Ohio Stadium will play host to its first-ever NHL game in 2025, as according to a report from The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline, the Columbus Blue Jackets will host the Detroit Red Wings at the venue on March 1, 2025, as part of the NHL’s Stadium Series.
This will be the first-ever outdoor game for the Columbus Blue Jackets, as well as the first-ever hockey game to be held at Ohio Stadium. The Blue Jackets are one of three NHL teams – along with the Arizona Coyotes and Florida Panthers – to have never played in an outdoor game.
The contest will be played under the NHL’s Stadium Series banner rather than the Winter Classic, which is traditionally played on Jan. 1. This is to avoid any conflict between the Blue Jackets and the Ohio State football team, which is likely to be the midst of the College Football Playoff at that time.
The timing in March also helps to avoid concerns over The Horseshoe not being in shape to host events in the winter, as previous pushes to play a hockey game in Ohio Stadium have been halted due to the need to “winterize” the venue, which sits unused during most winter months.
