Outdoor Hockey Could Happen In Tampa Next Year

Author Jen Glorioso

February 8th 3:13 PM

It’s not set in stone… yet. But fans have been hammering the NHL to bring an outdoor Stadium Series game to the Sunshine State. A NHL reporter Kevin Weekes, who is notoriously known to break NHL news before anyone else, tweeted the rumor today. It seems that the outdoor hockey series could be played at Raymond James Stadium next year, with Tampa Bay Lightning taking on the Florida Panthers. But there’s lots of factors to consider.

Obviously the NHL has a lot to consider with this. They would have to pick the right weekend in January/Feb when our temps are most likely to be at the lowest. A warm climate outdoor game isn’t that crazy of an idea. In 2015, the Stadium Series game between the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings was played at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The temperature during that game was 57 degrees, which is totally achievable during the right weekend in Tampa. There have been outdoor games in states like Texas, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

This isn’t the first time Tampa has pushed for the outdoor series to come to Florida. The Tampa Bay Times highlighted a billboard back in 2018 after we hosted the All Star Game. It suggested the NHL thinks “outside the box” for their next Stadium Series game. The billboard even included an image of Raymond James Stadium with a hockey rink.

The Lightning recently played in a Stadium Series game in Nashville. Tampa fans took over Broadway and showed up big time! We love our hockey here in Tampa Bay and want to show everyone why Tampa is such a great hockey town.

Here’s a flashback to the Stadium Series Game in Nashville:

Tampa Bay Lightning Get a Come From Behind Win Outside In Nashville

• 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series – Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 26: Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning reacts after the third period during the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators at Nissan Stadium on February 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

• 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series – Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 26: Boris Katchouk #13 and Cal Foote #52 of the Tampa Bay Lightning arrive for the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nashville Predators at Nissan Stadium on February 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)

• 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series – Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 26: Tampa Bay Lightning players react after the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators at Nissan Stadium on February 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
• 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series – Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 26: Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning reacts after the third period during the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators at Nissan Stadium on February 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

• 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series – Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 26: Mikhail Sergachev #98 of the Tampa Bay Lightning looks to the opposing team before the singing of the national anthem during the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators at Nissan Stadium on February 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

• 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series – Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 26: Former Nashville Predators player Pekka Rinne drops the puck to Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Roman Josi #59 of the Nashville Predators during the ceremonial puck drop during the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators at Nissan Stadium on February 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
• 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series – Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 26: Victor Hedman #77 of the Tampa Bay Lightning interacts with fans while leaving the stadium after the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators at Nissan Stadium on February 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

• 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series – Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 26: Dustin Lynch performs during the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series, Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators at Nissan Stadium on February 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

• 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series – Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 26: Miranda Lambert performs during the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series, Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators at Nissan Stadium on February 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
• 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series – Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 26: Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates scoring a goal with teammates in the second period during the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators at Nissan Stadium on February 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

• 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series – Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 26: General overview of the stadium before musical performances in between periods during the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators at Nissan Stadium on February 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)

• 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series – Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 26: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning looks on in the third period during the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators at Nissan Stadium on February 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
• 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series – Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 26: Miranda Lambert performs between the first and second periods during the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators at Nissan Stadium on February 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee.

• 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series – Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 26: Tampa Bay Lightning players react after the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators at Nissan Stadium on February 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)

• 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series – Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 26: Mikhail Sergachev #98 of the Tampa Bay Lightning walks to the rink before the third period during the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators at Nissan Stadium on February 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
• 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series – Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 26: Victor Hedman #77 of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Luke Kunin #11 of the Nashville Predators skate for the puck in the third period during the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators at Nissan Stadium on February 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

• 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series – Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 26: Steven Stamkos #91 of the Tampa Bay Lightning reacts after scoring a goal in the third period during the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators at Nissan Stadium on February 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

• 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series – Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 26: Alex Killorn #17 of the Tampa Bay Lightning shoots the puck against Ben Harpur #17 of the Nashville Predators in the third period during the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators at Nissan Stadium on February 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
• 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series – Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 26: Victor Hedman #77 of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ryan Johansen #92 of the Nashville Predators skate for the puck in the third period during the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators at Nissan Stadium on February 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

• 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series – Tampa Bay Lightning v Nashville Predators

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  NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - FEBRUARY 26: Alex Killorn #17 of the Tampa Bay Lightning interacts with fans while leaving the stadium after the 2022 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators at Nissan Stadium on February 26, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

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Author Jen Glorioso

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Raymond James Stadium,tampa,tampa bay lightning