Notre Dame Stadium could be a site for an NHL outdoor game in the near future, according to Sportsnet.
Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick told Chris Hine of the Chicago Tribune the school would have interest in hosting one. But Swarbrick said there hasn’t been any discussions with the NHL about it.
“Once the Campus Crossroads project is finished we do anticipate that Notre Dame Stadium will be an excellent venue for more than just Notre Dame football games, but no additional events have yet been scheduled,” Swarbrick said in a statement to the Tribune. “And while we would certainly have an interest in exploring the possibility of playing host to outdoor hockey games, we have not had any discussions with the NHL about doing so.”
The Chicago Blackhawks would be the leading candidate to be the home team as they host their training camp at Notre Dame’s Compton Family Ice Arena. The Hawks are 1-3 in outdoor games and will play the St. Louis Blues in the 2017 Winter Classic at Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals, according to multiple reports.
It would be the third time the NHL has hosted an outdoor game at a college football stadium. Michigan hosted the 2014 Winter Classic between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium and Minnesota hosted the Minnesota Wild and Hawks in a 2016 Stadium Series game at TCF Bank Stadium on Feb. 21. The Hawks fell 6-1 it Minnesota for their first loss in a football stadium.
The Hawks have hosted outdoor games at Wrigley Field (2008 Winter Classic) and Solider Field (2014 Stadium Series). Other area venue options include: Chicago White Sox’s U.S. Cellular, Illinois’ Memorial Stadium, Northwestern’s Ryan Field and Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium.
As for an opponent if the Hawks were to play in the game, Nashville or Dallas would be likely options. Both teams have not played in an outdoor game and play in the Central Division.