TAMPA, Fla. — Pirates are taking over the ice in Tampa for the 2026 NHL Stadium Series.
The NHL unveiled its field design for the Feb. 1 outdoor matchup between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium, inspired by Tampa’s rich pirate history and the Gasparilla Pirate Fest. The rink will sit atop a massive treasure map, with hockey-themed landmarks and nods to the city’s swashbuckling culture.
Sections of the field will be transformed into “Boston Harbor” and “Tampa Bay,” featuring names like Bear’s Den, Lightning Lagoon, Thunderbug Cove and Vinik’s Voyage. The setup will also include shipwreck remains, sea creatures and Gasparilla parade floats.
WATCH: Tampa’s NHL Stadium Series embraces pirate theme at Raymond James Stadium
Tampa’s NHL Stadium Series embraces pirate theme at Raymond James Stadium
In what the league calls its “most complex outdoor game yet,” the NHL has constructed a regulation-size rink inside a steel-framed, air-conditioned structure to handle Florida’s warm weather. The system will be removed before the teams hit the ice for their prime time battle.
Protesters gather in Zephyrhills demanding justice after fatal ICE shooting in Minnesota
More than 50 demonstrators lined the streets near Alice Park following the weekend death of Alex Pretti during an immigration enforcement operation.
Protesters gather in Zephyrhills demanding justice after shooting in Minnesota