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Is there outdoor hockey in Florida? The National Hockey League says it’s ready to meet the challenge.
The NHL announced Wednesday it will hold its first outdoor game in the Sunshine State.
The league will have two games next year, one as part of the Winter Classic followed by a Stadium Series.
The first game will be against the New York Rangers on January 2, 2026 at Loan Depot Park, home of the MLB Miami Marlins.
The NHL will repeat itself in Tampa a month later, as the Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
NHL to host two outdoor hockey games in Florida in 2026
But why host outdoor winter sports in a warm-climate state?
“The Stanley Cup, a string of sellouts and the exponential growth of youth and high school hockey across the state demonstrate that Florida is a hotbed for hockey,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said.
“Never say that our alliance is unwilling to accept a challenge,” he added.
To achieve the feat, the league said it will use Miami’s LoanDepot Park roof before the game to prevent the ice from melting. The roof will then be opened and games will be played outside, under stadium lights.
Tampa will be a bigger challenge because Raymond James Stadium doesn’t have a roof. So the NHL said it will build a roof structure on the ice and remove it before games.
The league expects preparation and preparation times to be similar to other outdoor events it hosts. The NHL said it will take about two weeks to build the stadium.
Photo of billboards erected by Tampa Sports in 2018 to attract outdoor games.
NHL president of content and events Steve Mayer told CNBC the games will cost more than a traditional Winter Classic or Stadium Series.
“There’s a lot that goes into building a structure that we’ve never built before,” he said. “I would say we’ve had incredible input from the Florida Athletic Commission and they understand the value of big events.”
The league said it expects about 100,000 people to attend both events.
Professional hockey in Florida has always been a bright spot in the league. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers have collectively won the Stanley Cup four times since joining the NHL more than 30 years ago. The Panthers are the defending league champions.
This success is quickly translating.
According to CNBC’s official NHL valuations, the Lightning are currently valued at $1.8 billion and the Panthers at $1.35 billion.
The success of hockey in Florida has also created a new generation of young fans.
Hockey registration in Florida has grown 212 percent since 1999, with more than 21,000 registered players in the state last season, according to NHL data. Women’s hockey participation in Florida alone is also on the rise, up about 16 percent annually and 56 percent over the past eight years, the league said.
Meyer attributes the growth of hockey in Florida to several factors: Florida’s snowbirds have begun to take notice of the sport, and the local community has embraced the Panthers and Chargers.
The NHL acknowledges the risks of trying to hold outdoor games in Florida but says the rewards will be worth it.
“We know there’s some risk, but no matter where we go, there’s risk in every game we do,” Mayer said. “We just feel like Florida has embraced hockey and the growth of the sport, and it’s It felt like perfect timing.”
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