Montreal Canadiens Exploring Outdoor Game at Parc Jean-Drapeau

The NHL team is looking to build a 42,000-seat temporary stadium to host its first outdoor match.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 2:34pm

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The Montreal Canadiens are in discussions to host their first-ever outdoor NHL game, with plans to build a 42,000-seat temporary stadium at Parc Jean-Drapeau. The team has never hosted an outdoor game before due to a lack of suitable venues in the city, but this new proposal could change that and bring a major hockey event to Montreal as soon as the 2028-29 season. The plans also include hosting a women's hockey game as part of the festivities.

Why it matters

Hosting an outdoor NHL game would be a significant milestone for the Canadiens franchise and their passionate fan base. It would also bring increased attention and excitement to the sport of hockey in Montreal, which is known for its rich hockey history and culture.

The details

According to reports, the Canadiens are exploring building a temporary 42,000-seat stadium at Parc Jean-Drapeau, near the site of the Canadian Grand Prix. This would allow the team to finally host an outdoor game, which has been a long-standing goal but previously hindered by a lack of suitable venues in the city. The target date for the outdoor game is the 2028-29 NHL season. In addition to the main NHL matchup, the event would also feature a women's hockey game.

  • The Canadiens are currently in the midst of a strong 2025-26 season, with a 40-21-10 record that has them third in the Atlantic Division.
  • The team is targeting the 2028-29 NHL season for the outdoor game at Parc Jean-Drapeau.

The players

Montreal Canadiens

An NHL hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, with a storied history and passionate fan base.

Elliotte Friedman

An NHL insider and reporter who shared details about the Canadiens' outdoor game plans in his 32 Thoughts column.

Renaud Lavoie

A reporter for TVA Sports who reported on the Canadiens' plans to build a 40,000-45,000 seat temporary stadium at Parc Jean-Drapeau.

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What they’re saying

“The only north-of-the-49th team not to host an outdoor game is Montreal. The issue is not 'want,' but 'where?' The Canadiens are trying to solve that.”

— Elliotte Friedman, NHL Insider

“The plan is to build a temporary stadium where summer music festivals are held at Parc Jean-Drapeau, near the Canadian Grand Prix site. I've heard 42,000 seats (Renaud said 40-45K) with a target of the 2028-29 season. A women's game would be part of the festivities. Would be awesome, and we need an outdoor game in that city.”

— Elliotte Friedman, NHL Insider

What’s next

The Canadiens will continue to develop their plans for the outdoor game at Parc Jean-Drapeau, with the goal of hosting the event in the 2028-29 NHL season.

The takeaway

The Montreal Canadiens' pursuit of an outdoor NHL game at Parc Jean-Drapeau represents an exciting opportunity to bring a major hockey event to the city and its passionate fan base. If successful, it would mark a significant milestone for the franchise and help grow the sport's popularity in Montreal.