Why An Outdoor Game In Denver Makes The Most Sense

Jan 26, 2014; New York City, NY, USA; A general view of the opening face off during the first period of the Stadium Series hockey game between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Whether it is the Winter Classic Game or the Stadium Series, Denver should definitely be a lock for next years schedule. According to Darren Dreger who is a TSN Hockey Insider, the Colorado Avalanche are among teams who have interest in an outdoor game next season. Denver, Colorado will be a spectacular site to host one of these events whether it is at Coors Field or Sports Authority Field.

It is unlikely that the Avalanche will be in the Winter Classic due to the fact that the Washington Capitals were already rewarded with the game that will reportedly be held at Nationals Park — home of the Washington Nationals. If the Avalanche do in fact get a bid for an outdoor game, it will be apart of the Stadium Series.

Since the NHL Stadium Series is sponsored by Coors Light, you can guess that Coors Field would likely be the host of such event. Here is a quote from Pro Hockey Talk of NBC Sports.com:

"Mr. Dettman [Coors’ director of sports & entertainment marketing] said the brewer’s so pleased with its multi-year title sponsorship of the Series, its pushing for Denver to be in the rotation next year. And what do you know? The game could be played at Coors Field."

NHL CMO Brian Jennings did confirm that Colorado is under serious consideration to host one of the Stadium Series games next year and said that it is a great marketplace for such game and he is right. The Colorado Avalanche have placed themselves back on the NHL map this season under rookie head coach Patrick Roy. Hockey is back to being relevant in the Mile High City and fans would clamor to attend such an event and wouldn’t have a problem with the game selling-out.

The topic of conversation would be who the Avalanche would play. My guess would be one of their division rivals; Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, Minnesota Wild, or even the Dallas Stars. Adrian Dater of The Denver Post however predicts the Avs would take on the Detroit Red Wings. Here is more from his column on the idea:

"I mean, the alumni game alone would be an automatic sellout. You want to see Peter Forsberg and Patrick Roy and Joe Sakic suit up against Darren McCarty and Mike Vernon and Kris Draper and all the other hated Wings one last time? Of course you do, and you will buy a ticket to see them one more time, even if some don’t show up. An Avs-Wings alumni game would be just so much fun – and I bet it would be a verycontentious game, which would make it that much more fun."

To see those players back on the ice playing against each other would be a fun sight to see but couldn’t see the NHL scheduling a team against the Avalanche that isn’t in the same conference. To see the Avs taking on the Blackhawks or Blues would bring in a lot of attention but the sleeper team would be a team that was mentioned above — the Dallas Stars, due to the fact at how fast-paced both teams are.