The Florida Panthers are set to melt the ice in Miami. And we mean that literally, not figuratively.
The 17th annual NHL Winter Classic is coming to loanDepot Park, the home of the Miami Marlins. The Panthers will face off against the New York Rangers on Jan. 2, 2026.
This will mark the first outdoor game ever for the Panthers, and the first outdoor game ever in the state of Florida. This will be the 44th NHL regular-season outdoor game and it’ll make Florida the 19th U.S. state to host an outdoor game. The Utah Hockey Club and the Columbus Blue Jackets are now the only two teams to have never played in an outdoor game. Meanwhile, this will mark the Rangers’ sixth-ever outdoor game. New York is 5-0-0 in such contests.
LoanDepot Park features a retractable roof and has a seating capacity of around 36,000 for baseball games. Over the years, the stadium has hosted a variety of unique events, from the Drone Racing League to the Miami Beach Bowl. Now, it will be fascinating to see how the venue transforms for a hockey game in sunny Florida, blending the excitement of the sport with the warmth of the Sunshine State.