The NHL is coming to Ohio Stadium.
Ohio Stadium will play host to a Stadium Series game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Detroit Red Wings on March 1, 2025, sources confirmed to Eleven Warriors and 1st Ohio Battery. The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline initially reported the details of the game Wednesday night.
The NHL officially announced the matchup on Saturday night. The game time, broadcast information and ticket information will be announced at a later date.
The 2025 @NavyFederal NHL #StadiumSeries heads to Ohio! @DetroitRedWings vs. @BlueJacketsNHL
— NHL (@NHL) February 18, 2024
Saturday, March 1, 2025 pic.twitter.com/S1MmGXaeKB
“This Stadium Series game is yet another example of the great community of collaboration and partnership we have here in Columbus. The Ohio State University is very excited to join with the Columbus Blue Jackets and the National Hockey League to bring this event to Columbus,” Ohio State vice president of business advancement Xen Riggs said in a news release. “We look forward to showcasing the iconic Ohio Stadium as well as the city of Columbus on the national and international stages next March.”
The game at Ohio Stadium will be the first-ever outdoor game for the Blue Jackets, one of only three NHL teams that has never played in an outdoor game. It will also be the first outdoor hockey game played in Ohio Stadium.
“This is an event our fans have been extremely excited about, and the Blue Jackets could not be happier to take on the NHL’s team from that state up north next season in one of the world’s most iconic sports venues,” Blue Jackets president Mike Priest said in a statement. “We’d like to thank the NHL and everyone at The Ohio State University, as well as the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, who has worked very hard with our staff to make this game at historic Ohio Stadium a reality.”
While there had been hopes that Ohio State men’s and women’s hockey teams could also play on the ice, the NHL game will be the only contest played on the temporary ice inside Ohio Stadium. A source told Eleven Warriors that the lack of a college component is due to the timing of the game, as the Buckeyes will be gearing up for postseason play and the NHL will not allow a college game to be played on the ice before the Stadium Series game.
The game at Ohio Stadium will be a Stadium Series game rather than a Winter Classic, which is traditionally held on New Year’s Day, so as not to interfere with Ohio State football season and a potential College Football Playoff run.
Visit 1st Ohio Battery for complete coverage of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
