Notre Dame Stadium is expected to host the NHL's Winter Classic featuring the Blackhawks and Bruins on New Year's Day in 2019.

A source close to the situation in Notre Dame's athletic department tells NewsCenter 16 that a deal is in place but has not yet been signed. If the agreement is executed, a formal announcement is expected sometime this month.

Barstool's Chicago blogger @Barstoolchief first tweeted the news Tuesday afternoon.

Since it finalized renovations of its football stadium early this year, Notre Dame has been looking for ways to use Notre Dame Stadium in additional ways. The Winter Classic is a part of that mission.

Notre Dame and the Blackhawks have a strong relationship. Blackhawks General Manager Stan Bowman is a Notre Dame alum. And the Blackhawks have held a portion of training camp at Notre Dame's Compton Family Ice Arena in 2014, 2015 and again this past September.

This would be the 2nd time a Winter Classic has been played at a college football stadium. Michigan Stadium hosted the 2014 game between the Red Wings and Maple Leafs.

The Winter Classic is an outdoor National Hockey League game that first started in 2008 when the Penguins faced the Sabres at the home of the Buffalo Bills. In 2009, the Blackhawks hosted the Red Wings at Wrigley Field.

This would be the 4th Winter Classic for the Blackhawks. They also played the Capitals in Washington D.C. in 2015 and and the Blues at St. Louis' Busch Stadium in 2017.

The Winter Classic is broadcasted on NBC each New Year's Day.