Tampa Bay hockey fans are in for a treat on February 1, according to Fox News.

As of this week, Tim McGraw is slated to perform at the Tampa Bay Lightning’s game at Raymond James Stadium. This game is special, because it will be the first outdoor hockey game ever hosted there.

The game will feature a matchup between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston Bruins. This follows the Winter Classic, which was held in Miami on January 2.

The idea to host an outdoor game in Tampa was a conversation that started back in 2018, after the Tampa Bay Lightning hosted the NHL All-Star game. Excitement was brewing after the team put up a large billboard en route to the Tampa National Airport. The billboard read, “NEXT TIME, LET’S GO OUTSIDE THE BOX!”

It also featured a mockup image of Raymond James Stadium with an ice rink inside.

During a media session, Jeff Vinik, who bought the team in 2010, admitted that having an outdoor game was something he wanted to do when he bought the team from the beginning. However, it just wasn’t possible at the time.

“The technology was not there in 2010 to have an outdoor game,” Vinik explained recently. “I don’t know if the technology was there in 2018. But it’s a tribute to all the people involved that we’re able to host this kind of event.”

Those dreams are finally becoming a reality, and Tim McGraw headlining as a performer is just the cherry on top.

What Does Tim McGraw Have Planned for the New Year

Besides his appearance at the hockey game in Tampa, McGraw recently shared that he has a few other very exciting performances planned for 2026. While performing

” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”> in Las Vegas, the country singer also announced he would be performing at the second annual Music City Rodeo in May. He was also accompanied by several cowboys and cowgirls on stage for the announcement.

“This year, we had our inaugural Music City Rodeo, the very first PRCA [Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association] rodeo, in Nashville,” McGraw shared. “We’re here to announce that we’re also doing the second annual Music City Rodeo in Nashville the 28th, 29th and 30th of May. So, we want you guys to show up.”

Sounds like 2026 is full of firsts for McGraw, who also just debuted his new song “Different” in Vegas. Check out this video of that performance here.