Outdoor NHL games continue to draw massive crowds
The 2017 Winter Classic in St. Louis on Monday boasted an announced attendance of 46,556, continuing a run of great success for the NHL.
Total attendance for the NHL's 21 regular-season outdoor games now stands at 1,140,999 - an average of 54,333 per game. #WinterClassic pic.twitter.com/wNfvdXL18j
- NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 2, 2017
The NHL schedule has regularly featured outdoor games since the inaugural Winter Classic hosted by the Buffalo Sabres in 2008, while the first regular-season contest was played at the Heritage Classic in Edmonton back in 2003.
The Stadium Series has since been added to the rotation, with the Centennial Classic on Jan. 1 serving as a one-time event.
Here are the five highest attended outdoor games:
- 2014 Winter Classic - Toronto at Detroit, Michigan Stadium (105,491)
- 2008 Winter Classic - Pittsburgh at Buffalo, Ralph Wilson Stadium (71,217)
- 2015 Stadium Series - Los Angeles at San Jose, Levi's Stadium (70,205)
- 2011 Winter Classic - Washington at Pittsburgh, Heinz Field (68,111)
- 2016 Winter Classic - Montreal at Boston, Gillette Stadium (67,246)
One outdoor game remains on the 2016-17 schedule, with Pittsburgh set to host Philadelphia in a Stadium Series contest Feb. 25 at Heinz Field.
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