NHL announces 2027 Global Series in Germany, partnership with FC Bayern
A massive partnership featuring one of the top franchises in professional sports and the National Hockey League coincides with the announcement of one of the league’s marquee events.
On Thursday, the NHL and Bundesliga club FC Bayern Munich announced a multi-year partnership, with the goal of helping develop the sport of hockey in Germany. On top of that, the league revealed that the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins will meet in the 2027 NHL Global Series in Munich.
The partnership, which will also lead to further growth of Bayern’s footprint in North America, creates a cross-sport collaboration, with community engagement, original content development and youth outreach. The NHL and German powerhouse come together to execute a range of fan-focused initiatives, including co-branded and merchandise content, as well as digital and social media campaigns. Street hockey and watch party events will take place in Munich throughout the next couple of years, with the two entities working together on player appearances, experiential activations, and other storytelling initiatives.
As for the games themselves, there will be some local flavor when the Bruins and Oilers face off next season at SAP Garden. Cologne native Leon Draisaitl returns to his home country with Edmonton for the first time since the Oilers faced Kolner Hale in Oct. 2018. That was a precursor to their Global Series matchup against the New Jersey Devils in Sweden. That, to date, is the Oilers’ only regular-season matchup overseas.
Prior to the games against the Bruins, the Oilers will play twice at Cologne’s Laxness Arena.
The Bruins will be led by Munich native J.J. Peterka, who will get to play in front of his home fans. Boston hasn’t played regular-season games in Europe since October 2010, when the Original Six franchise split a pair of games with the Phoenix Coyotes in Prague, Czechia.
Part of the 2026 Global Series games are scheduled to take place in Germany this coming December, as the Ottawa Senators and Chicago Blackhawks will meet at the PSD Bank Dome in Düsseldorf on Dec. 18 and 20.
