2026 NHL Stadium Series: Tampa Bay and Miami to Host Outdoor Games

The NHL is bringing outdoor hockey to Florida in 2026, with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers hosting games as part of the Stadium Series.

The National Hockey League (NHL) has announced that Florida will host two outdoor games as part of the 2026 NHL Stadium Series. This unprecedented event will bring ice hockey to the sunshine state, with palm trees providing a unique backdrop to the action.

The 2026 NHL Stadium Series will feature two games in Florida, with the first match taking place on February 18, 2026. However, the main event is the 2026 NHL Winter Classic, scheduled for January 2, 2026. This game will see the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, host the New York Rangers at LoanDepot Park, the home stadium of the Miami Marlins baseball team.

The National Hockey League (NHL) has announced that the state of Florida will host two outdoor games as part of the 2026 NHL Stadium Series. In addition to the Florida Panthers hosting the New York Rangers on January 2, 2026, the Tampa Bay Lightning will face off against the Boston Bruins on February 18, 2026, at Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman expressed his enthusiasm for bringing outdoor hockey to the Sunshine State, saying, “Outdoor NHL games in the Sunshine State? Never let it be said that our league isn't willing to accept a challenge.” Bettman acknowledged the demand from the Panthers and Lightning for an outdoor game experience, stating, “The Panthers and Lightning have told us repeatedly that they and their fans want this special experience... we will stage a month-long celebration of hockey throughout Florida that will culminate in Tampa.”

The NHL's decision to host outdoor games in Florida marks a significant milestone for hockey in the state. The Tampa Bay Lightning, established in 1992, and the Florida Panthers, founded in 1993, have both experienced considerable success in recent years. In fact, Florida-based teams have competed in each of the past five Stanley Cup Finals, with the Panthers winning their first title in 2024 and the Lightning claiming the trophy in 2020 and 2021.

The upcoming outdoor games will feature teams with varying levels of experience in outdoor contests. The New York Rangers boast a perfect 5-0-0 record in outdoor games, while the Panthers will be making their debut. The Boston Bruins have a 4-1 record outdoors, and the Tampa Bay Lightning won their only previous outdoor game 3-2 against Nashville in 2022. These matches will mark the 44th and 45th outdoor games in NHL history.

The outdoor games in Florida will also present a unique logistical challenge due to the warm climate. However, the NHL has successfully hosted outdoor games in temperatures as high as 65°F (18.3°C), as seen in the 2016 game between Detroit and Colorado in Denver. Dean Matsuzaki, NHL Vice President of Events, addressed the issue, saying, “In Miami, we have every intention of playing with the roof open, but the retractable roof gives us some options and helps protect our rink build.”

The NHL's outdoor games in Florida will present unique logistical challenges, particularly in Tampa. According to the league, “In Tampa, the venue is open air and the rink build is much more exposed.” This means that the rink construction will be more vulnerable to the elements, requiring careful planning and execution.

The Florida Panthers' participation in the 2026 NHL Winter Classic is a milestone moment for the franchise. After the Miami game, the only NHL team not to have played in an outdoor contest will be the first-season Utah team. Panthers president Matt Caldwell expressed his excitement about the opportunity, saying, “This is something we have wanted for a long time.”

Outdoor hockey? In Florida? We've got you covered!

🗓️: 2026 @Discover NHL #WinterClassic - @NYRangers vs. @FlaPanthers at LoanDepot Park on January 2
🗓️: 2026 @NavyFederal NHL #StadiumSeries - @NHLBruins vs. @TBLightning at Raymond James Stadium on February 1 pic.twitter.com/URJwY4qPn0

— NHL (@NHL) January 8, 2025

Caldwell highlighted the significance of hosting an outdoor game in Florida, given the state's growing importance in the NHL. ”The last five years, the Stanley Cup has gone through Florida - and hopefully we make it a sixth this year,” he noted. Caldwell believes that the Panthers' time has come to host a high-profile outdoor game, stating, “I think our time has come and we deserve to be in an outdoor game.”