Regardless of what some followers might imagine, the NHL nonetheless finds success with these outside video games. Whether or not it’s the Winter Traditional or the Stadium Collection, these video games are nonetheless fashionable, particularly for the area internet hosting the sport. Simply have a look at final yr with the Winter Traditional at Wrigley Area and the Stadium Collection recreation between the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Outdoor Games Are Still Very Popular for the NHL
That Stadium Collection recreation on the campus of Ohio State College, performed contained in the Horseshoe, drew report crowds and a report viewers on tv. A giant purpose was the playoff implications surrounding the Blue Jackets and Crimson Wings recreation. And for probably the most half, these video games have been in conventional cold-weather cities.
Nevertheless, there have been video games performed in Texas, Tennessee, and California. Now the NHL is being adventurous, bringing these outside video games to Florida, the new state of hockey, subsequent season. The Florida Panthers will host the New York Rangers within the Winter Classic on January 2nd, 2026, at Marlins Park. Then, a month later, the Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Boston Bruins on February 2nd, 2026, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
As Steve Mayer, the NHL’s President of Content material & Occasions, instructed Jim Biringer of NHLRumors.com, the outside video games that shall be performed subsequent yr in Florida contain the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers. Mayer describes the distinctiveness of every recreation and the challenges of constructing the rink and getting it prepared for recreation day.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
NHL News: State of Florida to Host 2026 Winter Classic and 2026 Stadium Series
Jim Biringer: “Do you guys have designs already in place for these two video games, for particularly for the Florida Panthers recreation and the Tampa Bay Lightning recreation? As a result of once I heard that you just guys have been going to 2 video games in Florida, I stated, Okay, I need to see these in individual, as a result of I need to see what they do, as a result of each Stadium Collection or Winter Traditional Recreation is exclusive.”
Steve Mayer: “Yeah, these two are going to be as distinctive as we’ve ever achieved. Yeah, we do have designs. We’ve been to Florida. In reality, final week we have been in Miami and in Tampa. We have been engaged on it, and all the crew is motivated, activated and energized, able to go. These are two of the extra fascinating video games we’ve ever achieved, and you may simply think about why. There’s a slight threat, however we’re prepared and keen to take it on.
Clearly, the Miami recreation goes to be totally different than the Tampa recreation. Miami, the stadium has a roof, so we’re capable of construct our rink and the ice within the consolation of, we’ll name it 50 levels, as a result of we’ll make it 50 levels within the constructing, and it’ll be completely wonderful. After which day of the sport, we’ll open up the roof and we’ll play some hockey. In Tampa, it’s going to be a lot totally different than Florida or Miami. I ought to say, in Tampa, we’re constructing basically a tented warehouse to construct the rink beneath, contained in the stadium, inside Raymond James.
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So we’ll construct this warehouse construction first, then we’ll construct the rink beneath it, after which on the day of the sport, we are going to actually deconstruct this facility, the warehouse, and we are going to play hockey. And the danger, after all, in Florida, is the climate, not solely the warmth, however rain, which they’ve been recognized to get.
However we’re clearly going to take some probabilities, and we predict we’ll achieve success. We’re placing ourselves in one of the best place to achieve success, and it’s going to be a terrific story. The content material that’ll come out of there, it’ll be very intriguing, to say the least.
After which, like, Florida is a hotbed for hockey, and I take advantage of the phrase hotbed, and I’ve to watch out of that, as a result of I don’t need it to be too sizzling. However we’re going to promote out each of those video games. The fan bases are, are simply crazed for his or her groups. And these video games, first time ever in Florida, first time ever for the Panthers to be in an outside recreation. So the whole lot about it’s superior.
It’s going to be, it’s going to be fairly the occasion. And in my world, that’s fairly cool once we can say it’s going to be fairly the occasion.”
For years, followers in Florida needed these outside video games. Effectively, now they will get them, and the hockey world can’t wait to see what occurs, and the NHL pulls it off.
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