Fans probably won’t need to bundle up at the NHL’s Winter Classic in 2026.
The league announced Wednesday that the game will be played at loanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins, on Jan. 2 in Miami. The Florida Panthers will face off against the New York Rangers.
But the NHL took the extra step and decided to play a second game in Florida, that one in the NHL Stadium Series at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, the home field of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Tampa Bay Lighting will host the Boston Bruins there on Feb. 1, 2026.
“Outdoor NHL games in the Sunshine State?” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman questioned? “Never let it be said that our league isn’t willing to accept a challenge.”
The high temperature in Miami last Thursday — Jan. 2 — was 78 degrees, according to Accuweather. LoanDepot Park has a retractable roof. The high temperature was 33 degrees that day, when the 2025 World Classic was played at Wrigley Field.
The NHL reported that seven of the league’s outdoor game have been played in temperatures about 50 degrees and to have been higher than 60.
“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,” said Dean Matsuzaki, NHL executive vice present of events. “In Tampa, the venue is open air, and the rink build is much more exposed. We are working closely with our hockey operations department and key vendors on our plans to protect our rink build for the Stadium Series.”
This will be the first outdoor game for the Panthers. That leaves the expansion Utah Hockey Club as the only franchise not to have played outdoors, per the NHL.
“This is something we have wanted for a long time,” Panthers president Matt Caldwell said. “The state of hockey, the fact that both us and the Lightning will be getting a game together is phenomenal. … To be able to celebrate these two franchises and have us play two Original Six teams, I think, is phenomenal. I think our time has come and we deserve to be in an outdoor game. We’re fired up to have it right here locally.”
–Field Level Media
