SEATTLE — Outdoor hockey — or, at least the T-Mobile Park version of it — is coming to Seattle next New Year’s Day after the NHL announced Monday that the Kraken will host the Vegas Golden Knights at the 2024 Discover Winter Classic.
It will be the first outdoor game for the Kraken, who will be in their third season by the time the event takes place in front of an expected crowd of more than 40,000. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman had previously expressed reluctance about having outdoor hockey played here, given the unpredictable rain and winter temperatures, but the ballpark’s retractable roof mitigates some of that concern.
“Outdoor hockey is at the essence of our game and the way many of our players grew up playing,” Kraken general manager Ron Francis said in a release. “We are thrilled to have the chance to showcase this in Seattle.”
