Outdoor hockey takes over football stadiums as weather joins the game

Football stadiums are trading touchdowns for slap shots.

From Winnipeg to Lambeau Field to Texas, six games, three NHL and three NCAA, will be played outside at five stadiums this season, and Mother Nature is along for the ride.

Here’s where each game is being played and what the weather could mean for the ice.

The Montreal Canadiens and the Winnipeg Jets meet at Princess Auto Stadium for the Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic and late October could bring chilly winds and an early taste of Canadian winter.

Salt Lake City, Utah: Dec. 31, 2026

The Colorado Avalanche and the Utah Mammoth ring in the new year at Rice-Eccles Stadium for the Discover NHL Winter Classic. Mountain snow could set the scene but high-elevation sunshine might steal the spotlight.

Michigan and Western Michigan take their rivalry to Waldo Stadium where lake-effect snow could make an appearance.

Green Bay, Wisconsin: Feb. 20, 2027

Lambeau Field hosts The Frozen Tundra Faceoff, featuring women’s hockey’s two most recent national champions, Wisconsin and Ohio State, followed by Wisconsin’s men against Michigan. Bitter cold and snow could live up to the name at this iconic winter venue.

The Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights meet at AT&T Stadium in the Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series where organizers hope to keep the retractable roof open. February in Texas can be unpredictable and the weather could put an unusual spin on the ice.

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Wisconsin celebrates its 3-2 win over Ohio State in the 2026 NCAA women’s championship game. The rivals meet again at Lambeau Field on Feb. 20, 2027.

Weather can be a game-changer even before the puck drops.

Warmer air and humidity can soften the ice making it harder to maintain a smooth playing surface.

Fresh snow can slow the puck and reduce visibility while gusty winds can send airborne pucks off course.

An unexpected opponent is the sun. During the NHL’s 2021 Lake Tahoe outdoor games, direct sunlight damaged the ice causing a lengthy delay, not to mention the glare players face.

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Sun is outdoor hockey’s biggest wild card. Glare can hide the puck, and warm daylight can slow the ice, as seen at the 2021 NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe.

Turning a football field into a hockey rink is no small logistical feat.

Crews install temporary refrigeration systems, build the ice and monitor changing weather conditions to keep it game ready.

Players must also adjust to the elements from gusty winds to sun glare to unpredictable ice conditions.

Heading to the game? Check the forecast, dress in layers and prepare for Mother Nature to join the action.

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The Mobile Refrigeration Unit’s ice plant equipment at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg, where the Jets host the Canadiens in the Heritage Classic on Oct. 25.

Faiza Mohammed is a meteorologist intern at weather.com. She studied geography and worked with the Weather Dawgs team at the University of Georgia. She also received her master’s in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences from the Georgia Institute of Technology.