Florida Panthers to Hold NHL Outdoor Game in Miami. What We Know

The NHL plans to bring an outdoor game to Miami next season although plenty of questions remain.

During the TNT pregame broadcast of the 2024 Winter Classic outside Wrigley Field in Chicago on Tuesday, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said the official announcement would come “next week, give or take.’’

“It’s going to be a little unusual,’’ Bettman said. “It’s going to be a little more unique, some people will think we’ve lost our minds. We’re not ready to announce it but we will soon. And it’s going to be good.’’

The Florida Panthers will play the NHL outdoor game at LoanDepot Park in Little Havana.

The home of the Miami Marlins will be transformed into a tropical winter wonderland.

With a retractable roof and large east-facing sliding windows, the game will not be a traditional outdoor game — but being in Miami, it will be close enough.

The optics of this game should be spectacular. Picture the Goodyear Blimp coming down from Pompano Beach to provide aerial shots of downtown Miami and Biscayne Bay, cameras picking up hockey players skating among swaying palm trees.

Matthew Tkachuk, who played in a Heritage Classic outdoor game in Regina, Saskatchewan, against Paul Maurice’s Winnipeg Jets in 2019, said he loved skating through the snow flurries.

He would be just fine wearing shorts and sandals to play in Miami.

“It would be unreal. It really would be,” Tkachuk told FHN. “I played in one outdoor game in Regina, and it was freezing. But it was so cool to be out there.

“Us getting this game would be big for us, big for the franchise, and we’re at the point where it is time. This is exciting.”

WHO WILL THE PANTHERS PLAY?

So, who will the Panthers play?

That detail is still a little sketchy.

As Bettman said, those details will be coming from the NHL soon.

A Panthers-Lightning rivalry game in Miami appears to be off the table.

According to folks associated with the Lightning, they expect to host their own outdoor game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa perhaps as early as next season.

Instead, the Panthers will face one of their newer rivals, either the New York Rangers or Boston Bruins.

Rumors circulated at Monday’s game that the Rangers will be the opponent.

The Panthers are one of two teams — the Arizona Coyotes/Utah Hockey Club is the other — to have not played in an outdoor game.

The Rangers and Bruins have each played in five outdoor games including ones at Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park.

By playing outdoors in Miami, one will tie Pittsburgh and Philadelphia for second-most in NHL history.

The Blackhawks played in their seventh outdoor game Tuesday.

“I have never played in an outdoor game, so to have one here would be amazing,’’ Carter Verhaeghe said.

“You grow up playing on a pond, and we always watch the Winter Classic. It was a dream to be in one as a kid. It would have the same kind of feel in South Florida, although obviously different having an outdoor sport here. I think it would be really cool.’’

WHEN WILL THE GAME BE PLAYED?

As far as a date goes, word is the NHL has not completely decided whether the outdoor game in Miami will be the New Year’s Winter Classic, or a Stadium Series game which is held in late February or early March.

But if the Lightning are getting an outdoor game, that would likely have to be later in winter due to bowl and NFL obligations at the Buccaneers stadium — leaving the Winter Classic to the Panthers.

This year’s Stadium Series game between the Blue Jackets and Red Wings at the Buckeyes’ Ohio Stadium in Columbus is March 1.

This will be Columbus’ first outdoor game.

As far when the game will be held, if it is the Winter Classic, expect another New Year’s Eve start.

This year’s Winter Classic at Wrigley Field was played on New Year’s Eve so not to conflict with today’s three College Football playoff quarterfinal games.

That would be the case again next season.

On New Year’s Eve 2025, there is only one college football quarterfinal (the Cotton Bowl) which is similar to this year’s schedule.

This year’s Winter Classic between the Blues and Blackhawks was set for 5 p.m. so not to go head-to-head with the nighttime Fiesta Bowl which ended up being Boise State facing Penn State.

There will be three quarterfinal games on Jan. 1, 2026 — including the Capital One Orange Bowl from Miami Gardens which has the early afternoon slot.

One would think the NHL would again try to maximize television ratings by not going up against a trio of marquee college football games including one in the same county they would be selling tickets in.

If it were to be a Stadium Series game, it could be held in March after the NHL shuts down for much of February for the 2026 Winter Games in Italy.

“I know they have had outdoor games in California,’’ Tkachuk said of holding an outdoor NHL game in Miami. “But this would be completely different. Such a unique place.”

HOW DO YOU BUILD ICE IN MIAMI?

One issue that comes into play for every outdoor game is the weather.

And, with the game being held in the tropics, it could be a concern in keeping the ice in good shape.

The NHL has held outdoor games in a warmer weather site before with Dodger Stadium hosting the Kings and Ducks in 2014. The game-time temperature was 64 degrees with low humidity.

On Tuesday, temperatures in Miami were in the high 70s with 75 percent humidity.

The NHL’s owns and operates a state-of-the-art ice refrigeration truck which builds the ice in the weeks leading up to the event.

When the Winter Classic was held in Seattle last season, the roof at T-Mobile Park remained closed throughout the ice-building process.

The roof was open for team practices and the game with moderate temperatures in the mid-40s.

In Miami, the building would assuredly be closed as long as possible to keep the interior temperatures and humidity low.

If the game started in the early evening, the roof could be opened up in a matter of minutes to give it the outdoor feel.

If there was rain, it could be closed quickly.

One thing we know, don’t expect the players and coaches to be bundled up for this one.

Instead of wearing an old-school letterman jacket as other coaches have worn outdoors, perhaps Maurice can rock a Tommy Bahama silk shirt?

The TNT Cocoa Cup could also become a strong shot of cafecito.

The warmest NHL outdoor game came in 2016 when it was 65 for the game at Coors Field in Denver between the Avalanche and Red Wings. Miami will almost certainly beat that.

But who knows?

Maybe we get a cold snap that week and drop things on the right side of 70.

Regardless, the Panthers are close to playing their first game south of the Broward County line since they left Miami Arena for Sunrise back in 1998.

LoanDepot Park is approximately 2 miles west of the old Miami Arena site.

“I think it would be awesome, especially if we can get the roof open during the game,’’ Aaron Ekblad said.

“You want it as cold as you can get it, and smarter people than us know how to do it. It would be an experience that I would love to be a part of.”

ON DECK: GAME No. 39

CAROLINA HURRICANES AT FLORIDA PANTHERS 

• When: Thursday, 7 p.m.
• Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise 
• Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FTL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (Naples/FTM)
• Streaming: Panthers+, ESPN+
• Radio: WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
• Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
• Last Season: Carolina Won 2-1
• This Season (Panthers Lead 2-0) — At Florida: Panthers 6, Hurricanes 0 (Nov.30); Thursday. At Carolina: Panthers 6, Hurricanes 3 (Nov. 29).
• All-Time Regular Season Series: Carolina/Hartford leads 73-49-10, 11 ties
• Postseason History: Florida 1-0 (2023 ECF)
• Up Next for the Panthers: Friday vs. Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m.