Despite what some fans may think, the NHL still finds success with these outdoor games. Whether it is the winter classic or the stage series, these games are still popular, especially for the region that organizes the game. Take a look at last year with the Winter Classic on Wigley Field and the Stadium Series game between the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Outdoor games are still very popular for the NHL
That stadium series game on the campus of Ohio State University, played in the Horseshoe, pulled record and a record public on television. A big reason was the play -off implications around the Blue Jackets and Red Wings Game. And for the most part these games are in traditional cities with cold weather.
However, games were played in Texas, Tennessee and California. Now the NHL is adventurous and brings these outdoor games to Florida, the new state of hockeyNext season. The Florida Panthers organize the New York Rangers in the winter Classic on January 2, 2026 in Marlins Park. Dan, a month later, the Tampa Bay Lightning De Boston Bruins organizes on 2 February 2026 in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
As Steve Mayer, the NHL’s President of Content & Events, Jim Biringer of Nhlrumors.com, told the outdoor games that will be played in Florida next year, are the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers involved. Mayer describes the unique of every game and the challenges of building the ice rink and preparing for the game day.
Nhlrumors.com transcripts
NHL News: State of Florida to organize 2026 Winter Classic and 2026 Stadium series series
Jim Biringer: “Do you already have designs for these two games, specifically for the Florida Panthers game and the lightning game of Tampa Bay? Because when I heard you went to two games in Florida, I said, okay, I want to see them in person because I want to see what they do, because every stadium is unique.”
Steve Mayer: “Yes, these two will be as unique if we have ever done. Yes, we have designed. We have been to Florida. In fact, we were in Miami and Tampa last week. We were working on it, and the entire team was motivated, activated and willing to go.
It is clear that the Miami game will be different from the Tampa game. Miami, the stadium has a roof, so we can build our ice rink and the ice in the comfort of, we call it 50 degrees, because we will make it 50 degrees in the building, and it will be absolutely good. And then the day of the game, we will open the roof and play some hockey. In Tampa it will be much different than Florida or Miami. I should say that we are essentially building a tented warehouse in Tampa to build the ice rink underneath, in the stadium, in Raymond James.
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So we will first build this warehouse structure, then we will build the ice rink under it, and on the day of the game we will play this facility, the warehouse, the warehouse, and we will play hockey. And of course the risk in Florida is the weather, not only the heat, but also rain that they are known to get.
But we will clearly take what opportunities and we think we will be successful. We bring ourselves to the best position to be successful, and it will be a great story. The content that comes from there, it will be very intriguing to say the least.
And then, like, Florida is a hotbed for hockey, and I use the word hotbed, and I have to be careful with that because I don’t want it to be too hot. But we are sold out both games. The fan bases are just crazy for their teams. And these games, for the first time ever in Florida, for the first time for the Panthers to be in an offside. So everything on it is great.
It will be, it will be the event. And in my world that is quite cool if we can say that it will be quite the event. “
For years, fans in Florida wanted these outdoor games. Well, now they are going to get them, and the hockey world can’t wait to see what is happening, and the NHL pulls it out.
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