The Seattle Kraken team logo are seen on a jersey. Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

NHL surprises with interesting 2024 Winter Classic host

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 1/2/23

The 2023 NHL Winter Classic was less than 24 hours away from starting at Fenway Park in Boston when the league announced where next year's outdoor extravaganza will take place. And while the now-annual Winter Classic is typically played somewhere on the East Coast, next year's festivities will make a surprising trip to the Pacific Northwest, with the Seattle Kraken set to host the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Park.

Who's ready for some outdoor hockey?!

The 2024 @NHL #WinterClassic is headed to the Emerald City where the #SeaKraken will take on the Vegas Golden Knights → https://t.co/jxRYQDHVNl pic.twitter.com/lnSFQcVfpl
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) January 2, 2023

The choice to host the event in Seattle comes as a shock to many hockey fans given that the Kraken have only been part of the league for a little over one season. A number of other teams who have been in the league for much longer have yet to play in an outdoor game, let alone host.

Heck, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been around since 1992 and have won three Stanley Cups, and they didn't play in their first NHL outdoor game until 2022.

Tampa Bay Lightning (#GoBolts) became the 27th team to play in NHL Stadium/Outdoor game

Only five have yet to play in one:

Hurricanes (hosting next year), Panthers, Coyotes, Blue Jackets and (expansion) Kraken pic.twitter.com/cWsL13SOCQ
— Ben Raby (@BenRaby31) February 27, 2022

Monday's announcement has been met with mixed reviews from fans of other clubs who are still waiting for their resident team to host an outdoor game. Nevertheless, the two youngest teams in the league are set to ring in the next new year.

More information regarding the 2024 Winter Classic will be announced at different times throughout the year.

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