It’s official! The Dallas Stars will host the NHL’s 2027 Stadium Series game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX during the 2026-27 season. Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman made the announcement during Monday Night Football, much to the delight of Stars’ fans who are already counting down the days until the event. 

A Look Into The Dallas Stars’ Past Outdoor Games

Dallas Stars’ fans are pretty familiar with their team playing in events like the Stadium Series, an event designed to take the game beyond American Airlines Center. The Stars have hosted an event like this once before, when the team hosted the Nashville Predators during the 2020 Winter Classic at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas.

Although it’s only their second one to date, the last one was just as popular as the NHL hopes this one will be, standing as the third-highest attended outdoor game, according to the NHL. The highly publicized game will give Dallas a platform to showcase the team that has been to the Western Conference Final three years running and hopefully attract the attention of some new fans given the popularity of the event.

Who Might Their Opponent Be?

The last time the Stars hosted an outdoor game, they took on the Nashville Predators and beat them 4-2. For the most part, games like this take place between teams that share a division; the two upcoming Stadium Series game will see Atlantic Division rivals Tampa Bay and Boston face off. With that in mind, it’s plausible that the Stars also see a division rival, and given the recent playoff history between the two teams, I’d say the Edmonton Oilers are the obvious choice. 

The Oilers are no stranger to outdoor games themselves, having hosted one as recent as the 2023 Heritage Classic. The NHL also has the opportunity to capitalize on Connor McDavid playing in yet another high profile event, and what better setting is there to market one of the game’s biggest stars? This could also draw in a bigger audience than a U.S.-based team, because not only will the Dallas-area fans tune in, but the NHL could also find themselves appealing to their Canadian markets.

What Will Their Uniforms Look Like? 

Jan 1, 2020; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars right wing Alexander Radulov (47) celebrates the win over the Nashville Predators after the game between the Stars and the Predators in the 2020 Winter Classic hockey game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, TX. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Stars sported a nice rendition of their current home uniforms during their last outdoor trip, and it’s possible that fans could see something like that again in 2027. I would like to see something a little closer to their Stanley-Cup winning uniforms, as I feel like it would be nice to pay homage to one of the best teams Dallas has seen in franchise history. Given the NHL’s track record of going back to a team’s roots, I’d say that it’s a high possibility, but they might just have something to their sleeve. Either way, I can’t wait to see what they don at AT&T Stadium.

End Of My Dallas Stars Rant

I love the idea of the NHL giving Dallas a Stadium Series game. After living in the area for close to six years, I’ve gotten the opportunity to see the Stars up close and personal by attending their games, and let me tell you, that fanbase is electric and growing by the second. A huge part of events like this is to get more than just the die-hard hockey fans invested, and the NHL has a fantastic opportunity to do just that in 2027. These games have looked like nothing short of an awesome time from afar over the past few years, and I can’t wait to potentially witness one in person in just a short time.