NHL Stadium Series Construction Begins in Tampa
Construction has begun in Tampa for the upcoming NHL Stadium Series outdoor hockey game. The event, which will feature the Tampa Bay Lightning, is expected to attract large crowds and provide a significant economic boost to local businesses as preparations advance.
- This will be the Tampa Bay Lightning's second appearance in an NHL Stadium Series game; they previously defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2 in the 2022 Stadium Series held in Nashville. The upcoming game against the Boston Bruins is scheduled for February 1, 2026, at Raymond James Stadium. - To accommodate Florida's warmer climate, the rink construction involves building a massive, climate-controlled tent manufactured by GNB Global, which will be dismantled just before the game. The ice for the outdoor rink is built to be double the thickness of a standard indoor NHL rink to better withstand the warmer temperatures. - The 2023 NHL Stadium Series in Raleigh, North Carolina, gives an indication of the potential financial influx for Tampa, as that event generated $13.6 million in total economic impact for the game itself. The entire weekend of festivities in Raleigh, including fan festivals and concerts, brought in a total of $20.1 million. - Fastenal, a distributor of industrial and construction supplies, is the official Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) partner for the NHL. The company plays a key supply chain role by providing essential products for rink construction and maintenance, as well as outfitting team locker rooms and streamlining procurement for the event. - The creation of the outdoor rink is a significant logistical and materials management undertaking, requiring a level foundation over the football field's crown, extensive piping for coolant, and over 20,000 liters of water to create the playing surface. - This event marks the first time an NHL outdoor game will be held in a football stadium in the state of Florida, a milestone for the league's expansion into non-traditional hockey markets. - A fan festival, known as the NHL PreGame, will take place in the stadium's parking lots before the game, featuring interactive hockey-themed attractions and the opportunity for photos with the Stanley Cup.
