TAMPA, Fla. – Tampa is about to see something pretty wild. On Sunday, Feb. 1, Raymond James Stadium—usually the home of touchdowns and field goals—will trade its grass for ice. The 2026 NHL Stadium Series is coming to town, bringing professional outdoor hockey to Tampa for the first time ever.
It might sound impossible to keep ice frozen outdoors in Florida, but the organizers have a plan. They are constructing a massive climate-controlled tent right over the field to protect the rink from the elements. This event comes just one month after the NHL Winter Classic took place in Miami, marking a huge season for hockey in the Sunshine State.
Steve Griggs, the CEO of the Tampa Bay Lightning, said he pushed to make this happen for the loyal local crowd. He believes the timing is right, especially seeing how many young people have started playing the sport in the area recently.
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“For us, this was about getting it here for our fans,” Griggs said. “With the explosion of community hockey here with all the young kids playing hockey now, where we’re at as an organization, this is the perfect time to have an outdoor game here.”
The Lightning will face off against the Boston Bruins in this historic matchup. The puck is set to drop at 6:30 p.m., serving as the grand finale to the busy Gasparilla weekend.
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