It's official, the NHL has announced the location of two of its outdoor games next season, and it's the last place you'd ever expect to host this event. The NHL is set for <a href='https://www.sportico.com/leagues/hockey/2025/nhl-winter-classic-stadium-series-2026-florida-1234823094/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>a historic set of two outdoor games in Florida</a> next season. The Florida Panthers will host the New York Rangers at loanDepot Park in Miami on Jan. 2, 2026, for the Winter Classic. A month later, the Tampa Bay Lightning will have a visit from the Boston Bruins, on Feb. 1, with a Stadium Series tilt at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. «Stanley Cups, strings of sellouts and the exponential growth of youth and high school hockey throughout the state have demonstrated that Florida is a hockey hotbed,» NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. «Outdoor NHL games in the Sunshine State? Never let it be said that our league isn't willing to accept a challenge.» <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1877083985131495575'> </a></blockquote></div> Florida's hockey teams have been powerhouses of late, representing the Eastern Conference in each of the past five Stanley Cup Finals. <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl/news/Gary-Bettman-hints-at-next-outdoor-game-and-it-raises-a-lot-of-questions' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>The Panthers and Lightning have both lobbied for outdoor games</a> and now the NHL is bringing one to them. LoanDepot Park, home of the MLB Marlins, has a seating capacity of approximately 37,000 and will be hosting a hockey game in the most unique way. Outfitted with a retractable roof and plenty of air conditioning, the Panthers-Rangers battle will occur under the open sky come nightfall. Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL's Buccaneers, holds about 65,000 fans. The NHL will build a temporary roof over the ice for the Lightning-Bruins game to keep it cold and take it down just before puck drop. Florida's balmy weather is a challenge, with temperatures in January and February ranging from the mid-60s to high-70s Fahrenheit. «We understand it's risky, said Steve Mayer, the NHL's president of content and events. I think we like it. And it's not a challenge. It's actually an opportunity for us.» <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/SBJ/status/1877085498629410873'> </a></blockquote></div> The NHL's previous warmest outdoor game was in Denver at 65 degrees Fahrenheit, so these events will push new boundaries. These games will be the 44th and 45th outdoor games in NHL history. The Rangers are a perfect 5-0-0 outdoors, and Boston has won four of five. The Lightning won its only outdoor appearance, and the Panthers will make their outdoor debut on ice. Sunshine and hockey, are the ideal Florida twist on a winter classic.