Outdoor games are a tradition in North America; now ICE Hockey League could also enjoy them. © APA / ALIKA JENNER

Will the ICE Hockey League have a Winter Classic?

The ICE Hockey League plans to hold an outdoor event at the Bischofshofen ski jumping stadium in January 2027.

08 January 2026

From: det/apa

ICE announced on Thursday that it had held talks with the local ski club regarding this matter, and referred to details that still needed to be clarified. Krone Zeitung had previously reported on the plans, according to which four matches were planned at the venue of the Four Hills Tournament in an arena for 10.000 to 12.000 fans, including the games KAC against VSV and Salzburg against Linz.

ICE, however, has not yet released any details. "We are currently exploring the possibility of a special event in January 2027 together with the Bischofshofen Ski Club. The discussions are constructive, and the location offers very attractive conditions for presenting our sport to a wider audience. At the same time, we are still at the beginning of the detailed coordination – a final decision is therefore still open at this time," said ICE President Alexander Gruber.

In 2010 and 2015, the Klagenfurt Wörthersee Stadium hosted open-air league games between KAC and VSV. The Winter Classic, meaning a match played outdoors, is a classic event in the world's best league, the NHL. Now, it could happen again in the ICE Hockey League.