In a two-day event next February featuring four rival teams, the New Jersey Devils will face the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Islanders will battle the New York Rangers in the 2024 NHL Stadium Series at MetLife Stadium.
Marking the first time four NHL teams play outdoor games at the same venue, the Devils will host the Flyers on the night of Feb. 17, followed the next day by the Islanders hosting the Rangers at a time yet to be determined. ESPN will broadcast both games.
The Rangers’ Madison Square Garden lease agreement forbids them from playing a home game anywhere other than their home arena, so they are the road team in this matchup.
The NHL’s initial plan was to have the Devils play the Rangers at MetLife Stadium in a single matchup.
“There’s been many iterations of what we wanted to do here. But when we started getting into the matchups, the game, the tri-state area and the great hockey that’s being played in the New York area, we felt this would be unique and a way to keep our outdoor games fresh,” said Steve Mayer, NHL chief content officer and senior executive vice president.
Playing at the home of the NFL’s New York Jets and New York Giants, the NHL expects to draw more than 75,000 fans for each game.
Mayer said that despite the proximity to New York City and the fact two New York teams are playing in the event, the plan is to emphasize that the games are being held in New Jersey.
“We’re going to get super creative,” Mayer said. “We’re going to highlight. It’s our goal that when somebody tunes in to watch this, they know we’re playing in New Jersey. We’re going to look at all the things that the New Jersey area has to offer.”
For the Flyers, this will be their sixth regular-season outdoor game, while the Rangers will be playing in their fifth and the Devils and Islanders each will play their second outdoor game.
–Field Level Media
