Beauts will host Riveters in first ever outdoor game in NWHL history

The NWHL announced in a press release Tuesday that the Buffalo Beauts will host the Metropolitan Riveters for an outdoor game on Dec. 28 at RiverWorks.

The event is called the Buffalo Believes Classic, and the NWHL release cites it as a nod to the sport’s historic roots in outdoor pond hockey. An NWHL team has played in an outdoor event previously when the Boston Pride took on the CWHL’s Les Canadiennes in the 2016 Outdoor Women’s Classic, but this will be the first time two NWHL teams have played a regular season game outdoors.

Beauts general manager Mandy Cronin hopes to make the event a “memorable day for the local hockey community,” according to the release. One distinctive aspect of the event will be a commemorative Beauts beer.

That’s right, a Beauts beer. And again, this time in bold so you really can’t miss it, a Beauts beer. This is a big season for the Beauts, who are clearly leaps and bounds ahead of every other team in the league when it comes to innovative marketing.

The RiverWorks site describes the facility as a “destination for skating, hockey, curling & concerts with dining, bars & concessions.” Buffalo natives likely recognize it for its distinctive six grain silos painted to look like cans of Labatt Blue.

RiverWorks is located on the Buffalo River, only a few blocks away from the harbor and the Beauts’ former home rink, HarborCenter. The venue will have a capacity of around 1,000 people, and the event will be included in the 11 home games open to season ticket holders.

The event will take place Saturday, Dec. 28 at 6:30 p.m. and will be the first game in a two-day weekend series between the Beauts and Riveters. The second game will be played on Sunday at the Beauts’ regular home rink, Northtown Center.