The Minnesota Wild was scheduled to host the 2021 Winter Classic, but the National Hockey League was forced to reschedule the event due to the pandemic. Now, the event has been rescheduled for January 1, 2022, at Target Field.
Target Field, the stadium of the Minnesota Twins, will host the NHL Winter Classic, where the Wild will take on its Central division foe the St. Louis Blues in the New Years Day classic.
NHL Commissioner Garry Bettman made the announcement today from Tampa Bay, prior to the start of the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals, between the Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lighting.
“I don’t want to be dramatic here but for me it will be emotional to get there, to see that building full which I really do think it will be,” Wild President Matt Majka said. “I want to respect that there are people still getting back to a comfort level with being with larger crowds, but we’re seeing throughout the country, and when I see that I think and dream about Target Field on Jan. 1 and how great that will be for all of us.”
Ticket information is soon to come, but will be open to season ticket holders first.
Majka said preparations will be underway as soon as the Stanley Cup Finals are over. He said they’ll be launching a special jersey for the event.
The Wild were eliminated in this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs after losing a heartbreaking game seven to the Las Vegas Golden Knights. The Wild had several players nominated for awards since the postseason began, including the presumed Calder Trophy — the award giving to the league’s most outstanding rookie — winner Kirill Kaprizov.
The Wild will play in its second outdoor game after defeating the Chicago Blackhawks by a score of 6-1 at TCF Bank Stadium in one of the 2016 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series games. This will, however, be the Wild’s first Winter Classic game in franchise history.
Target Field was named Sports Facility of the Year in 2011 by the Sports Business Journal. Since construction was completed, it has been home to several events, including the 2014 MLB All-Star Game, multiple music events, and even some NCAA football games.
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The 2022 NHL Winter classic will continue the 14-year tradition of the NHL hosting outdoor games on the first day of the new year, started in 2008.