As Ohio Stadium prepares to swap footballs for pucks, the NHL's outdoor extravaganza is taking shape, with the Columbus Blue Jackets set to face off against the Detroit Red Wings in the Stadium Series on March 1. Despite the chill, crews at the stadium are laying the groundwork for the highly anticipated event, according to NHL.com. The transformation is a meticulous process involving a detailed schedule and coordination across multiple departments.
NHL Senior Director of Facility and Hockey Operations Mike Craig detailed the extensive preparations needed leading up to game day. “We have a very detailed production schedule that we work closely with our production company and multiple departments," Craig told ABC6. He explained that about 100 people are employed to assemble the necessary piping, lay down the flooring over the Buckeyes' field, and erect the boards and glass essential for the rink's infrastructure. The NHL’s 53-foot mobile refrigeration unit is at the core of this operation, vital for ice-making and temperature maintenance.
The event marks a first for the Blue Jackets, who have yet to play in an outdoor game, and it's Columbus's debut as a Stadium Series host city. Conversely, the competition marks the Red Wings' fifth outdoor game appearance. According to NBC4i, Ohio Stadium will aim to near an NHL attendance record with its 102,780 capacity seating, challenging the record set by the Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs at Ann Arbor's crowd of 105,491 in 2014.
The ice is a feat of engineering, chilled to an ideal 22 degrees Fahrenheit, utilizing glycol coolant circulated through custom-made aluminum trays. "If we could [get] a lot of cloud cover throughout the day and sitting at about 32 degrees, it's great for us," said Mike Craig in a statement obtained by NHL.com. Temperatures on March 1 are expected to aid the NHL’s efforts, with forecasts predicting highs of 39 degrees and sunset at 6:23 p.m., leading to a cooler environment by the 6 p.m. puck drop.
Despite the fickle Ohio weather, the NHL operations team keeps alert, poised to adapt to whatever conditions Mother Nature conjures. "We’ve seen a lot over the last few years, so we wake up in the morning and see what Mother Nature has in store for us," Derek King, another NHL Senior Director of Facility and Hockey Operations, told ABC6. By establishing 24-hour monitoring shifts, crews will ensure the ice remains in top condition for the historic game. As the date approaches, excitement builds for the fans and those at the heart of the event's creation. "There’s quite a buzz when we came in today. It’s really exciting," Craig added, affirming the dedication behind this sizable endeavor.
