Overview
- The Winter Classic is set for Jan. 2, 2026 at loanDepot Park, marking the NHL’s first outdoor game in Florida and the first of two outdoor games scheduled for the 2025–26 season.
- Rink construction has begun with refrigeration trailers on site, and the stadium’s retractable roof can be closed to maintain a controlled environment, according to Panthers general manager Bill Zito.
- Organizers will build the surface on the ballpark’s turf without an armor deck, lay cooling pans, and freeze ice to about 2.5 inches, thicker than the roughly 1.5-inch sheet used at Amerant Bank Arena.
- The game will air at 8 p.m. ET in the U.S. on TNT, HBO Max, and truTV, with Sportsnet and TVA Sports carrying coverage in Canada.
- The 2026 Enterprise NHL PreGame fan festival runs from 2 to 8 p.m. ET outside the ballpark, is open exclusively to ticket holders, and features interactive activities, giveaways, a concert, and a Stanley Cup appearance.