Countdown to the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic begins

NEW YORK --With just one month until the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®, the countdown to the much-anticipated New Year's Day matchup between the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars at Cotton Bowl® Stadium in Dallas has begun. The event will be broadcast live nationally on NBC in the U.S. and on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada at 1 p.m. CT. A limited number of tickets to the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® are still available from Ticketmaster, the official ticketing partner of the NHL®, at Ticketmaster.com and the Ticketmaster app.

COMPLETE COVERAGE: [Stars Winter Classic Central]
The 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® will mark the first NHL regular-season outdoor game for both the Stars and the Predators. The matchup on Jan. 1 continues the tradition the League established in 2008 of hosting a regular-season outdoor game at the onset of the new year. This year's game will be the 29th NHL regular-season outdoor game and the 12th NHL Winter Classic.

Located just east of downtown Dallas, the historic Cotton Bowl® Stadium becomes the sixth football stadium to host the NHL Winter Classic. Cotton Bowl® Stadium is the third college football venue to host the game, joining Michigan Stadium (2014) and Notre Dame Stadium (2019).
The Stars and Predators have faced off in 84 regular-season games since the 1998-99 season, with Dallas holding a 14-point edge in points over the Predators (DAL 45-33-6--96; NSH 38-40-6--82). The Stars and Predators only meeting in the Stanley Cup® Playoffs occurred in 2019 during the First Round, where Dallas defeated the Predators in six games. The Stars and Predators have yet to face off this season, and in addition to the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® on Jan. 1, the clubs will meet on Dec. 14 and March 5 in Nashville, and on March 7 in Dallas.

The Rink Build at Cotton Bowl® Stadium

The 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® Ice Plant will arrive at Cotton Bowl® Stadium in Dallas on Tuesday, Dec. 17. After the installation of field protection - 243 ice pans and a ring of dasher boards to enclose the rink - workers will create a nearly two-inch thick ice surface at Cotton Bowl® Stadium. Fans will be able to follow the entire rink-build process through interactive features and extensive coverage on NHL Social™, NHL.com and NHL Network™.

NHL/NHLPA Future Goals™ Ice Making 101 Field Trip at Cotton Bowl® Stadium

Students from a local Dallas school utilizing the NHL/NHLPA Future Goals™ - Hockey Scholar program will take part in a field trip during the rink build at Cotton Bowl® Stadium. All students have participated in the NHL/NHLPA Future Goals™ - Hockey Scholar program, an online educational course that uses hockey to explore real-life applications of fundamental STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) concepts. As part of the tour, a member of NHL Facility Operations will host an "Ice Making 101" discussion with the students. The participating school as well as the date of the Ice Making 101 Field Trip will be announced at a later date.

2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® Legacy Project

The St. Philip's School and Community Center has been chosen as the benefactor of the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® Legacy initiative. The NHL and Dallas Stars will visit the community center to share details of a brand new ball hockey court that will be donated to the residents, encouraging more kids to be physically active. The donation aligns with the NHL's Hockey Is For Everyone™ values which are committed to providing children the opportunity to play hockey, leveraging the sport to build character, foster positive values, and develop life skills.

Team Practices at Cotton Bowl® Stadium

The Stars and Predators will take to the ice for the first time at Cotton Bowl® Stadium for team practices on Tuesday, Dec. 31. NHL Social™, NHL Network™ and NHL.com will provide full coverage of the team skates throughout the day.

Truly Hard Seltzer NHL PreGame

The Truly Hard Seltzer NHL® PreGame is the official fan festival of the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® and will be open on Wednesday, Jan. 1 from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. CT at Cotton Bowl Plaza and at The State Fair of Texas® Midway from 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. CT and from Postgame until 8 p.m. CT.
The PreGame will offer fans of all ages family-friendly hockey interactive games and attractions, live music and an opportunity to take a picture with the Stanley Cup. Located inside The State Fair of Texas® Midway, fans will be able to enjoy select rides for free including, but not limited to, the Texas Star® Ferris Wheel, Top o' Texas Tower, Texas Skyway (entrance to ride is located in Cotton Bowl® Plaza), Pirate Ship and Lone Star Scooters (the Bumper Cars).
\\\Only fans with tickets to the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® will be able to access The Truly Hard Seltzer NHL® PreGame festivities\\**

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NHL Fan Access™ App

Fans are encouraged to download the NHL Fan Access™ App for a chance to win exclusive prizes and opportunities at the Truly Hard Seltzer NHL® PreGame as a part of the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®.
When you download the app, you can access event schedules, avoid the lines by pre-ordering merchandise, share your favorite moments on our social stream and much more.
You can also be entered for a chance to win a post-game on-field experience for two, NHLShop.com gift cards, EA Sports games, Dunkin' gift cards, autographed jerseys and tickets to a Dallas Stars game taking place between January and March of 2020. Visit NHL.com/FanAccess for official rules and to download the app now! No purchase necessary. Open to 50 US/DC/CAN residents, age of majority+.

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Fan Reminders

Tailgaiting will be allowed at Fair Park and Cotton Bowl® Stadium Parking Lots for the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®.
All persons and their possessions entering Cotton Bowl® Stadium during the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® and the Truly Hard Seltzer NHL PreGame are subject to inspection and security screening. All persons are encouraged to arrive and enter Cotton Bowl® Stadium early to expedite the security screening process.
Thebag policy allows for only bags and totes that are made of clear plastic and do not exceed 12" x 6" x 12". One-gallon clear resealable plastic storage bags (such as Ziploc or Hefty bags) are also allowable. Small clutch bags or purses (which are not required to be clear) that do not exceed 4.5" x 6.5" will be allowed in the stadium. All other bags (including, but not limited to backpacks) and/or containers (including, but not limited to cans, plastic bottles thermos, coolers, and/or hard-sided bags) are prohibited inside Cotton Bowl® Stadium. Exceptions will be made for approved medical bags or equipment, which will be inspected at designated gates.
Fans who purchased tickets with a mobile delivery method should download and add their tickets to their phone's wallet in advance. Once a ticket has been scanned, including to gain entrance into the Truly Hard Seltzer NHL PreGame, guests may not exit and re-enter using the same ticket.
Fans can join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by tagging their photos using NHL #WinterClassic.