What’s Happening Around the Seattle Kraken Winter Classic?
The definitive, up to date guide on all the things around the 2024 Discover NHL Winter Classic at T-Mobile Park on New Year's Day.
Jonathan West
|
***UPDATED 12/29/23 @ 8:47am*** The big ODR game on New Year’s Day is on Monday! Updated daily, here is a list of 13 hockey-related happenings in Seattle and on TV around the 41st outdoor game in National Hockey League history. All times are Pacific Standard.
Friday, December 29th
7-9:30pm | Seattle Kraken VS Philadelphia Flyers @ Climate Pledge Arena 🏒
This will be Seattle’s last tune-up before the Winter Classic, and face a Philly team ranked near the top of the Eastern Conference. The Kraken are 2-2 all time against the Flyers- winning both matchups last season.
Saturday, December 30th
10am-12pm | 2024 Discover NHL Winter Classic Legacy Event @ Verlo Playfield, Tacoma 🧑🏽🤝🧑🏽
A ceremonial groundbreaking and community celebration with the NHL, Seattle Kraken, One Roof Foundation and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health partnering together to refurbish an outdoor play space in conjunction with Metro Parks Tacoma.
11am-1pm | The Stanley Cup @ Kraken Community Iceplex 🏆
Come see the Stanley Cup at the Iceplex ahead of the 2024 Discover NHL Winter Classic! This event is free and open to the public.
7pm-2am | Winter Hockey Hall @ Queen Anne Beer Hall 🎉
Home to the biggest sports watch parties in the PNW, The Hall welcomes all Seattle hockey fans and those traveling to the Emerald City for the big game at Mariners ballpark. Wear your best jersey for free raffles, Emerald City Hockey’s Deep Dive podcast, a set by DJ Luckystrike and a chance to win tickets to the big game on New Year’s Day! Auction proceeds will help Seattle Youth Hockey Assist and other local hockey organizations. Free admission at the door.
7pm-12am | Cheers! to the Winter Classic @ Emerald City Trapeze Arts 🥳
Hang out with hockey greats, past and present like Wayne Gretzky, Paul Bissonnette, and Eddie Olczyk while enjoying trapeze artists, acrobatics shows, silks performers, magicians, jugglers, comedians, and more. Enjoy non-stop eats by Blue Ribbon Catering, unlimited beverages from our sponsors, all while supporting The NHL Alumni Association. Tickets are $499 + fees through Eventbrite.
Sunday, December 31st
9a & 11am (Closed to the Public) | Team Practices @ T-Mobile Park 🥅
The Golden Knights and Kraken will take to the ice for the first time at T-Mobile Park for team practices on Sunday, Dec. 31. NHL Social, NHL Network and NHL.com will provide full coverage of the team skates.
Approx. 4:30-8pm | Enterprise NHL Fan Village @ Lumen Field’s North Parking Lot 🎡
After the Seahawks/Steelers game, a free fan festival will be open to the public in Sodo. The NHL and its corporate partners will treat hockey fans to many fun interactions and experiences, including family-friendly hockey interactives, a Fanatics official merchandise trailer, giveaways, food, a bar, and a special appearances including the artist S. Preston and the Stanley Cup! Metal detectors and bag searches will be used and no bags larger than 4”x6”x1.5” will be allowed. For the most up-to-date info, fans should visit NHL.com/FanVillage or download the NHL Fan Access App. Experiences include:
- AWS Interactive Ice offers a unique immersive tabletop experience allowing fans to place electronically enabled hockey pucks on hotspots across our digital hockey rink to bring hockey plays and statistics to life.
- Caterpillar Inc will giveaway Cat branded prizes, take photos with equipment and have info about their services.
- The Discover Starting Lineup Experience features an air hockey table & immersive footprint including an AI photo opportunity allowing fans to place their face on a custom digital Discover collectible, NHL Winter Classic memorabilia for fans to explore, branded premium distribution and special guests throughout the weekend.
- Hardest Shot presented by Great Clips for fans who think they have what it takes to make the leaderboard must come by to test their slapshot!
- Honda Goalie Power Play will show off the All-New Prologue – Honda’s first All-Electric SUV! Fans can also show off their hockey skills to win fun prizes.
- Jersey Mike’s will bring an interactive gaming experience to hockey fans, featuring sub sandwich sampling, digital air hockey, augmented reality photo opportunities, sweepstakes and more.
- Navy Federal Credit Union Hockey Shot Challenge & Player Photo to test range and accuracy and for a chance to look like the pros in pictures!
- New Amsterdam Vodka @ Fan Village Bar will serve a new signature cocktail- “Seattle Smash” in a Discover NHL Winter Classic souvenir cup to fans 21-and-up!
- Ticketmaster Bullseye Battle where fans can show off their wrist shot by aiming for the bullseye!
- United by Hockey Mobile Museum is a unique interactive experience that celebrates the game’s trailblazers, changemakers and business leaders spanning across multiple underrepresented and multicultural demographics. The professionally curated history museum highlights a number of new features including a VR experience, United Voices podcast wall and adaptive hockey display and aims to raise awareness of and educate fans about diverse individuals within the game of hockey emphasizing that Hockey is for Everyone!
