Reports indicate that the NHL is looking into the possibility of staging the 2018 Winter Classic at West Point.
The NHL is mulling its options and is looking into how viable of a host West Point would be for a future outdoor game. If selected, West Point could be selected as a host by 2018, with Army football’s Michie Stadium being staged for the game.
Michie Stadium’s history as the host of Army football, combined with its setting along the Lusk Reservoir, would certainly make it a unique venue. At this stage many details remain unknown, but it is believed that the New York Rangers would be one of the game’s participants, acting as the away team. More from the New York Post:
The Rangers would all but certainly be involved in any outdoor game at the United States Military Academy but would have to be the visiting team, as they were for games at Yankee Stadium against the Devils and Islanders in January 2014.
The Garden’s agreement with the city regarding its tax exempt status precludes the Rangers from playing a home game outside of Madison Square Garden.
If some of the proposals being considered around the NHL come to fruition, the next year or two could bring some unique outdoor game settings that depart from the traditional use of MLB, NFL, or CFL facilities. The Ottawa Senators have been known to be investigating the possibility of using Parliament Hill for the 2017 Heritage Classic.
