Mark your calendars: February 20, 2027 is shaping up to be a can't-miss date on the NHL calendar.
The league announced that the Dallas Stars will host the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2027 NHL Stadium Series, with the game set to take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas - the massive home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. This outdoor showdown isn’t just about spectacle (though there will be plenty of that); it’s a marquee matchup between two of the Western Conference’s top-tier teams, with a recent history that’s turned into a full-blown rivalry.
This will be the second time the Stars take the ice outdoors, and once again, they’ll do it in front of a home crowd. Their first outdoor appearance came in the 2020 Winter Classic, where they took down the Nashville Predators in the Cotton Bowl in front of a raucous Texas crowd. That game was a landmark moment - the southernmost outdoor game in NHL history at the time - and it proved that hockey under the open sky can thrive well outside the traditional cold-weather markets.
Vegas, meanwhile, is no stranger to the outdoor spotlight either. This will be the Golden Knights’ third outdoor appearance.
Their first came in 2021 at Lake Tahoe, where they fell to the Colorado Avalanche in a game best remembered for its picturesque setting and mid-game sun delays. Then came the 2024 Winter Classic, where they were blanked by Joey D’Accord and the Seattle Kraken in a tough shutout loss.
So far, the elements haven’t been kind to Vegas, but they'll get another shot at outdoor redemption under the Texas sky.
What makes this matchup even juicier is the growing tension between these two clubs. The Stars and Golden Knights have developed a healthy postseason grudge over the last few years - the kind of back-and-forth that makes for great hockey theater.
Dallas knocked off Vegas in the 2020 Western Conference Final, only for the Golden Knights to return the favor in 2023 en route to capturing their first Stanley Cup. Then came the 2024 playoffs, where the Stars got the better of Vegas again, this time in a thrilling seven-game first-round series.
That kind of playoff history doesn’t fade quickly - and it’s bound to add some extra spice to this already high-profile event.
And let’s not forget the venue. AT&T Stadium - known to most as “Jerry World” - is no stranger to hosting big-time events.
From Super Bowl XLV to the College Football Playoff National Championship, NCAA Final Fours, international soccer showdowns, and even WrestleMania, this stadium has seen it all. Now, it’ll add a marquee NHL outdoor game to its résumé, and if the past is any indication, the spectacle will be every bit as grand as the setting.
Two heavyweight teams. One massive venue.
A rivalry that’s been brewing for years. The 2027 Stadium Series is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated games of the season - and it’s still over a year away.