The NHL goes ‘a little unusual’ by naming Miami and Tampa as winter hosts for marquee outdoor games in 2026

On Wednesday, the NHL revealed the league’s unique idea by announcing the 2026 Winter Classic will be played in South Florida at loanDepot park, the home of MLB’s Miami Marlins, on January 2.

On New Year’s Eve, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman teased the next Winter Classic location during TNT Sports’ broadcast of this year’s event, saying, “It’s going to be a little unusual. It’s going to be a little more unique – some people will think we’ve lost our minds.” On Wednesday, the NHL revealed the league’s unique idea by announcing the 2026 event will be played in South Florida at loanDepot park, the home of MLB’s Miami Marlins, on January 2. The game will pit the Florida Panthers, winners of the 2024 Stanley Cup, versus the New York Rangers in the first NHL game held outdoors in the elements in Florida. Additionally, the league is doubling down on its Sunshine State initiative by hosting another outdoor game a month later in Tampa. On February 1, 2026, the Boston Bruins will travel to the Gulf side of the state to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in a Stadium Series tilt at Raymond James Stadium, the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ home stadium. “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. Outdoor NHL games in the Sunshine State? Never let it be said that our League isn’t willing to accept a challenge,” Bettman said in a statement. The challenge will certainly be how the league handles the ice surface for both games.