Outdoor NHL games have become a beloved tradition, providing fans and players with a nostalgic nod to hockey’s roots. These matches, which often take place in iconic venues like football or baseball stadiums, take the sport back to its origins on frozen ponds and outdoor rinks.
The NHL Winter Classic, Heritage Classic and Stadium Series are marquee events that showcase the league’s creativity in creating unforgettable experiences.
Played in varied weather conditions, these matches test the ability to adapt while offering a unique spectacle to fans.
Everything indicates that next year, Florida will have its outdoor match!
As reported The Hockey Newsfor several years, there has been talk of the NHL organizing a game at loanDepot park in Miami, home of the Miami Marlins in the MLB, with the Panthers as the host team.
This project seems to finally come to fruition and the match in question will take place next season.
Also according to The Hochey News Florida, an official announcement from the NHL could be made around the New Year, possibly during this season’s Winter Classic scheduled for December 31 at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
As for the game date, Jordan McPherson and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that the Marlins are “in advanced discussions” to host the event in December 2025 or January 2026.
The identity of the Panthers’ opponent remains unknown at this time, but it is often speculated that if Florida were to host an outdoor game, their historic rival, the Tampa Bay Lightning, would be a logical choice.
This would not be the first time that the NHL has opted for a sunny destination for an outdoor game. There was a match in Texas and California in recent years.
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