NHL's Gary Bettman Says League is Eyeing Winter Classic at Bills' New Stadium

On January 1, 2008, the NHL began the Winter Classic tradition in Orchard Park, New York, where the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the host Buffalo Sabres 2-1 in a shootout in then-Ralph Wilson Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills.

With the game's 20th anniversary approaching, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters the league is looking into bringing the contest back to Buffalo, this time at new Highmark Stadium, which is opening in time for the Bills' 2026 NFL season.

Rachel Lenzi of the Buffalo News relayed Bettman's remarks.

The Winter Classic has been held at NFL, college football and baseball stadiums since 2008.

This season's Winter Classic is set to take place on Jan. 2, 2026 in Miami's LoanDepot Park, where the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers will host the New York Rangers.

After that game, baseball stadiums will have hosted the last six Winter Classics.

However, Bettman's comments potentially signal a shift back to an NFL stadium, which could mark the first time a game has been held there since January 1, 2016, when the Montreal Canadiens beat the host Boston Bruins 5-1 in Gillette Stadium.

The game hasn't been back in Buffalo since the original Winter Classic. The Sabres have played once since then, falling to the New York Rangers in Citi Field, the home of the New York Mets, in 2018. New Highmark Stadium could very well host a Winter Classic soon enough, though.