The NHL is set to make history with the 2026 winter classic in Miami, where the Florida Panthers will face the New York Rangers at LoanDepot Park on January 2. This marks the first outdoor NHL game in Florida, embracing the city’s tropical vibe rather than shying away from it. The Marlins pitched the event as “Miami Ice,” a nod to the 1980s show Miami Vice, highlighting palm trees and South Beach colors against a winter hockey backdrop.
League officials, after years of planning, awarded the game to Miami despite average January temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This puck drop could shatter records for the warmest winter classic, surpassing the previous average of 33 degrees. Yet, with engineering prowess and the stadium’s retractable roof, the NHL is confident in delivering pristine ice.
Leaning into South Florida’s unique appeal
Miami’s proposal turned a potential weakness—its balmy weather—into a strength. Anthony Favata, the Marlins’ vice president of operations and events, emphasized the vibrancy of the location. “We’re not shy of the fact that this is in South Florida. I think that’s what makes this unique and novel,” he said.
The juxtaposition of sun-soaked palms and icy rink promises a visually striking event. Unlike traditional snow-blanketed classics in Chicago or Boston, Miami offers neon hues and ocean breezes. This novelty drew the NHL, pairing it with a stadium series game in Tampa between the Lightning and Bruins on February 1.
Steve Mayer, NHL president of events and content, likened the expansion to Field of Dreams. “This is an incredible sports story where you can go into a place that has never really participated in hockey, and then build it and they will come,” Mayer noted. Filling two massive Florida stadiums underscores the state’s growing passion.
Youth hockey in Florida has surged 212% since the 1990s expansions. Florida-born players in the NHL hit eight for the seventh straight season, up from a max of two 15 years ago. Panthers and Lightning dominance in recent Stanley Cup finals cements the region as a hotbed.
Engineering ice in the tropics
Building a pro-quality rink in Miami required innovative planning. NHL engineers deployed two 18-wheeler coolant trucks—double the usual for cold climates—plus multiple generators and 20,000 gallons of water. Work starts mid-December with round-the-clock maintenance.
LoanDepot Park’s retractable roof is key, shielding the build from sun and wind, ice’s main foes. Jorge Pinoncély of Industrial Frigo, experienced in over 500 U.S. rinks, noted, “The greatest enemy of the ice is wind and sun.” Evening puck drop at 8 p.m. ET avoids direct sunlight.
The process unfolds methodically. First, an armored subfloor covers 80% of the field, followed by aluminum panels linked to pipes carrying a glycol-water mix that freezes below 32 degrees. Pipes and foundation take four to five days, involving about 100 workers initially, then 24 for ice maintenance.
Water layers build gradually to 2-2.5 inches thick, with a 25-degree surface temperature. White paint, logos, and lines go under the top layer. The roof keeps indoor temps at 60 degrees during setup.
Derek King, NHL vice president of facilities, targets 60 degrees inside the glass on game day. “We’ll make that sheet as cold as we can to kind of control that area,” he said. For more on creating a winter wonderland, check our post on the NHL winter classic Miami snow plans.
Lessons from past outdoor games
The NHL’s 43 outdoor games since 2003 honed this Miami build. Cold sites like Chicago need one refrigeration unit; Miami demands two from Canada. Rain in Nashville 2022 added four inches of ice; Columbus 2025 saw wind and snow disruptions.
Warmer venues pose risks too. The 2020 Dallas winter classic at Cotton Bowl melted under rain six days prior, forcing a restart. Miami’s controlled environment eases some issues, but King prepares for variables. “Control stuff we can control and really let Mother Nature set in,” he advised.
Post-build, teams practice, with final tweaks ensuring readiness. The game airs on TNT, broadcast nationwide.
Even attire adapts—no heavy coats for the Canadian crew. King relishes the T-shirt weather rethink.
Florida’s ascent in hockey
Florida teams shone in six straight Stanley Cup finals. Panthers won back-to-back in 2024 and 2025; Lightning in 2020-2021. This duo of games showcases that prowess.
An all-Florida matchup was considered first, but two events amplify exposure. Mayer celebrates filling stadiums with Panthers and Lightning fans.
As detailed on NHL.com, the retractable roof enables a true outdoor feel.
The winter classic in Miami challenges norms but promises innovation. Success here could inspire more sunbelt outdoor games, growing hockey’s footprint. Fans brace for a spectacle where ice meets paradise—what a way to ring in 2026.
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.