The Florida Panthers have won back-to-back Stanley Cups, but isn't this a bit too far?
They're going to play the game at loanDepot park, home of the Miami Marlins.
From the NHL:
The plan is to close the roof and crank the air conditioning for the four days it will take to build the rink and the seven days it will take to build the ice, then to open the roof for the practices and game.
Also, in order to keep the ice cold, here's what the NHL will do:
For the first time, the NHL will not operate just one Mobile Refrigeration Unit, a custom-built ice plant on a semi-trailer. It will operate two together for redundancy.
Yeah, uhh...
Weatherspark
Fortunately, the game will be played at nighttime and the roof, if necessary, can be closed. It's the Winter Classic, so they'll likely stick to their word and keep it open.
On January 25, 2014, the NHL hosted its first outdoor game in California at Dodger Stadium and it actually went pretty well. Things didn't go so well up in Lake Tahoe in 2021 (though these games were played in daylight).
Regardless, a "Winter Classic" game in Miami just doesn't have the same ring to it as, say, the Big House.
Not gonna lie, though, watching the Rangers and Panthers go at it outdoors in Miami on a Friday night will probably be my plans on January 2.
I'll leave you with some comments on this one:
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