What you need to know about the 2020 NHL Winter Classic featuring the Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas:

Dallas Stars (22-14-4) vs. Nashville Predators (18-14-6)

When: Wednesday, January 1, 12:30 p.m. CT

Where: Cotton Bowl Stadium (Dallas, Texas)

TV: NBC (Ch. 5 in Dallas/Fort Worth), Sportsnet (Canada broadcast)

Radio: The Ticket 1310-AM, 96.7-FM (Josh Bogorad, Daryl "Razor" Reaugh, Owen Newkirk, Bruce LeVine)

Online streaming: NBC Sports Live and NHL.tv (outside Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex)

Live stats: NHL GameCenter

Follow: @DallasStars

About the game

Video: 2020 Winter Classic will be more than a hockey game

The Dallas Stars will host the 12th NHL Winter Classic in NHL history.

Dallas is the ninth team to play host to the game, joining Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Washington. Boston, Buffalo and Chicago are the only two-time hosts.

Dallas is the 12th team to participate in an NHL Winter Classic game. The Chicago Blackhawks lead all NHL clubs with four appearances in the NHL Winter Classic Game (2009, 2015, 2017, and 2019).

The Stars and Predators are the 24th and 25th teams to participate in an NHL Winter Classic, NHL Stadium Series or NHL Heritage Classic outdoor game. Only six teams have never participated in an outdoor game: Arizona, Carolina, Columbus, Florida, Tampa Bay and Vegas.

Cotton Bowl Stadium is the sixth football venue to host the game and third college football venue to have an NHL Winter Classic, joining Michigan Stadium and Notre Dame Stadium.

Cotton Bowl Stadium will become only the third venue in the state of Texas to host a regular-season NHL contest along with American Airlines Center and Reunion Arena.

Schedule of events

9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Fan festival open on State Fair Midway and Cotton Bowl Plaza (game ticket and security screening required)

9 a.m. - Live Pregame Show on The Ticket 1310-AM, 96.7-FM with hosts Sam Hale and Ryan Medellin

9:20 a.m. - Roundtable discussion with Daryl "Razor" Reaugh and Stars alumni (Marty Turco, Brenden Morrow, Jere Lehtinen)

9:45-10:30 a.m. - Alumni autographs (Marty Turco, Brenden Morrow, Jere Lehtinen)**

11:00 a.m. - Roundtable discussion with Josh Bogorad and Stars alumni (Ed Belfour, Craig Ludwig, Brad Lukowich)

11:00 a.m. - Doors to Cotton Bowl Stadium open

11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. - Alumni autographs (Ed Belfour, Craig Ludwig, Brad Lukowich)**

11:45 a.m. - Live Pregame Show on The Ticket 1310-AM, 96.7-FM with hosts Owen Newkirk and Bruce LeVine

12:30 p.m. - 2020 NHL Winter Classic begins

Postgame to 8 p.m. - Fan festival open on State Fair Midway and Cotton Bowl Plaza (game ticket and security screening required)

* All times Central

** Each autograph session is limited to the first 100 fans. Wristbands will be given out on a first come, first served basis.

Game day transportation

Limited parking is still available by clicking here. Due to anticipated traffic delays and security screening, fans attending the game are reminded to carpool and arrive early. Public transportation is highly recommended by using the Dart Rail Green Line trains with a convenient stop at Fair Park Station.

DART Light Rail: Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) gets you around Dallas and 12 surrounding cities with modern public transit services and customer facilities tailored to make your trip fast, comfortable and economical. The Green Line runs every 15-20 minutes and has a stop at Fair Park, where Cotton Bowl Stadium is located. Click here for more information.

Official pregame fan festival

9 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT at Cotton Bowl Plaza

9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CT and Postgame to 8 p.m. CT at The State Fair of Texas Midway

Highlighting the Truly Hard Seltzer NHL PreGame will be an appearance by the most revered trophy in all of sports -- the Stanley Cup where fans can take photos from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CT and from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. CT, a variety of hockey attractions, live musical performances, and much more.

Located inside The State Fair of Texas Midway, fans will also be able to enjoy select rides for free including, but not limited to, the Texas Star Ferris Wheel, Top o' Texas Tower, Texas Skyway (entrance to ride is located in Cotton Bowl® Plaza), Pirate Ship and Lone Star Scooters (Bumper Cars).

The Truly Hard Seltzer NHL PreGame will feature several hockey-themed experiences, including a space where all Stars fans can gather before and after the game. Stars personalities and former players will join Victor E. Green and the Dallas Stars Ice Girls to entertain fans throughout the pregame festivities. This will include roundtable discussions with Stars Alumni, autograph signings, a DJ, interactive games hosted by the Dallas Stars Street Squad, on-site broadcast from Sportsradio 1310/96.7FM The Ticket and more.

All fans will be required to go through metal detectors upon entry into the Truly Hard Seltzer NHL PreGame and all bags will be subject to search. Re-entry to PreGame is not permitted once entering.

A 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic game ticket is required for entry to the Truly Hard Seltzer NHL PreGame.

Click here for more information.

Tailgating at Cotton Bowl Stadium

Tailgating activities will be permitted in Pre-Purchased Lots only including: Lots 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13 & Parry Ave Lot; from the time parking lots open until puck drop only (approximately 12:30 p.m. CST). Tailgating is not permitted during the game or postgame.

Fans are encouraged to purchase parking passes in advance here.

