The Vegas Golden Knights will play their first outdoor game in a football stadium when they face the Dallas Stars in the NHL’s 2027 Stadium Series at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The league announced the Feb. 20, 2027 matchup Thursday, set for a 5 p.m. start on ABC.
AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, seats 80,000 and can expand to over 100,000, making it the NFL’s largest venue by potential capacity. The announcement came hours before the Knights hosted the Stars at T-Mobile Arena.
“We haven’t really talked about it,” captain Mark Stone said. “We’ve played so much hockey the last little bit. I’m sure we’ll be more excited for it next year. Those events are always fun to be a part of.”
The Knights have played two previous outdoor games: a 3-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche at Lake Tahoe in February 2021, and a 3-0 loss to the Seattle Kraken in the 2024 Winter Classic at T-Mobile Park. This will be their first in a stadium built for football.
“It’ll be a fun experience,” Stone added. “There will be a lot of people there. I think those settings are a lot more fun when you’re in the building.”
The Stars will host an outdoor game for the second time, after winning the 2020 Winter Classic at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas 4-2 before an announced crowd of 85,630.
Tomas Hertl is one of the few Knights players with Stadium Series experience. He played for the San Jose Sharks in 2015 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, losing 2-1 to the Los Angeles Kings.
“I think it’ll be really cool, especially in a stadium like that,” Hertl said. “The Dallas Cowboys are one of the biggest franchises, and the stadium is massive. I think it’s pretty cool to see. I’m really looking forward to playing there.”
The Knights and Stars have developed a fierce playoff rivalry. Dallas beat Vegas in five games in the 2020 Western Conference final, the Knights returned the favor in six games in 2023 en route to their first Stanley Cup, and the Stars won a seven-game first-round series in 2024.
Coach Bruce Cassidy, who coached the Boston Bruins in the 2019 Winter Classic at Notre Dame Stadium, is looking forward to the experience despite the Knights’ previous outdoor loss.
“I’ve been involved in a few of these, and I’ve always enjoyed them,” Cassidy said. “I didn’t like the outcome in Seattle a few years ago. I don’t think we played great. But the whole buildup, the fact you’re involved in it, I think was awesome. I’m looking forward to it. I know it’s a ways away, but I’m glad they included us.”
