Bringing Hockey to the Sunshine State: The 2026 Winter Classic in Miami
The National Hockey League (NHL) is set to make history by hosting the 2026 Winter Classic at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida. This will be the first time the event has been held in a warm-weather city, posing a unique challenge for the league and the Miami Marlins, who are hosting the event. The Marlins’ proposal, dubbed “Miami Ice,” aims to bring the excitement of hockey to the Sunshine State, despite the obvious hurdle of warm weather.
“We’re not shy of the fact that this is in South Florida. I think that’s what makes this unique and novel,” said Anthony Favata, vice president of operations and events for the Marlins. “The vibrancy of the colors of South Beach, of the palm trees, and this juxtaposition of warm weather versus winter. So, we’re very much leaning into that.” The Marlins’ enthusiasm is matched by the NHL, which sees the event as an opportunity to grow the sport in a new and exciting market.
Overcoming the Weather Challenge
The big question on everyone’s mind is how the NHL plans to keep the ice from melting in Miami’s warm weather. The average temperature in January, when the event will take place, is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the warmest Winter Classic in history. To address this challenge, the NHL will use a combination of multiple generators, two 18-wheeler coolant trucks, and approximately 20,000 gallons of water to build and maintain the outdoor hockey rink. The league has also planned for round-the-clock care starting in mid-December to ensure the ice is ready for game day.
According to Steve Mayer, president of NHL events and content, the idea to hold a Winter Classic in Florida started years ago, with the league initially considering a matchup between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers. Ultimately, the NHL decided to award the Winter Classic to the Panthers, who will play the New York Rangers in Miami, and the Stadium Series to the Lightning, who will play the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
A New Era for Hockey in Florida
The 2026 Winter Classic is not just a one-off event; it marks a new era for hockey in Florida. The state has become a hotbed for the sport, with a Florida team playing in the last six Stanley Cup Final series. The Panthers are the reigning back-to-back champions, having won in 2024 and 2025, while the Lightning won back-to-back titles in 2020 and 2021. Additionally, youth hockey participation rates have increased by 212% since the NHL first expanded into Florida in the 1990s, and there are currently at least eight Florida-born players in the league.
Mayer described the growth of hockey in Florida as a “Field of Dreams” story, where the league has been able to build a loyal fan base in a state that was previously unfamiliar with the sport. “This is an incredible sports story where you can go into a place that has never really participated [in hockey], never really been exposed to a sport, and then build it and they will come,” he said.
Building the Rink
The process of building the outdoor hockey rink at LoanDepot Park is a complex one. The NHL has refined the process over the years, having held 43 outdoor games since 2003. The build process takes two weeks and requires around 100 people, with a team of 24 dedicated to the ice crew. The league uses a combination of pipes, aluminum panels, and a glycol mix to create the ice, which is then painted and marked with logos and lines.
The NHL has also taken steps to adapt to the warm weather, using a retractable roof to control the conditions until game day. The roof will help to keep the temperature inside the stadium at a consistent level, which will aid in the ice-making process. The league has also planned for the possibility of wind, which could affect the ice, by using a system to monitor and adjust the temperature as needed.
According to Derek King, the NHL’s vice president of facilities and hockey operations, the key to building a successful outdoor rink is to control the factors that can be controlled. “We just need to look at how we deal with the ice on game day. Are we going to limit the amount of time we’re going to flood? Are we going to shave off more ice and kind of deal with what we know we can deal with?” he said. “So control stuff we can control and really let Mother Nature set in.”
The NHL has a proven track record of hosting successful outdoor games, and the 2026 Winter Classic in Miami is set to be another exciting event. With the Marlins’ enthusiasm and the league’s expertise, the event is sure to be a hit with fans and players alike.
