Exploring the Possibility of an NHL “Speedway Classic”
With reports of NHL executives planning to be at today’s resumption of the MLB Speedway Classic at the Bristol Motor Speedway after being suspended on Saturday due to rain, there is speculation that the NHL is seeking to do its own version of this event. The idea of the NHL launching its own version of the "Speedway Classic,” a large-scale, open-air event held at a racetrack or similarly grand venue, invites both ambition and caution. It would inevitably be compared to Major League Baseball’s "Speedway Classic," a bold experiment that seeks to blend America’s pastime with the adrenaline-soaked spectacle of motorsport venues. The potential for a similar hockey spectacle is rich with possibility, but not without significant logistical and aesthetic challenges.
Pros
First, the NHL thrives on spectacle. The Winter Classic and Stadium Series have been among the most successful showcases the league has ever produced, combining nostalgia, grandeur, and television appeal. A Speedway Classic would be a natural evolution of that philosophy, bringing the game to a monumental and unusual venue. Perhaps a legendary NASCAR track like Daytona, Talladega, or Indianapolis Motor Speedway. These arenas offer seating capacities that dwarf traditional stadiums, allowing for a potentially record-setting crowd that could generate a massive wave of media attention. For a sport still battling for national relevance in the U.S. compared to football and basketball, such a headline-grabbing visual could be a major win.
Second, the novelty factor would be enormous. The contrast between ice and asphalt, between skates and tires, would create an image that’s both surreal and unmistakably North American. It’s the kind of setting that invites drone shots, slow-motion montages, and promotional gold. It could also allow the NHL to partner with NASCAR or IndyCar, potentially reaching a whole new audience of fans who might not otherwise tune in for hockey. There’s a cultural overlap waiting to be mined with grit, speed, and regional pride that could give the event a unique identity apart from the more romantic, wintry atmosphere of the Winter Classic. Finally, the league could use a Speedway Classic as a testing ground for other innovations such as new camera angles, augmented reality elements, or creative intermissions that wouldn't suit a traditional arena but would thrive in such a massive, open-air setting.
Cons
However, the logistics are nothing short of daunting. Unlike a baseball diamond or football field, a racetrack is a sprawling oval, and the ice surface would be swallowed up in the middle of it. Fans seated along the speedway's massive turns might find themselves squinting across hundreds of feet just to catch a glimpse of the action, even with modern jumbotrons. The intimacy of hockey, where so much depends on the crowd’s proximity to the glass, the sound of blades on ice, and the suddenness of a goal, is easily lost in such cavernous environments.
Temperature is another concern. Baseball’s Speedway Classic can take place in relatively warm conditions without compromising the field of play. Hockey has no such luxury. Maintaining NHL-quality ice in southern states, or even in northern states during unpredictable early spring or late fall weather, would require an enormous technical operation and run the risk of ice that’s either too soft or dangerously brittle. This year, both the Winter Classic and the Stadium Series will be held in Florida. This will be a test of the NHL’s capacity to have outdoor games in warm weather, using important regular season games as a testing ground. The NHL has managed outdoor games in stadiums, but a racetrack would magnify every complication.
There’s also the question of why. The Winter Classic already holds the symbolic crown of the league’s heritage event. The Stadium Series fills in the gaps with more frequent outdoor spectacles. A Speedway Classic would need to justify its existence. For example, answering what makes it different, what makes it matter beyond the scale alone. If it’s simply bigger without being better, the novelty could wear off quickly.
Comparison to MLB’s Speedway Classic
Major League Baseball’s experiment with the Speedway Classic, staging a game in a venue like the Bristol Motor Speedway, relies on the sport’s slower pace and spacious field. Fans can follow the arc of a home run or the rhythm of the game even at a distance. Baseball also benefits from its summer timing, allowing for reliable weather and a festive atmosphere. The NHL would be forced to attempt its Speedway version in winter or early spring, where weather risks multiply.
That said, MLB's Speedway Classic proved that sports and spectacle can coexist in unconventional venues. It created an unforgettable visual and offered a new way to frame a timeless game. The NHL could replicate that same magic, but only with careful planning and a strong narrative of one that doesn't merely copy baseball, but builds something true to hockey’s spirit. In the end, a Speedway Classic for the NHL is possible, even tantalizing, but it must walk a fine line of being bold enough to awe, careful enough not to diminish the game itself. It could be a triumph, or a footnote, depending on how thoughtfully it’s done.
