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 Sequence, these video games are nonetheless well-liked, particularly for the area internet hosting the sport. Simply have a look at final yr with the Winter Traditional at Wrigley Subject and the Stadium Sequence sport between the Detroit Crimson Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Outside Video games Are Nonetheless Very Standard for the NHL
That Stadium Sequence sport on the campus of Ohio State College, performed contained in the Horseshoe, drew file crowds and a file viewers on tv. A giant motive was the playoff implications surrounding the Blue Jackets and Crimson Wings sport. And for essentially the most half, these video games have been in conventional cold-weather cities.
Nonetheless, 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 Traditional 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, informed Jim Biringer of NHLRumors.com, the outside video games that will probably be performed subsequent yr in Florida contain the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers. Mayer describes the distinctiveness of every sport and the challenges of constructing the rink and getting it prepared for sport day.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
NHL Information: State of Florida to Host 2026 Winter Traditional and 2026 Stadium Sequence
Jim Biringer: “Do you guys have designs already in place for these two video games, for particularly for the Florida Panthers sport and the Tampa Bay Lightning sport? As a result of once I heard that you just guys have been going to 2 video games in Florida, I stated, Okay, I wish to see these in particular person, as a result of I wish to see what they do, as a result of each Stadium Sequence or Winter Traditional Sport is exclusive.”
Steve Mayer: “Yeah, these two are going to be as distinctive as we’ve ever finished. Yeah, we do have designs. We’ve been to Florida. In actual fact, final week we have been in Miami and in Tampa. We have been engaged on it, and the whole staff is motivated, activated and energized, able to go. These are two of the extra attention-grabbing video games we’ve ever finished, and you would simply think about why. There’s a slight threat, however we’re prepared and keen to take it on.
Clearly, the Miami sport goes to be totally different than the Tampa sport. 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 superb. 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 primarily a tented warehouse to construct the rink beneath, contained in the stadium, inside Raymond James.
NHL Rumors: Florida Panthers, and 5 Potential Erik Karlsson Locations
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, in fact, in Florida, is the climate, not solely the warmth, however rain, which they’ve been identified to get.
However we’re clearly going to take some possibilities, and we expect we’ll achieve success. We’re placing ourselves in the very best place to achieve success, and it’s going to be an awesome 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 exploit 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 sport. So every thing 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 after we can say it’s going to be fairly the occasion.”
For years, followers in Florida needed these outside video games. Nicely, now they’re going to get them, and the hockey world can’t wait to see what occurs, and the NHL pulls it off.
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