Sunshine State to host 2 NHL games outdoors next season, including at RayJay

In 2026, the NHL intends to have two outdoor games in Florida

Florida Panthers at FLA Live Arena — Courtesy: Shutterstock — YES Market Media Florida outdoor hockey? According to the National Hockey League, it is willing to take on the challenge. The Sunshine State will host the NHL’s first outdoor games, the league announced Wednesday. Next year, the league will have two games: a Stadium Series game and one as part of the Winter Classic. On January 2, 2026, the Florida Panthers will host the New York Range…

2026 Winter Classic: Panthers to host Rangers at loanDepot Park in event's first South Florida appearance

The Lightning will also take on the Bruins at Raymond James Stadium in the Stadium Series in 2026

NHL Officially Announces Panthers, Lightning Will Host Pair Of Florida Outdoor Games For Next Season

The rumors turned out to be true and the NHL made it official on Wednesday: outdoor hockey is coming to the Sunshine State not once, but twice next season.But while we all had the sense that this was coming, the announcement did bring some interesting tidbits of info.Let's start with the game that will happen first, and that is the NHL Winter Classic, which will take place at LoanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins. Obviously, the Florida Pant…

Florida Panthers to host NY Rangers at loanDepot Park for 2026 Winter Classic

Hockey. Outdoors. In Florida. Next season, the NHL is making it happen — twice. The NHL announced Wednesday that the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers will play host to the New York Rangers at loanDepot Park in Miami — home of baseball’s Marlins — on Jan. 2, 2026, in the Winter Classic, with the Tampa Bay Lightning playing host to the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 1, 2026, in a Stadium Series game. “Stanley Cups, strings of …

Sunshine State to host 2 NHL games outdoors next season, including at RayJay

For the first time in National Hockey League history, outdoor games will be played in Florida.

NHL Outdoor Game In Miami: We Believed In It for Years

On Jan. 1, 2010, I wrote a piece for my old Miami Herald blog On Frozen Pond bringing up the idea that the NHL could someday find a home for outdoor hockey at the new ballpark being built on the site of the old Orange Bowl in Miami. It was scoffed at then, and in future years as I continued to push the idea. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman shot down the idea each and every time I brought it up in various conversations with him. George Richards, FH…