Over the years, the National Hockey League has set the standard for storied venues for its Stadium Series games. From legendary places like Yankee Stadium to service academy campuses like the U.S. Naval Academy and Air Force Academy, the NHL has brought an entertaining product to fans, with top-notch rivalry games in an exciting environment. This year will be no different.
The 2026 NHL Stadium Series is sponsored by Navy Federal Credit Union, and it already looks like it will be insane. This year, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston Bruins will be facing off in Tampa at Raymond James Stadium. That’s right… there will be hockey. Outdoors. In Florida.
Typically, the outdoor games are hosted in northern cities where you might expect outdoor hockey to be played. But these are unprecedented times, and the NHL has been very keen to break precedents. Don’t believe me? Last season, it abandoned the usual All-Star Week and instead hosted a whole Four Nations Tournament, pitting Team USA against Canada, a game which featured a lot of goals and a lot more fights (three fights to start off a game was pretty fun/insane/really fun).
Now, thanks to Navy Federal, the NHL will have another audacious spectacle to preview the coming season, and this time, fans will be able to watch hockey while working on their tans. Tampa Bay, which has been a top-level team the last few years, will be playing in its backyard. Their opponents, the Boston Bruins, have struggled of late but will be bringing a massive contingent of rabid fans down south.
The 2025 iteration of the Stadium Series was hosted by the Ohio State University, where the Columbus Blue Jackets played the Detroit Red Wings in the behemoth Ohio Stadium. That game drew not just on hockey enmity but the deep-seated hatred between the states of Ohio and Michigan (who went to war over Toledo. Look it up!).
While the rivalry between Boston and Tampa isn’t as intense, the teams are probably going to go all out to win, especially under such historic conditions. And of course, fans are going to see what special jerseys each team rocks to commemorate the series. While it remains to be seen what entertainment and events will be around the game, we know Navy Federal will also probably go all out.
This isn’t the first rodeo for Navy Federal (which has also literally sponsored rodeos). The credit union has plenty of military and sports partnerships, a longtime sponsor of the NHL Stadium Series, as well as the Military Bowl, Cast Guard Athletics, and the Washington Nationals. Be sure to tune in, this Stadium Series game will be one to watch!
The 2026 NHL Stadium Series begins February 1, 2026, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
Editor’s note: this post has been updated to change the Stadium Series sponsor to Navy Federal Credit Union. The original post cited USAA as the sponsor.
