Avalanche announced as host of 2020 Stadium Series in Colorado Springs

Outdoor hockey is going to be returning to Colorado!

The Avalanche are slated to host an outdoor hockey game on Feb. 15, 2020 at the Air Force Academy’s Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs. NHL Commission Gary Bettman made the announcement during the second intermission of Tuesday’s Winter Classic. Colorado’s opponent in the game will be determined at a future date.

The match-up next season will be part of the NHL Stadium Series, the 11th such game in the series since its debut during the 2013-14 season.

Colorado previously hosted the Stadium Series against the Red Wings at Coors Field in February of 2016, a contest won 5-3 by Detroit. It will be the second NHL game hosted at a military academy, following the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs facing each other in March of last season.

Bettman also revealed Dallas to host the 2020 Winter Classic against a team to be named later. Colorado, a division rival with young talent, seemed like a possible matchup, but with the Avalanche hosting the Stadium Series, it’s unlikely the NHL would schedule the team for two outdoor games in a single year.

In a news release, Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said Colorado Springs hosting the game “highlights the growth of hockey throughout the Rocky Mountain region since the Avalanche arrived in 1995.”

Perhaps the most exciting part of Colorado having another outdoor game is the likelihood of a new uniform design for the occasion. The team sported these beauties in their previous Stadium Series matchup with Detroit:

Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images

What jersey concepts would you like to see the Avalanche use in the Stadium Series next season?

UPDATE: A previous version of this story erroneously reported the Detroit Red Wings as the Avalanche opponent in the 2020 Stadium Series. The opponent is not yet named, and will be determined at a future date.