After pandemic delay, Wild back on to host 2022 Winter Classic at Target Field
The Minnesota Twins grounds crew prepares the field between sessions at a baseball camp Friday, July 3, 2020, in Minneapolis.[AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn]
The Wild will host the Winter Classic at Target Field after all.
The home field of the Minnesota Twins was originally slated to hold the NHL’s premiere outdoor game on Jan. 1, 2021, but the COVID-19 pandemic put those plans on hold. With fans now able to return to the stands, the league announced Monday that the Wild will take on the St. Louis Blues outdoors on New Year’s Day 2022.
Officially official!
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) June 28, 2021
The 2022 #NHL Winter Classic® will feature the St. Louis Blues and #mnwild at the home of the Minnesota @Twins in Minneapolis on January 1, 2022. pic.twitter.com/dz42AkEgl6
This will be the first Winter Classic for the Wild and the team’s second outdoor game. Minnesota hosted the Blackhawks in a Stadium Series game at TCF Bank Stadium in 2016.
The NHL also announced the Vegas Golden Knights will host the All-Star Game at T-Mobile Arena next season, and the Nashville Predators will play the Tampa Bay Lightning outdoors on Feb. 26 at Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans.