NHL announces that the 2026 Winter Classic will be played in a tropical location
The 2026 NHL Winter Classic will be played in the Sunshine State, home of a pair of divisional Detroit Red Wings foes, the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.
Despite getting record low ratings in the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field in Chicago, the NHL is taking another swing into risky territory.
Commissioner Gary Bettman has announced the 2026 Winter Classic will be played at loanDepot Park in Miami, home of Major League Baseball's Miami Marlins, between the New York Rangers and Florida Panthers.
And that's not the only major event coming to Florida next year. The NHL Stadium Series is coming to Raymond James Stadium, home of the National Football League's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and will pit the Tampa Bay Lightning against the Boston Bruins.
The Stanley Cup has taken up residence in Florida in recent years thanks to consecutive wins by the Lightning in 2020 and 2021, while the Panthers took home hockey's ultimate prize last year.
According to Bettman, the NHL is ready to take on the latest challenge.
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.
Steve Mayer, the NHL's president of content and events, said that he understands the risk - but that he views it as more of an opportunity.
We understand it's risky. I think we like it. And it's not a challenge. It's actually an opportunity for us.
The NHL has already had a successful Stadium Series game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles between the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks.
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