- Upper Deck where fans can get their own personalized NHL Winter Classic trading card from Upper Deck! Also giving fans an opportunity to win fun prizes by playing exciting games such as Pack Wars, Box Hockey, and more. In addition, fans can collect a FREE NHL Winter Classic trading card set at UpperDeckEpack.com.
- Verizon Accuracy Challenge will test fans’ shooting accuracy and see if they have an NHL-caliber shot.
- Washington’s Lottery where fans can practice like the pros and test their stick skills with a stacked washer and dryer unit.
Monday, January 1st (The Big Day)
9am-5pm | TNT & Bleacher Report’s Open Ice Breakaway Party @ The Boxyard Sodo 🎶
A free indoor/outdoor event right across the street from T-Mobile Park featuring live music from Seattle’s own The Head and the Heart at 10:45am along and Fitz and the Tantrums at 3:30pm. Also hosting a variety of hockey-themed experiences with and outdoor rink, slapshot challenge, and a fish toss! Food trucks, ice sculptures, and photo ops on hand. Previously known as Pyramid Alehouse, The Boxyard is the newest pre-game, during game, and post-game destination in Sodo! Enjoy a great menu at Hatback Bar & Grill, Metier brews at Steelhead Alley, and a large video board in Victory Hall to watch all the biggest games! Special event elements include:
- AstraZeneca Hatty Challenge Sport Interactive with Hockey Fights Cancer Donation Tie-In
- Discover Photo Moment & Slapshot Challenge Sport Interactive
- B/R Open Ice Fish Market – Fish Toss Experience
- B/R Sports on Max Watch Party – Vegas Golden Knights @ Seattle Kraken
- Hot Cocoa Bar
- Custom Ice Sculpture
- Tailgate Challenges (Skee-Puck, Cornhole)
- Breakaway Main Stage with Live Performances, Fan Programming and Giveaways
9-11:30am | Enterprise NHL Fan Village @ Lumen Field’s North Parking Lot 🎡
Before the Winter Classic, a free fan festival will be open to the public in Sodo. The NHL and its corporate partners will treat hockey fans to many fun interactions and experiences, including family-friendly hockey interactives, a Fanatics official merchandise trailer, giveaways, food, a bar, and a special appearances including the artist S. Preston and the Stanley Cup! Metal detectors and bag searches will be used and no bags larger than 4”x6”x1.5” will be allowed. For the most up-to-date info, fans should visit NHL.com/FanVillage or download the NHL Fan Access App. See more info in this article on 12/31.
10:30am | The Road to the Winter Classic Presented by Enterprise @ TNT-TV and HBO Max 📺
Fourth and final episode. The “Road To The NHL Winter Classic” reality television series was first introduced in 2010 leading up to the 2011 Winter Classic at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. The behind-the-scenes series has been a staple for hockey fans, offering engaging storylines and unrestricted access to the teams set to face off outdoors.
12pm | The 2024 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic @ T-Mobile Park 🏟️
The Seattle Kraken host the defending Stanley Cup Champion Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Park- home of Major League Baseball’s Seattle Mariners. Gates open at 10am. Metal detectors and bag searches will be used and no bags larger than 4”x6”x1.5” will be allowed. In-game entertainment will include Heart, Sir Mix-A-Lot and Nikhil Bagga. This will be the 12th MLB stadium to host an NHL outdoor game, and only the 5th location on the West Coast of North America. Vegas travels to the PNW second in the Western Conference standings, and an 8-1 overall record against Seattle. Tickets start at $139 on TickPick.
12pm | Winter Classic Watch Parties @ Various Locations on TNT-TV 📺
Don’t have a ticket to the ODR? No problem! These great Seattle hockey bars have you covered:
Queen Anne Beer Hall
Hatback Bar & Grille in Sodo
The Angry Beaver Bar in Greenwood
Moonshine BBQ in Lynnwood
Mossy Bay Hall in Kirkland
Cairde Public House in Lower Queen Anne
Rough & Tumble in Ballard
32 Bar & Grill in Northgate
3-7pm | Enterprise NHL Fan Village @ Lumen Field’s North Parking Lot 🎡
After the Winter Classic, a free fan festival will be open to the public in Sodo. The NHL and its corporate partners will treat hockey fans to many fun interactions and experiences, including family-friendly hockey interactives, a Fanatics official merchandise trailer, giveaways, food, a bar, and a special appearances including the artist S. Preston and the Stanley Cup! Metal detectors and bag searches will be used and no bags larger than 4”x6”x1.5” will be allowed. For the most up-to-date info, fans should visit NHL.com/FanVillage or download the NHL Fan Access App. See more info in this article on 12/31.
Bookmark this page on your mobile home screen or desktop for regular updates! Have an event we should add or update to this list? Contact Jonathan West on Instagram @jonnyphotobomb ⚓