The State of Hockey is finally getting an outdoor hockey game. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the Minnesota Wild will host the NHL 2021 Winter Classic at Target Field.
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Minnesota Wild To Host 2021 Winter Classic
During the second intermission of the 2020 NHL Winter Classic between the Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators at the Cotton Bowl Bettman spoke with Mike Tirico of NBC Sports. He told Tirico that on January 1st, 2021 the Wild will be the home team as the game will take place at Target Field, the home of the Minnesota Twins. The 2021 NHL Winter Classic will be the 13th annual New Year’s Day outdoor game. It has become a tradition since its inception back in 2008.
Possible Opponents
The opponent for the Wild has yet to be determined. However, according to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston, four teams are in contention to be the Wild’s opponent. They include the Winnipeg Jets, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, and St. Louis Blues. There is a belief the Blues are front runners for this game.
“The Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic is about taking hockey back to its outdoor roots – and there is no better place to celebrate the incredible strength surrounding our game than in Minnesota,” Bettman said in a press release. “The Minnesota Wild organization and their fans in the Twin Cities and across the state have been anxiously awaiting the opportunity to host the NHL’s New Year’s showcase and we are thrilled to be bringing next year’s game to Target Field.”
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 1: Fans take seats along the rail of the Metropolitan Club and prepare for dinner and the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Toronto Blue Jays on October 1, 2010 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Blue Jays won 6-3. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/Getty Images)
