Dallas Cowboys, NHL announce Stars game to be played at AT&T Stadium

Another edition of the NHL Stadium Series was announced on Monday. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman found himself in Arlington, TX, to reveal the event’s 2027 edition will be held at AT&T Stadium. The Dallas Stars play host, with the opponent yet to be announced.

When the game does get played, it will come over seven years after Dallas held the Winter Classic at the Cotton Bowl. The Stars faced off against the Nashville Predators, a game they won 4-2. In what was the first outdoor hockey game to be played in the Lone Star State, a sequel is on the way.

“Our organization is thrilled to have the opportunity to host the 2027 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series at AT&T Stadium,” Dallas Stars owner Tom Gaglardi said in a statement. “Five years ago, the 2020 NHL Winter Classic was a celebration of the growth and success of hockey in the Lone Star State, which was the third-highest attended Outdoor Game in League history.

“We have no doubt that our upcoming Stadium Series game will be met with the same enthusiasm and passion from our fanbase. We would like to thank NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Dallas Cowboys Owner, President and General Manager Jerry Jones and the entire Jones family for their support in making this game a reality. AT&T Stadium is one of the premier entertainment venues in the world and is the perfect place to host our next outdoor game.”

Gaglardi mentioned the capacity inside the Cotton Bowl back in 2020, getting to 85,630. Right now, it sits in fourth place as two games at the Big House, home of the Michigan Wolverines, hold the top two spots. Ohio State‘s Ohio Stadium occupies No. 3 after seeing the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings play this past March.

AT&T Stadium would slot into the top five, officially having a capacity of 80,000. However, if the Cowboys and NHL can get creative with seating, there might be a chance to see the attendance number increase.

The Stars are currently in a successful portion of the franchise’s history, making the Western Conference Finals in three consecutive seasons. A new head coach, Glen Gulutzan, was brought in with the hopes of getting Dallas over the line and into the Stanley Cup Finals.

It’s been over two decades since their last Stanley Cup, coming in 1999. With a core of players such as Thomas Harley, Miro Heiskanen, Jake Oettengier, and Mikko Rantanen, the Stars feel as if they are positioned to compete for years to come.