The NHL formally introduced that the state of Florida can be internet hosting two video games in 2026. First, the 2026 Winter Basic will see the Florida Panthers host the New York Rangers at LoanDepot Park. In contrast to the 2025 Winter Basic, which was performed at Wrigley Area on New Yr’s Eve, the 2026 Winter Basic can be performed on January 2nd.
Then, a few month later, the Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Boston Bruins on February 1st, 2026, at Raymond James Stadium, the house of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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Final week, NHLRumors.com reported that the NHL could be asserting the location of the 2026 Winter Basic someday this week. As NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman mentioned on the pregame present on the NHL on TNT forward of the 2025 Winter Basic between the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues, it was going to be a bit uncommon.
“Subsequent week, give or take,” said Commissioner Bettman when requested when the NHL would announce the subsequent recreation. “It’s going to be slightly uncommon. It’s going to be slightly extra distinctive. Some folks assume we’ve misplaced our minds, however we’re not able to announce it. We’ll quickly, and it’s going to be good.”
As NHLRumors.com wrote via George Richards of Florida Hockey Now, LoanDepot Park can be changed into a winter wonderland subsequent season. As well as, it was reported that the Lightning would even be internet hosting an outside recreation as properly; thus, Tampa Bay might be the opponent for the Panthers. Despite the fact that many individuals thought they might be.
Heading to Florida for 2 video games is uncommon, certainly. The NHL usually doesn’t maintain these out of doors video games in heat climates. The final Winter Basic held in a heat stadium was the 2020 Winter Basic between the Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators on the Cotton Bowl. In the meantime, the final Stadium Collection held in an outside local weather was in San Francisco in 2014 between the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks.
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Given the rise of the game within the state of Florida on the grassroots stage, together with the fixed successful by the Lightning and Panthers, it solely made sense for the League to finally go to Florida to host out of doors video games.
“Stanley Cups, strings of sellouts and the exponential progress of youth and highschool hockey all through the state have demonstrated that Florida is a hockey hotbed. Outside NHL video games within the Sunshine State? By no means let it’s mentioned that our League isn’t keen to just accept a problem,” said Commissioner Bettman in a press release.
Everybody thought the NHL was loopy for increasing into the state of Florida greater than 30 years in the past. The Lightning entered the NHL within the 1992-93 season, whereas the Panthers entered within the 1993-94 season. Mixed, the groups have been to seven Stanley Cup Finals and received 4 Stanley Cups. Most lately, the Panthers won the 2024 Stanley Cup, whereas the Lightning received back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021.
Having these video games within the state of Florida reveals the NHL is able to do one thing they’ve by no means achieved earlier than.
