Overview
- The Florida Panthers host the New York Rangers at loanDepot Park on Friday, Jan. 2, in the NHL’s first outdoor game in Florida and the southern-most outdoor game to date.
- Event buildout is in place with the rink and ice down, the stadium cooled roughly 20 degrees, logos and lines applied, and plans to play with the roof open ahead of Thursday practices.
- NHL events chief Steve Mayer says fans may see falling flakes as part of a show that pairs palm trees, beach chairs and a lifeguard shack on one side with a snowstorm motif on the other.
- The Rangers enter 5-0 in previous outdoor games, while the Panthers make their outdoor debut as Brad Marchand highlights the memory-making appeal of these showcase settings.
- More than 30,000 attendees are expected, and official Winter Classic jerseys are on sale through Fanatics with promotional discounts advertised.