With the Stadium Series around the corner on March 1 between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings in Columbus, Ohio, it begs whether the St. Louis Blues may get a turn soon. It is evident that the most recent Winter Classic was not so great from a ratings standpoint, and it will likely be the last Blues Winter Classic for a little while.
But, the Stadium Series usually brings in a good crowd, with a solid matchup. Last season saw a two-game series with the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers battling it out and the New York Rangers facing the New York Islanders. Both games saw sold-out crowds at MetLife Stadium, which had an attendance of over 150,000 people over both days.
So, if the Blues were to get a shot, who would their opponent be. Let’s go over some possibles.
A Central Division Rival
There are seven opponents in the Central Division that the Blues could be matched up with. We just saw the Blues and Chicago Blackhawks duke it out on New Year’s Eve, so that would be highly unlikely. The newest re-branded team, the Utah Hockey Club, would be a fun opponent to have as they are still trying to establish their footing in Utah.
If the term Stadium Series were to stand true, the likely place to play would be in a football or baseball stadium, as most, if not all, of the Stadium Series games have been in that kind of venue. Busch Stadium would be the site in St. Louis, but why not venture out to Arrowhead Stadium to hold an abundance more of people?
Of course, it doesn’t have to be a division rival to be a stadium series game.
Detroit Red Wings
You have to single out the Detroit Red Wings, as they have been a frequent rival for the Blues. With Detroit being on the road in this year’s Stadium Series, they are due for another appearance at home in Michigan. The atmosphere was too rich for the Winter Classic between Detroit and the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2014, to not have another game at the Big House.
The Blues would be a great opponent for the Red Wings. Both teams are on the fringe of being playoff teams, with Detroit being more established. Both have young stars, great coaches, and big names to draw a good crowd.
Of course, it is still up in the air for whether or not the Blues could get another outdoor game. In 2026, the Stadium Series and Winter Classic events hit the Sunshine State in Florida with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers hosting, respectively. So we will have to wait until the following year, the earliest, before the Blues get another chance.