The New Jersey Devils are taking on the Philadelphia Flyers in the latest edition of the NHL Stadium Series. On the Pat McAfee Show on ESPN, Gary Bettman announced a concert would be taking place, but he didn’t say who was the musician taking the stage.
Concerts have become a part of the show for big NHL events. Whether it’s the All-Star Game, the Winter Classic, the Stanley Cup Final, or even the NHL Draft, musicians and hockey players have gone hand in hand for a few years now. That means it’s no surprise that a concert will precede the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers Stadium Series game.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman went on ESPN’s The Pat McAfee Show to hype up the event as tickets went on sale today. He revealed that there will be something of a concert, but we’re still waiting to see who the act will be. In the past, the NHL has hired acts like Green Day, Nickelback, Lil Jon, Marshmellow, Lil Nas X, All Time Low, and many more. It’s clearly a wild mix of acts across genres of music.
The Stadium Series is BRILLIANT..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 1, 2023
"They're all unique and the players love it..
It's really taking the game back to it's essential roots and people love the experience"
Gary Bettman #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/hAgjku1aY2
So, who might be the concert for this Stadium Series game? There are so many great acts that come from the state of New Jersey. Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi obviously come to mind, but let’s shoot for realistic. Who might be that act?
1. My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance is a huge act, but this event being in New Jersey might just end up being a match made in heaven. This would be perfect for the audience, it would really impress outside investors and fans of the NHL, and it would make the league look great. After rejoining back in 2019, they announced a massive world tour that (after a few pandemic postponements) brought them to Europe, Australia, Japan, and every corner of North America.
Right now, MCR is on a break from touring, but the Stadium Series seems like a great place to restart their next tour. Starting in their home state just seems right.
They have all the hits. This is a band that is almost universally loved. They have a huge discography, so the NHL has a plethora of songs to choose from for their commercials and opening video packages. This one makes a lot of sense. However, it’s the NHL, so we need to have backup plans.