game in 1999, in a near tie with second-place CBS' 2.7 rating for Gator Bowl coverage. The production earned a 38.1 rating in Buffalo and 17.7 rating in Pittsburgh, to lead all markets.
- NBC had an airplane flying overhead to provide bird's-eye views of the rink, including a live webstream from its camera throughout the game. The announcers stood in a constructed perch on the penalty box side of the rink, in front of the stadium stands.
- In 2009, Dave Strader filled-in for Mike Emrick on play-by-play commentator for NBC because Emrick deal with laryngitis.
- On January 3, 2009, the NHL reported that the overnight television ratings had increased 12% over the 2008 game. Nationally, the game had 2.9 overnight rating and a 6 share. In Chicago, Thursday's game drew a national high of an 11.8 rating and 21 share, with Detroit second at 10.5 and 21 (this despite that yet again, a Michigan-based team was playing in the Capital One Bowl opposite the Winter Classic—this time the Michigan State Spartans). Other above-average markets included Buffalo (whose 10.1 rating/20 share was comparable to Detroit's), St. Louis (5.3/10), Pittsburgh (4.4/8), Denver (4.2/10), Providence (3.5/7), Indianapolis (3.4/6), West Palm Beach (3.3/6), and Orlando (3.2/5).[18] Each overnight ratings point equals about 735,000 TV homes.[19] On January 12, the final ratings figure was announced. There was an average of 4.4 million viewers of the game on NBC, and this was the largest since the February 23, 1975 match between the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers.
- The 2011 Winter Classic was delayed by 7 hours due to rainy weather and ended up being played in prime time.
- The 2012 game was played on January 2 since January 1 landed on a Sunday.
- The 2013 game was cancelled on November 2, 2012, due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout.
- Since 2016, NHL Network or NBCSN simulcast CBC Sportsnet's coverage of the outdoor game that do not involve an American team.
Canada (English)[]
| Year | Network | Play-by-play | Color commentators | Ice level reporters | Studio host | Studio analysts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Stadium Series | CBC
Sportsnet |
Jim Hughson | Craig Simpson | Kyle Bukauskas | Ron MacLean | Nick Kypreos, Kelly Hrudey and Elliotte Friedman |
| 2018 Winter Classic | Sportsnet | Mike Emrick | Mike Milbury | Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick | Liam McHugh | Mike Milbury and Keith Jones |
| 2017 100 Classic | CBC
Sportsnet |
Jim Hughson | Craig Simpson | Garry Galley and Kyle Bukauskas | Ron MacLean | Nick Kypreos, Kelly Hrudey and Elliotte Friedman |
| 2017 Stadium Series | Sportsnet | Mike Emrick | Eddie Olczyk | Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick | Liam McHugh | Mike Milbury and Keith Jones |
| 2017 Winter Classic | Sportsnet | Mike Emrick | Eddie Olczyk | Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick | Bob Costas and Liam McHugh | Mike Milbury and Keith Jones |
| 2017 Centennial Classic | Sportsnet | Jim Hughson | Craig Simpson | Scott Oake | Ron MacLean and David Amber | Nick Kypreos, Kelly Hrudey and Elliotte Friedman |
| 2016 Heritage Classic | Sportsnet | Jim Hughson-Craig Simpson and Cassie Campbell-Pascall-Scott Oake | Craig Simpson | Scott Oake | David Amber | Nick Kypreos, Kelly Hrudey and Elliotte Friedman |
| 2016 Stadium Series (Denver) | Sportsnet | Mike Emrick | Eddie Olczyk | Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick | Kathryn Tappen | Jeremy Roenick |
| 2016 Stadium Series (Minneapolis) | Sportsnet | Mike Emrick-Eddie Olczyk-Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick | Eddie Olczyk | Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick | Liam McHugh | Mike Milbury and Keith Jones |
| 2016 Winter Classic | Sportsnet | Jim Hughson | Craig Simpson | Glenn Healy and Scott Oake | George Stroumboulopoulos | Nick Kypreos and Elliotte Friedman |
| 2015 Stadium Series | CBC (produced by Rogers Communications) | Paul Romanuk | Mike Johnson | Kelly Hrudey and Cassie Campbell-Pascall | George Stroumboulopoulos | Elliotte Friedman |
| 2015 Winter Classic | CBC (produced by Rogers Communications) | Jim Hughson | Craig Simpson | Glenn Healy and Scott Oake | George Stroumboulopoulos | Nick Kypreos |
| 2014 Heritage Classic | CBC | Jim Hughson | Kelly Hrudey | Glenn Healy and Cassie Campbell-Pascall | Ron MacLean | Don Cherry |
| 2014 Stadium Series (New York) | CBC (Rangers-Devils)
TSN (Rangers-Islanders) |
Jim Hughson | Craig Simpson | Glenn Healy and Cassie Campbell-Pascall | Ron MacLean
Liam McHugh |
Don Cherry, P.J. Stock, Kevin Weekes, and Elliotte Friedman
Mike Milbury and Keith Jones |
| 2014 Stadium Series (Los Angeles) | CBC | Mark Lee | Kelly Hrudey | Scott Oake | Ron MacLean | Don Cherry |
| 2014 Winter Classic | CBC | Jim Hughson | Craig Simpson | Glenn Healy, Scott Oake, and Andi Petrillo | Ron MacLean | Don Cherry, P.J. Stock, Kevin Weekesand Elliotte Friedman |
| 2012 | CBC | Jim Hughson | Craig Simpson | Glenn Healy and Elliotte Friedman | Ron MacLean | Don Cherry |
| 2011 Heritage Classic | CBC | Jim Hughson | Craig Simpson | Glenn Healy and Elliotte Friedman | Ron MacLean | Don Cherry |
| 2011 Winter Classic | CBC | Jim Hughson | Craig Simpson | Glenn Healy and Elliotte Friedman | Ron MacLean | Don Cherry |
| 2010 | CBC | Jim Hughson | Craig Simpson | Glenn Healy and Elliotte Friedman | Ron MacLean | Don Cherry |
| 2009 | CBC | Jim Hughson | Craig Simpson | Elliotte Friedman | Ron MacLean | Don Cherry |
| 2008 | CBC | Jim Hughson | Greg Millen | Elliotte Friedman | Ron MacLean | Don Cherry |
| 2003 | CBC | Chris Cuthbert | Greg Millen and Glenn Healy | Steve Armitage and Scott Oake | Ron MacLean | Don Cherry |
Notes[]
- The CBC television broadcast of the 2003 Heritage Classic set the record for most viewers of a single NHL game with 2.747 million nationwide. This was the first NHL game broadcast in HD on CBC.
