Utah Mammoth to Host 2027 NHL Winter Classic vs. Avalanche at Rice-Eccles Stadium

The location for the 2027 NHL Winter Classic has been revealed.

The Utah Mammoth will host the event at Rice-Eccles Stadium, home of the Utah Utes football team, owner Ryan Smith confirmed on Wednesday. The Mammoth will take on the Colorado Avalanche in the 18th rendition of the Winter Classic.

The Mammoth have never hosted or appeared in an outdoor game, though it is also just the club's second season ever, so that's not much of a surprise. The Avalanche have played in four other outdoor games, but this will be the first time they will have appeared in the Winter Classic.

Rice-Eccles Stadium can seat 51,400 after expanding and renovating in 2021. It previously hosted the 2022 Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies, and the Winter Olympics are set to return to Salt Lake City in 2034.

Rice-Eccles Stadium will be the fourth college football stadium to host the Winter Classic, joining the Cotton Bowl, Notre Dame Stadium and Michigan Stadium. Baseball stadiums have been the venue for outdoor events in recent years.

Last year, the Winter Classic was held at loanDepot Park in Miami as the Florida Panthers hosted the New York Rangers. The last time it was played in a college football stadium was 2020, when the Dallas Stars hosted the Nashville Predators in the Cotton Bowl.

Utah landing the Winter Classic continues a trend in newer franchises getting to host the event. The Seattle Kraken hosted the Las Vegas Golden Knights during the 2023-24 campaign, which was just their third season as a franchise.