These will not be ordinary outdoor games. The high in Miami on Jan. 2 this year was 78. The high in Tampa last year on Feb. 1 was 66. Those temperatures aren't conducive to finding ice outside.

“We want to bring a little bit of a winter wonderland to Florida,” Mayer said. The games in 2026 will be the 44th and 45th regular-season outdoor contests in NHL history.

Moments after the NHL officially announced Miami would be getting the 2026 Winter Classic, Roberto Luongo tweeted a challenge to fellow Hall of Fame goalie Henrik Lundqvist.

As winter weather sets in, please prioritize your safety and stay off the roads. Ice can be hard to see, especially at night. Remember, many of us don’t have experience driving in these conditions.