The NHL officially announced that the state of Florida might be hosting two games in 2026. First, the 2026 Winter Classic will see the Florida Panthers host the Recent York Rangers at LoanDepot Park. Unlike the 2025 Winter Classic, which was played at Wrigley Field on Recent Yr’s Eve, the 2026 Winter Classic might be played 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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Last week, NHLRumors.com reported that the NHL can be announcing the positioning of the 2026 Winter Classic sometime this week. As NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said on the pregame show on the NHL on TNT ahead of the 2025 Winter Classic between the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues, it was going to be a bit unusual.
“Next week, give or take,” said Commissioner Bettman when asked when the NHL would announce the following game. “It’s going to be a little bit unusual. It’s going to be a little bit more unique. Some people think we’ve lost our minds, but we’re not able to announce it. We are going to soon, and it’s going to be good.”
As NHLRumors.com wrote via George Richards of Florida Hockey Now, LoanDepot Park might be changed into a winter wonderland next season. As well as, it was reported that the Lightning would even be hosting an out of doors game as well; thus, Tampa Bay may very well be the opponent for the Panthers. Regardless that many individuals thought they’d be.
Heading to Florida for 2 games is unusual, indeed. The NHL normally doesn’t hold these outdoor games in warm climates. The last Winter Classic held in a warm stadium was the 2020 Winter Classic between the Dallas Stars and Nashville Predators on the Cotton Bowl. Meanwhile, the last Stadium Series held in an out of doors climate 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 level, together with the constant winning by the Lightning and Panthers, it only made sense for the League to eventually go to Florida to host outdoor games.
“Stanley Cups, strings of sellouts and the exponential growth of youth and highschool hockey throughout the state have demonstrated that Florida is a hockey hotbed. Outdoor NHL games within the Sunshine State? Never let it’s said that our League isn’t willing to simply accept a challenge,” said Commissioner Bettman in a press release.
Everyone thought the NHL was crazy for expanding into the state of Florida greater than 30 years ago. The Lightning entered the NHL within the 1992-93 season, while the Panthers entered within the 1993-94 season. Combined, the teams have been to seven Stanley Cup Finals and won 4 Stanley Cups. Most recently, the Panthers won the 2024 Stanley Cup, while the Lightning won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021.
Having these games within the state of Florida shows the NHL is able to do something they’ve never done before.
