NHL to Bring First-Ever Outdoor Games to Florida in 2026

Hockey fans in Florida are set for a historic winter experience, as the NHL announced that both the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning will host outdoor regular-season games during the 2025-26 season. These matchups mark the first time outdoor NHL hockey will be played in the Sunshine State, a milestone that demonstrates the sport’s rapid growth and popularity in the region.

On January 2, 2026, the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers will take on the New York Rangers in the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic at loanDepot Park in Miami. Then, one month later on February 1, the Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium in the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman highlighted the significance of these events, pointing to the explosive growth of hockey in Florida and the statewide enthusiasm for the sport.

“Stanley Cups, strings of sellouts and the exponential growth of youth and high school hockey throughout the state have demonstrated that Florida is a hockey hotbed,” Bettman said. “Outdoor NHL games in the Sunshine State? Never let it be said that our League isn’t willing to accept a challenge.”

Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, who previously played in one outdoor game in Regina, Saskatchewan, expressed how special it will be to see his team featured in such a marquee event.

“It would be unreal. It really would be,” Tkachuk said. “Us getting this game would be big for us, big for the franchise, and we’re at the point where it is time. This is exciting.”

Both teams have achieved remarkable success in recent seasons. The Panthers captured their first-ever Stanley Cup in 2024, while the Lightning won back-to-back championships in 2020 and 2021. Each franchise’s playoff runs have inspired a wave of youth hockey interest in Florida. According to NHL data, ice hockey registration in the state is up 212% since 1999, with over 21,000 registered players last season. Additionally, girls’ participation has surged by 16.1% year-over-year and a total of 56% over the past eight years.

Florida’s upcoming Winter Classic will be hosted at loanDepot Park, home of Major League Baseball’s Miami Marlins, making it the 12th MLB stadium to feature an NHL outdoor game. Meanwhile, Raymond James Stadium—home to the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers—will become the ninth NFL venue to host an outdoor NHL matchup.

For the Lightning, this will be the second outdoor appearance after defeating the Nashville Predators in the 2022 NHL Stadium Series at Nissan Stadium. Boston, their opponent, is no stranger to outdoor hockey, having participated in multiple Winter Classics. The Rangers have been equally successful in these unique matchups, going 5-0-0 outdoors.

Both games will be broadcast nationally, with TNT carrying the 2026 NHL Winter Classic in the U.S. and ESPN covering the 2026 NHL Stadium Series. Canadian viewers can catch the action on Sportsnet and TVA Sports. Ticketing information and additional details are expected to be announced closer to each game date.

As Florida continues to cement its status as an emerging hockey powerhouse, these outdoor contests will offer Panthers and Lightning fans an unforgettable experience and another opportunity to showcase the sport’s extraordinary rise in the Sunshine State.