Key Takeaways
- Tim McGraw will headline the entertainment for the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series outdoor game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston Bruins
- The game will be played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2026, marking the first time an outdoor game will be played in a football stadium in the state of Florida
- The event will feature a performance by Tim McGraw during the first intermission, presented by Ticketmaster
- A limited number of tickets are still available via Ticketmaster, the official ticketing partner of the NHL
- The game will be broadcast live on ESPN in the US and on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada, as well as via NHL in ASL on ESPN+ in the US and Sportsnet+ in Canada
Introduction to the Event
The 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series outdoor game is set to take place on February 1, 2026, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. This highly-anticipated event will feature a matchup between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston Bruins, and will be headlined by GRAMMY Award-winning musician, author, and actor Tim McGraw. The game will mark the first time in League history that an outdoor game will be played in a football stadium in the state of Florida, and is expected to be a thrilling experience for hockey fans and music lovers alike.
Tim McGraw’s Performance
Tim McGraw will lead the first intermission performance, presented by Ticketmaster. With a career spanning over three decades, McGraw has sold more than 106 million records worldwide and has dominated the charts with 49 number one singles. He has also acted in several movies, including Friday Night Lights and The Blind Side, and has starred in the Yellowstone prequel and three-time Emmy nominated 1883 alongside his wife Faith Hill and actor Sam Elliott. McGraw is considered one of the most successful touring acts in the history of country music, and his performance at the NHL Stadium Series is sure to be an unforgettable experience.
Game Details and Logistics
The NHL Stadium Series will conclude a month-long outdoor hockey celebration in the Sunshine State, which began with the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic game between the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers in front of a sold-out crowd of 36,153 at loanDepot park in Miami. The historic game brought the total attendance at NHL outdoor games to 2,276,221 and marked the 17th sellout in as many NHL Winter Classic contests. For the NHL Stadium Series, the NHL will build a regulation-size rink inside a steel-framed, air-conditioned structure to protect it from the elements. The state-of-the-art tent will be dismantled before the teams face off outdoors in primetime in Florida, and McGraw will perform on a stage alongside the rink.
Ticket Information and Broadcast Details
A limited number of tickets to the game are still available via Ticketmaster, the official ticketing partner of the NHL. Fans can visit NHL.com/events for more information on how to purchase tickets. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN in the US and on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada, as well as via NHL in ASL on ESPN+ in the US and Sportsnet+ in Canada. Live coverage will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET, and fans can tune in to catch all the action and excitement of the game.
Conclusion and Future Plans
Additional details on the game presentation and entertainment plans for the event will be announced in the coming weeks. All in-game entertainment will be produced by NHL Entertainment, with NHL President, Events & Content Steve Mayer serving as executive producer. As the countdown to the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series begins, fans can expect an unforgettable experience that combines the excitement of hockey with the thrill of live music. With Tim McGraw headlining the entertainment, this event is sure to be one for the books, and fans won’t want to miss it.
