NHL Announces Sharks vs. Kings Stadium Series at Levi's Stadium

Despite last Monday's not-so-surreptitious leak of a proposed Stadium Series outdoor game between our Sharks and the Los Angeles Kings by Ticketmaster, it was officially announced today, via NHL.com, that the Stadium Series will indeed be returning to California next season, and held at the newly constructed Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara.

As arguably two of the biggest "modern day" rivals in the NHL, a thrilling Sharks/Kings series is also a testament to the upward trend of the popularity of ice hockey in California, which led to the decision to bring the anticipated outdoor regular season game back to the Golden State for the second year in a row.  Sharks fans are going to have their raw emotions all over this one, especially after dropping a disappointing playoff series last season to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Kings team, when the Sharks had been in a dominant 3-0 game advantage position.  Although the NHL's Winter Classic and Stadium Series outdoor games count just as one regular season game, the thrill of a rare and exciting event like this one can make the experience feel like something much more significant, and as such, this is why we must beat the Kings here at home.

Levi's Stadium, the new home for the San Francisco 49ers, has the capacity of hosting more than 68,000 fans, and given the successful popularity of the NHL's outdoor games, this is likely going to be one of the largest sporting events Northern California will see for quite some time.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow, Thursday, exclusive to season ticket holders for both the Sharks and the Kings, after which tickets will be available to the general public.  Base prices range from a low of $65 to a high of $350.

In the tradition of outdoor games, expect both teams to release customized jerseys for the event later this year.