Parking Spaces: Fans can only occupy one (1) parking stall per parking pass. Tailgating in the parking lots must be limited to the area directly in front of or behind the vehicle. Tents and tailgating equipment must not extend beyond into drive/fire lanes, along sidewalks and painted walkways, or other areas deemed by Fair Park staff as an obstruction. Saving parking spaces is not allowed at any time. Fans who want to tailgate together must arrive together. Fans are not allowed to rope off or reserve tailgate areas. Tailgating in empty stalls is prohibited.

Alcohol Consumption: Excessive or underage consumption of alcohol will not be tolerated. Drinking games or any other activity that is linked to competitive or binge drinking are not permitted. Games or activities determined by security staff to be unsafe or which could cause harm to other fans will not be allowed.

Grills: Natural gas or propane grills are permitted, however, charcoal grills and oil fryers are not permitted.

Food and Beverages: Fans are limited to preparing/ providing food and beverages for their family and friends only. Private catering companies or the sale of food or beverage items to other fans is not permitted.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Unmanned aircraft systems (i.e. drones, radio controlled model aircraft, etc.) are prohibited. Possession or operation of such devices will result in immediate ejection from the area and law enforcement intervention.

Audio Equipment: Portable public address systems are not permitted and large portable radios and sound systems inside vehicles cannot be used at excessive volume levels or play music not suitable for a public setting (i.e. profanity in lyrics) as determined by parking lot or security team member.

Generators: Small portable electric generators (6500W or less) are allowed, however, electrical cords cannot be placed across parking area drive aisles, any sidewalk or create a trip hazard for other fans.

Prohibited Items and Activities: Weapons of any kind, fireworks, glass containers, illegal drug use, the sale of goods or services, fighting and harassment, and the advertising or display of commercial signage is not permitted.

Waste: If you bring it take it away! Fair Park encourages all fans to reduce, reuse and recycle and dispose of all waste in appropriate waste and recycling containers. Please help keep Fair Park clean!

Fans vehicles that fail to comply with all Parking Guidelines will be subject to tow and all fees associated with the impounding of the vehicle are the responsibility of the owner.

Fair Park First, City of Dallas, Spectra, State Fair of Texas, National Hockey League, and ACE Parking do not guard, or assume care, custody, or control of vehicles or their contents and is not responsible for any fire, theft, damage, or loss. Lock vehicles, remove/hide valuables, and take your keys!

Tailgating in parking lots is intended for Winter Classic ticket holders only, and fans are reminded that the NHL's Code of Conduct extends throughout these areas.

In-game entertainment

Two-time, GRAMMY-nominated band Texas band Midland will open the game day festivities with a performance.

The formal anthem ceremony will begin with the on-field arrivals of the Stars and Predators, escorted by the Dallas Police Department Mounted Unit. Four horse riders carrying U.S., Texas, Predators and Stars flags will take the field, followed by a performance of "Star Spangled Banner" by newly crowned "The Voice" champion Jake Hoot. The Corpus Christi, Texas native is currently living in Cookeville, Tenn., and will return to his home state after his big win on the four-time Emmy Award-winning musical competition series.

In a salute to the rich history of Cotton Bowl Stadium, Cotton Bowl Hall of Famers Troy Aikman and Ricky Williams will take part in a ceremonial puck drop.

GRAMMY Award-winning duo Dan + Shay will perform in the first intermission presented by Ticketmaster. Dan + Shay continue their rapid rise and are taking the music world by storm. The last twelve months have seen GRAMMY, Billboard, ACM, CMT, Teen Choice, BMI, CMA and American Music Awards wins -- most recently snagging two GRAMMY nominations for Best Country Duo/Group Performance and Best Country Song for "Speechless," the accumulation of four billion career streams globally, several mega-hit, chart-topping songs and more.

During the second intermission, the NHL will pay homage to the biggest attraction in Texas and most Texan place on Earth -- the State Fair of Texas. Fans will enjoy some Texas-sized fun as the NHL regulation-size rink shares the field with jugglers, a rodeo clown, a sword swallower, a fire breather, trick roping and horse riding, SMU Mustangs and Texas A&M Aggies dance teams and a rodeo show.

The boots belonging to Big Tex, the internationally known, 55-foot talking cowboy that welcomes the more than 2.5 million visitors to the State Fair of Texas each year, will sit alongside the rink, joined by a rodeo clown and longhorn steer.

Dallas/Fort Worth-band, The 8tracks, will serve as the house band with performances throughout the game.

Bag policy

Permitted bags allowed in Cotton Bowl Stadium include: Only bags and totes that are made of clear plastic and do not exceed 12" X 6" X 12", or one-gallon clear resealable plastic storage bags, or small clutch bags or purses (which are not required to be clear) that do not exceed 4.5" X 6.5". All other bags (including but not limited to backpacks) and/or containers (including but not limited to cans, plastic bottles, thermos, coolers, and/or hard-sided bags) are prohibited inside the stadium.

Medical device bags are permitted, though will be subject to inspection upon entrance to Cotton Bowl Stadium.

Puck drop forecast

Fans are encouraged to dress warmly for the game. As of Monday, Dec. 30, the high temperature on game day is expected to be in the lower 50s with wind gusts up to 12 mph, according to Weather.com.

For updated weather information before game day, click here.

Where to purchase official merchandise

Officially licensed merchandise is available at retail locations and novelty shops located in Cotton Bowl Plaza outside Gate A, Nimitz Plaza outside Gate J, and inside Cotton Bowl Stadium on the Main Concourse behind Section 33. Visit any one of these locations for the widest selection of 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic jerseys, apparel, hats and souvenirs.

For more information, including a complete list of frequently asked questions and prohibited items, visit the NHL Winter Classic Fan Guide by clicking here.