Ever wondered how big a hockey game can get? For context, the 2014 NHL Winter Classic between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs drew a crowd of 105,491 at Michigan Stadium. It briefly surpassed the previous record set by the 2010 “Big Chill at the Big House” college hockey game between Michigan and Michigan State, which had an official attendance of 104,173. While reaching such staggering numbers remains a dream for the NHL, the 2027 Stadium Series looks set to make the most of its grand stage, as it heads to the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium.

This surprise announcement was made on Monday by the NHL, stating that the Dallas Stars will be hosting a 2027 Stadium Series matchup at the NFL-based venue on Feb. 20, 2027. “The National Hockey League is thrilled to bring the spectacle of an NHL Stadium Series game to Arlington and one of the world’s most spectacular sports settings, AT&T Stadium,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman in a statement.

Hosting an outdoor hockey game at a venue like AT&T Stadium has been a dream for Cowboys owner Jerry Jones ever since the stadium opened in 2009. So, it’s only natural to see the excitement surrounding the partnership between two of North Texas’ biggest franchises that come together to create another unique fan experience.

“Hosting the NHL Stadium Series with the Dallas Stars is another great example of the vision we’ve always had for what AT&T Stadium could be beyond football,” Jones said, insisting that the game itself would be a proud moment for the organization. He emphasized that providing a world-class fan and team experience, let alone the partnership of two outstanding organizations, would make the occasion truly special.

While all of this does sound overwhelming and quite remarkable, the reaction from the netizens portrays a rather different story, to be precise, diverse emotions.

The NHL World has mixed feelings about the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T collab

After this news was shared by the NHL on their official X account, fans didn’t hesitate to chip in and express their candid thoughts over this moment. Starting with the skeptic ones, many aren’t convinced that its a great idea, like this fan wrote, “Most of those people will be watching on the scoreboard. Some places are just not meant for hockey.” Others also followed suit, with one adding, “No good seat in the house.”

Of course, this ain’t the first time one is witnessing an outside game, courtesy of the Dallas Stars, who had hosted the Nashville Predators at the Cotton Bowl for the 2020 NHL Winter Classic. That game specifically pulled out a crowd of 85,630, which, of course, to this day, is considered the third-largest single-game attendance in NHL history.

Then again, the rest of the fans had some interesting viewpoints to share, like this one, who had a rather valid concern: “How’s it cold enough to keep the ice from melting 😭.” Not a bad one, honestly. But one certainly knows that once the hilarity begins, there’s no end, as another wrote, “Hopefully the opposing goalies won’t be completely blinded by Jerry’s non-curtains.”

It is to be noted that the Dallas Stars usually play their home games at the American Airlines Center, the same arena shared with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. The venue accommodates around 18,500 fans for NHL games, whereas AT&T Stadium can host more than 80,000 spectators. So this is surely an upgrade, right? Well, this fan has a question, which we believe has an answer in itself: “How TF are you supposed to see anything? 😭And before I get ‘Look at the video screen’ replies. That’s not what you’re supposed to pay for.”

Yet one thing is certain: fans will be spending for the occasion, a moment that doesn’t come around in the NHL every day. As for the 2027 Stadium Series, it’s quite remarkable to see North Texas host such an event, as it has surely proven itself to be a region that embraces hockey with remarkable enthusiasm. No wonder the excitement of the few cannot be stated through words, as one wrote, “THIS WILL BE EPIC! Can’t wait.”

Then again, we would like to know your thoughts in the comments below.