As the Tampa Bay Lightning revealed their Stadium Series jersey, Kevin Preast, head of venue operations for both the team and Vinik Sports Group, highlighted the uniform’s significance. He described it as a “true tribute” to both the local community and the spirit of Lightning hockey, emphasizing the strong bond between the two.

The Lightning’s influence in the Tampa Bay area is undeniable. They are a cornerstone of the community, consistently excelling on the ice while also maintaining a strong organizational presence beyond the confines of the Benchmark International Arena.

Steve Mayer, the NHL’s chief of events, praised the area’s passion for hockey during halftime at a USF football game at Raymond James Stadium, which will host the upcoming February 1 game between the Lightning and the Boston Bruins. “This community deserves this game,” Mayer stated.

The idea for an outdoor game in Tampa took root during the 2018 NHL All-Star Game, held at the arena previously known as Amalie Arena. This event coincided with the city’s annual Gasparilla festival, a multi-day celebration of the legendary pirate Jose Gaspar, which dates back to 1904—exactly a century before the Lightning clinched their first Stanley Cup.

“It was an exciting element of our previous event,” Mayer recalled, noting that Raymond James Stadium, home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the USF Bulls, features a pirate ship that ties into the Gasparilla theme. “We didn’t know much about Gasparilla initially, but it added a unique dimension to the all-star event. We thought it would be intriguing to merge the two once more.”

The collaboration has resulted in a striking jersey design from Fanatics, featuring a shoulder patch that, according to the team, “honors Tampa’s swashbuckling heritage.”

The two come together with an impressive jersey design, courtesy Fanatics. Included is a shoulder patch that the team notes, “pays tribute to Tampa’s swashbuckling heritage.”

Eight years after the city hosted all-star activities, it will roll out the red carpet for what has become another premier event on the NHL’s calendar.

“We have played (outdoor) games all over North America and it is pretty surprising we have not been here yet given the success of the team,” said Mayer.

NHL spotlight to shine on FLA

A month before the Lightning and Bruins drop the puck in Tampa, the league will make its Sunshine State outdoor debut when the Panthers host the Rangers at Miami’s loanDepot park on January 2. Keeping the venue’s retractable roof closed and the air conditioning system humming leading up to the Winter Classic will help greatly with ice preparation. The idea is to open the roof in time for the 8 p.m. puck drop, long after the sun has set.

There are no such advantages for the ice crew at Raymond James Stadium. Hence, Mayer noted a tent-like structure will be erected to shield the ice from the elements. At nearby Tampa International Airport on February 1 of this year, the mercury got as high as 75 and bottomed out at 60.

“We employ the best in the world at making ice, and over the years we have seen it all,” said Mayer. “I think that is why we felt confident that now is the time (to play outside in Florida). The art of ice making has been perfected. We are prepared for no matter what happens.”

Mayer noted it was 62 degrees at game time for the 2014 matchup between the Kings and Ducks at Dodger Stadium and was a couple of degrees warmer (65) two years later at Coors Field in Denver for the start of the Avalanche and Red Wings. There were no issues with the ice as he noted everything proceeded “flawlessly.”

The games in Miami and Tampa will certainly be unique for the league, which has become accustomed to making its way to Florida for the Stanley Cup final. The last five years to be exact. Following their 2020 win in the Edmonton bubble, the Lightning won it all in 2021 and went to the final round in 2022. The rival Panthers went on their three-year final-round run while hoisting Lord Stanley’s chalice each of the last two springs.

“Florida has become the hot bed of hockey, and rightly so,” said Mayer. “The two organizations are fantastic and continue to win. Both teams have been asking for an outdoor game and when we were looking at this particular year we said, “Why not do them both in the same year?’ This is schematically one of the coolest things we have ever done in the NHL.”