COLUMBUS -- Outdoor game at The Horseshoe? Just might happen.
On Friday, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed internal league talks about potentially holding a future Winter Classic at Ohio Stadium, home of the Ohio State University.
“Let’s put it this way -- it’s something that’s crossed our mind and internally we’ve talked about,” Bettman told the Columbus Dispatch. “We’ve got a long list of people waiting for NHL events, whether or not they’re All-Star Games, drafts or outdoor games.
“It’s something we’re aware of, given some thought to and I certainly wouldn’t rule out.”
With a capacity of 104,994, Ohio Stadium would rival Michigan’s Big House for the largest venue in Winter Classic history. Last year, an attendance record was set when over 108,000 football fans showed up for the Buckeyes game against rivals Michigan.
Columbus might need to wait a while for another NHL event, however. Nationwide played host to the NHL Entry Draft in 2007, and this year’s All-Star Game.
On Saturday, Bettman is expected to announce a trio of outdoor games for the 2015-16 regular season: the Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium, and a pair of Stadium Series contests in Minnesota and Colorado.