New York, NY – The NHL announced Wednesday that the Chicago Blackhawks will host the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 1, 2014, at Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears.
The event is part of the 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series. The league is planning to play a number of regular-season games at a variety of outdoor facilities during the 2013-14 season, with more games and locations expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
"Our fans and our teams love outdoor games and we are thrilled the 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series will present a number of these experiences to a large number of our fans in a variety of National Hockey League markets," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. "The Chicago game, at Soldier Field, will be a matchup of two recent Stanley Cup champions at a landmark stadium. We thank the Blackhawks and Penguins, Coors Light, Soldier Field and everyone involved in what will be a memorable, exciting and fun event."
The Blackhawks will host an outdoor regular-season game for the second time, having welcomed the Detroit Red Wings to Wrigley Field in 2009.
Meanwhile, the Penguins will take part in their third outdoor game. They beat the Buffalo Sabres in the first Winter Classic, which was played at Ralph Wilson Stadium in 2008 and later hosted the Washington Capitals at Heinz Field in 2011.
This will be the second time hockey has been played at Soldier Field, which opened in 1924.
The NHL had previously announced the Toronto Maple Leafs will face the Detroit Red Wings in the 2014 Winter Classic on Jan. 1 at Michigan Stadium.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.