The Pittsburgh Penguins are set to spread their wings across the Atlantic to face off against the Nashville Predators in Sweden. As part of the NHL's ongoing efforts to grow its international footprint, Stockholm's Avicii Arena has been slated to host these two regular-season games on Nov. 14 and 16, unveiled by the National Hockey League Players' Association and Live Nation. This Swedish jaunt marks the Penguins' first games in Europe since 2008, as reported by WPXI.
Those eager to snag a seat at the spectacle can circle March 25 and 26 on their calendars. Ticket presales and public sales will commence, respectively, starting bright and early at 5 a.m. ET or 10 a.m. Central European Time for Swedes looking to cheer on their NHL heroes. CBS News Pittsburgh corroborated this, highlighting the significant appeal of hosting NHL games outside North America.
Joining the international series isn't solely about showing Pittsburgh's prowess on the ice. There's hometown pride at stake with three Swedes in the Penguins roster looking to dazzle in front of a familiar crowd. "I think it becomes a big thing for us," Penguins forward and Sundbyberg native Rickard Rakell told CBS Pittsburgh, expressing the specialness of playing before friends, family, and former mentors.
ESPN's report dives into the strategy behind the series, pointing out the fans' desire to witness not just their Swedish stars, like Erik Karlsson and Filip Forsberg, but also the broader array of top-tier talent the NHL offers. "It's similar to someone like Messi where people who've never gone to a game will go to a soccer game because they're getting a chance to see Messi. We have to be thinking about a Crosby or a McDavid in that same way," David Proper, the NHL's senior executive vice president for media and international strategy, elucidated in an interview with ESPN.
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