Building on the announcement of the 2026 NHL Stadium Series game pitting the Tampa Bay Lightning against the Boston Bruins on February 1 at Raymond James Stadium, the league has unveiled specifics of a massive air-conditioned tent designed to create a regulation ice rink amid Tampa's humid conditions. This follows Lightning owner Jeff Vinik's long push for an outdoor game and the recent Winter Classic in Miami.
The 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series is set for February 1, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. ET. To overcome Florida's heat and humidity—challenges highlighted after the January 2 Winter Classic in Miami, where face-off temperatures hit 63.1°F—the NHL will erect a steel-framed, tension fabric tent measuring 34 feet high, 125 feet wide, and 240 feet long. Built by Texas-based GNB Global, the structure withstands winds up to 140 mph and will be assembled in sections on rails over two to three days, starting with ice trucks on January 19.
Inside, temperatures will be maintained at 60°F with a dew point of 38 using two Mobile Refrigeration Units. On game day, the tent will be dismantled in about six hours, sliding sections away to expose the rink protected by insulated blankets. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman called it an "engineering marvel," echoing his praise for Vinik's persistence since the 2018 All-Star Game in Tampa.
Lightning chairman Jeff Vinik noted February 1 as the "best weather day of the year for having a hockey game in Tampa." NHL President of Content and Events Steve Mayer added, "The conditions are challenging, the timeline is tight, and every detail matters... sports fans are going to see something like they've never seen before!!" NHL VP of Hockey Operations Derek King stressed, "Sunshine, rain and humidity are all big factors... controlling these elements... will be essential."
This marks the league's 45th outdoor game. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.
