Winter Classic ‘awesome event’ for Panthers despite loss to Rangers | NHL.com
January 3, 2026
Winter Classic ‘awesome event’ for Panthers despite loss to Rangers | NHL.com
7 comments
It was truly a spectacle—and honestly surreal—to have outdoor hockey in Miami-Dade County almost 28 years after the last pro hockey game was played here. I really liked a lot of the production value and the intros, and I thought the merch selection was cool with generally good vibes overall.
Regardless of the result, I genuinely wanted the game to go well because I want events like this to keep happening in the future.
That said, the ballpark kind of dropped the ball in a few areas. Some of it wasn’t surprising if you’ve ever been to a hot game there, but still disappointing: concession stands running out of food, last call for drinks during the *first period*, insane lines for merch and concessions, and massive bottlenecks along the concourse. I wouldn’t call it a disaster, but it definitely didn’t feel like the level of service you’d expect for a high-demand, premium exhibition game like the Winter Classic. There should have been multiple merch booths spread throughout the concourse. I think they underestimated the moxie hockey fans bring when it comes to partying and going hard.
Not much can be done now, but I do hope the ballpark and production team take some solid lessons learned from this. I’d absolutely like to give this another go if they bring it back. It might be quite a few years. Still really disappointed with our effort yesterday. Glad that I attended this historic event, though.
Had a great time, wished the cats didn’t get stomped but still happy to have an outdoor ice hockey game in my hometown.
Rangers still undefeated in Winter Classics
as someone on the brightline shuttle said “Great time bad game” didn’t have any bad encounters with Rangers fans at the game either besides some usual trash talk at the end of the game
It was certainly something…
It was a great experience (especially in Miami), and for them doing it for the first time it was actually awesome set up, too bad we didn’t get the win!!
🤷Can’t speak for the TV presentation but it was a lot of fun to attend. My partner and I were kind of bummed by the result but hanging out in a bar afterwards someone approached us saying they wished they had gone. I don’t anticipate going to one again so ultimately I am glad to have been there.
It was very fun. Sucks the game sucked but the event was fun
7 comments
It was truly a spectacle—and honestly surreal—to have outdoor hockey in Miami-Dade County almost 28 years after the last pro hockey game was played here. I really liked a lot of the production value and the intros, and I thought the merch selection was cool with generally good vibes overall.
Regardless of the result, I genuinely wanted the game to go well because I want events like this to keep happening in the future.
That said, the ballpark kind of dropped the ball in a few areas. Some of it wasn’t surprising if you’ve ever been to a hot game there, but still disappointing: concession stands running out of food, last call for drinks during the *first period*, insane lines for merch and concessions, and massive bottlenecks along the concourse. I wouldn’t call it a disaster, but it definitely didn’t feel like the level of service you’d expect for a high-demand, premium exhibition game like the Winter Classic. There should have been multiple merch booths spread throughout the concourse. I think they underestimated the moxie hockey fans bring when it comes to partying and going hard.
Not much can be done now, but I do hope the ballpark and production team take some solid lessons learned from this. I’d absolutely like to give this another go if they bring it back. It might be quite a few years. Still really disappointed with our effort yesterday. Glad that I attended this historic event, though.
Had a great time, wished the cats didn’t get stomped but still happy to have an outdoor ice hockey game in my hometown.
Rangers still undefeated in Winter Classics
as someone on the brightline shuttle said “Great time bad game” didn’t have any bad encounters with Rangers fans at the game either besides some usual trash talk at the end of the game
It was certainly something…
It was a great experience (especially in Miami), and for them doing it for the first time it was actually awesome set up, too bad we didn’t get the win!!
🤷Can’t speak for the TV presentation but it was a lot of fun to attend. My partner and I were kind of bummed by the result but hanging out in a bar afterwards someone approached us saying they wished they had gone. I don’t anticipate going to one again so ultimately I am glad to have been there.
It was very fun. Sucks the game sucked but the event was fun