- Despite the overwhelming popularity of the original Heritage Classic between the Montreal Canadiens and the Edmonton Oilers in 2003, the popularity of the Winter Classic in Canada is low and declining. On Canada's CBC Television network, the Winter Classic has lower ratings than its weekly regular season telecasts Hockey Night in Canada. This has been attributed to the lack of Canadian teams in any of the Winter Classics and has led to a revival of the all-Canadian Heritage Classic.
- In 2011, the seven-hour delay on the CBC broadcast schedule caused the classic to be completely preempted in the province of Ontario. The network's coverage of the NHL that night began with the Battle of Ontario at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa at 7:00 p.m. ET, and broke away to the Classic outside Ontario. The CBC truncated the broadcast after two hours in Alberta to show the Battle of Alberta at Rexall Place in Edmonton in its entirety.
- TSN simulcasted NBCSN's coverage of the 2014 Stadium Series game between the Rangers and the Islanders.
- There was no separate Canadian live telecast of the 2014 Stadium Series game in Chicago. CBC instead broadcast the Toronto Maple Leafs–Montreal Canadiens game being played at the same time.
- Since 2016, Sportsnet simulcast NBC Sports' feed of the Winter Classic and Stadium Series that do not involve a Canadian team.
Canada (French)[]
| Year | Network | Play-by-play | Color commentators | Ice level reporters | Studio host | Studio analysts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Stadium Series | TVA Sports | Denis Casavant | Yvon Pedneault | |||
| 2018 Winter Classic | TVA Sports | Félix Séguin | Alain Chainey | |||
| 2017 100 Classic | TVA Sports | Félix Séguin | Patrick Lalime | Renaud Lavoie and Marc-André Perreault | ||
| 2017 Stadium Series | TVA Sports 2 | Sébastien Goulet | Yvon Pedneault | |||
| 2017 Winter Classic | TVA Sports | Félix Séguin | Yvon Pedneault | |||
| 2017 Centennial Classic | TVA Sports | Denis Casavant | Alain Chainey | Mathieu Dandenault | Frédéric Lord | |
| 2016 Heritage Classic | TVA Sports 2 | Sébastien Goulet | Yvon Pedneault | |||
| 2016 Stadium Series (Denver) | TVA Sports 2 | Sébastien Goulet | Éric Fichaud | |||
| 2016 Stadium Series (Minneapolis) | TVA Sports | Denis Casavant | Alain Chainey | |||
| 2016 Winter Classic | TVA Sports | Félix Séguin | Patrick Lalime | Renaud Lavoie | ||
| 2015 Stadium Series | TVA Sports 2 | Denis Casavant | Yvon Pedneault | |||
| 2015 Winter Classic | TVA Sports | Félix Séguin | Patrick Lalime | Renaud Lavoie | ||
| 2014 Heritage Classic | RDS | Michel Y. Lacroix | Norman Flynn | |||
| 2014 Winter Classic | RDS | Michel Y. Lacroix | Norman Flynn | Renaud Lavoie | ||
| 2012 | RDS | Michel Y. Lacroix | Denis Gauthier | Renaud Lavoie | Claude Mailhot | Jocelyn Lemieux |
| 2011 Heritage Classic | RDS | Pierre Houde | Benoît Brunet | Joel Bouchard | Alain Crête | Mario Tremblay |
| 2011 Winter Classic | RDS | Michel Y. Lacroix | Denis Gauthier | Renaud Lavoie | Yanick Bouchard | Jocelyn Lemieux |
| 2010 | RDS | Michel Y. Lacroix | Norman Flynn | Renaud Lavoie | Yanick Bouchard | Bob Hartley |
| 2009 | RDS | Pierre Houde | Benoît Brunet | Chantal Machabée | Alain Crête | Michel Bergeron, Joel Bouchard and Jacques Demers |
| 2008 | RDS | Pierre Houde | Yvon Pedneault | Chantal Machabée | Alain Crête | Benoît Brunet, Michel Bergeron and Jacques Demers |
| 2003 | RDS and SRC (simulcast) | Pierre Houde | Yvon Pedneault |