2027 NHL Winter Classic — Salt Lake City

⚡ Quick answers

When is the 2027 NHL Winter Classic?

Thursday, December 31, 2026, at Rice-Eccles Stadium on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City. It is the 18th Winter Classic and is called the 2027 game because it is part of the 2026-27 NHL season.

Who is playing in the Winter Classic in 2027?

The Colorado Avalanche visit the Utah Mammoth. It is the Mammoth's first outdoor regular-season game and Utah's first outdoor NHL game.

What time is the 2027 Winter Classic?

Puck drop is 4:00 PM MT (6:00 PM ET) on December 31, 2026, so the game starts in daylight and finishes under the lights. It airs on TNT in the U.S. and Sportsnet in Canada.

Why is the Winter Classic 2027 in December 2026?

It belongs to the 2026-27 season, and the NHL and the Mammoth chose New Year's Eve instead of the usual January 1. Mammoth owner Ryan Smith said December 31 is a Thursday, which leads into the weekend and lets Utah build a multi-day celebration around the game.

What events are planned for Winter Classic weekend in Salt Lake City?

Ryan Smith has said there will be a concert at the Delta Center on the evening of December 31 with a New Year's ball drop, plus weekend programming around the game. A full fan festival schedule has not been published yet, so check nhl.com and the Utah Mammoth site for updates.

How do you get tickets to the 2027 Winter Classic?

Tickets went on sale June 16, 2026 through Ticketmaster on a first-come, first-served basis. If the game is sold out in your section, the NHL's official resale is through Ticketmaster and NHL Experiences sells packages.

How do you get to Rice-Eccles Stadium and where do you park?

The TRAX Red Line goes directly to the stadium, and the NHL says parking information will be released later. Plan on transit from downtown Salt Lake City rather than counting on a parking spot.

What airport do you fly into for the Winter Classic?

Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). TRAX light rail runs from the airport to downtown, where you can connect to the Red Line to the stadium.

✨ Why this one's worth the trip

• ›First-ever outdoor NHL game in Utah, with a genuine mountain backdrop — this will be one of the most photographed Winter Classics yet.
• ›A New Year's Eve puck drop means the game IS your NYE plans — and Salt Lake City is 40 minutes from world-class skiing at Alta, Snowbird and Park City.
• ›A young rivalry with real juice: the Mammoth's first marquee event against the division heavyweight next door.

🎪 The scene

Expect the full Winter Classic production — vintage uniforms, the outdoor rink build, alumni skates — plus whatever Utah adds for a New Year's Eve edition on an Olympic site.

December in Salt Lake City is proper winter: pack for sub-freezing temperatures in an open stadium, and check the roads if you're driving down from the canyons after a ski day.

🧭 Planning it

• ›Make it a ski-and-hockey trip — the Cottonwood Canyons are ~40 minutes from downtown, and New Year's week is peak season, so book lodging early.
• ›Rice-Eccles is on the University of Utah campus with a TRAX light-rail stop (Stadium station) straight from downtown.
• ›On New Year's Eve night the Mammoth's owner has promised a Delta Center concert with a ball drop — an easy way to finish the day indoors.