MINNEAPOLIS

There’s no reason for the NHL not to keep holding outdoor games each season, Commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday.

Bettman made a promotional appearance at the University of Minnesota football stadium. That’s where the Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks will play outside Feb. 21 as part of the NHL’s Stadium Series games, which were started in 2014 to supplement the annual Winter Classic on New Year’s Day.

Bettman said fans, communities and teams “ cannot get enough” of the outdoor games and that “they’re far from being overdone or oversaturated.” After several years of lobbying, the Wild finally landed one for 2016.

“I told the guys as soon as it was announced, it’s something they’ll appreciate and remember forever,” said left wing Thomas Vanek, who has played in outdoor games previously with the Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders.

Vanek played in college at Minnesota at Mariucci Arena, right across the street from TCF Bank Stadium where the game this winter will be held. The Gophers have played a game outside there, but the Wild have yet to host one.

The NHL has staged 14 outdoor games in the last seven years.

“I have no doubt the game will be sold out and that it will be a big deal,” Bettman said.

Ticket prices for the game will range from $109 to $449.

There’ll be an alumni game held the day before the Blackhawks Wild game featuring former players from both the Chicago and Minnesota NHL franchises, including the old North Stars. Former North Stars Brian Bellows, Dino Ciccarelli and Mike Modano were among the prominent names announced Wednesday for the Minnesota roster. The Chicago roster will include Ed Belfour, Jeremy Roenick and Denis Savard among others.

Also of note:

—Bettman said his deposition in New York last week lasted nearly eight hours, as part of the concussion lawsuit brought by former players. They’ve accused the league of having the knowledge and resources to better prevent head trauma, failed to properly warn players of such risks, and promoted violent play that led to their injuries.

“ We believe the lawsuit is without merit, but I’m not here today to debate in a public forum something that’s before the courts,” Bettman said.

—Vanek had surgery in June to repair a double hernia on his left groin muscle, but he said he’ll be at full strength by training camp in September.

NHL expansion

Las Vegas and Quebec City are moving on to the second of three phases in their bids to land NHL expansion franchises, the respective groups announced Wednesday.

Bill Foley, who heads the Las Vegas bid, issued a statement on his group’s website, “Vegas Wants Hockey,” that the league has invited it to advance. Quebecor, a Montreal based communications giant, announced on its Twitter account that its Quebec City bid is moving forward.

Foley said Phase 2 will feature bidders providing the NHL additional information regarding their respective markets and arena plans. The bidders will also gain access to certain league-related information.

The Las Vegas group has already secured more than 13,200 seasonticket deposits for a potential team. And there’s a multipurpose arena under construction near the Las Vegas Strip and set to open next spring.

In Quebec City, the publicly funded, 18,259-seat Videotron Centre is set to open next month. It replaces the small and outdated Colisee, which previously served home to the NHL’s Nordiques, who relocated to Colorado to become the Avalanche in 1995. Quebecor manages and owns the naming rights to the new arena.

There is a third phase to the process, though it’s unclear when that will begin. Bids must also be approved by the NHL Board of Governors.

The NHL isn’t expected to expand until 2017-18 at the earliest. Commissioner Gary Bettman has proposed an expansion fee of $500 million. That’s a significant jump from the $80 million fee paid by the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild, when the NHL last expanded to 30 teams in 2000.

Las Vegas and Quebec City were the only expansion applications out of 16 accepted by the NHL last month.

As part of their applications, the two groups were required to submit a $10 million down payment, $2 million of which was nonrefundable.