Hockey is officially heading somewhere it has never been before. The NHL pulled back the curtain on its boldest outdoor experiment yet, offering a first look at the Winter Classic rink taking shape inside loanDepot Park in Miami. 

Palm trees, baseball sightlines, and a retractable roof now frame a sheet of ice. This is not just another outdoor game dressed up for television.

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It is the NHL planting its flag in unfamiliar territory, testing how far the sport can stretch without losing its soul. And before the matchup started, the National Hockey League posted a video of the rink’s first look. For the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers, the stage could not be more unique or more pressure-filled.

The NHL flew a drone through the Miami Marlins’ ballpark for a look at the Winter Classic rink.

It will be Florida’s first-ever outdoor NHL game.pic.twitter.com/QEnmHdQX36

— Front Office Sports (@FOS) January 2, 2026

The 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic is set for January 2, 2026, with puck drop scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. Florida will host New York inside loanDepot park, the home of the Miami Marlins, marking the first NHL outdoor game ever played in the Sunshine State. 

A venue designed to protect baseball from heat and rain is now being reimagined to preserve ice in a subtropical climate.

NHL officials gathered inside the ballpark Tuesday night to run a critical test. From a control room, they counted down as sliding glass panels in left field and the retractable roof began to open, simulating conditions planned for game day. 

NHL executive vice president of events Dean Matsuzaki described the moment with excitement and nerves mixed. “We were like, Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one,” Matsuzaki said. “Open.”

The test mattered. Unlike traditional Winter Classic venues, Miami brings challenges that no frozen lake or northern stadium ever could. Heat, humidity, and coastal air demand precision planning and flawless execution from the league’s ice and operations teams.

This reveal, for the NHL, is more than just visuals. Bringing an outdoor showcase to Miami signals confidence in the Panthers’ market and a willingness to push boundaries. If the ice holds and the atmosphere delivers, the Winter Classic may never look the same again.

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