Go behind (and under) the scenes: setting up an ice skating rink in Tampa

Ice skating in Florida, to some, feels a bit like suntanning in Alaska.

But there are two NHL teams in the state, in Tampa and South Florida, of course, multiple minor league teams and dozens of ice skating rinks available for people of all ages. 

There’s also a Winter Village in downtown Tampa, with its own outdoor ice rink. While the Holiday Season spectacular, held at Curtis Hixon Park and put on by the Tampa Downtown Partnership, has had an ice skating rink going back a decade, this year carries a deeper meaning. That’s because the NHL is bringing its popular outdoor series to Florida in 2026. The Winter Classic is scheduled for Jan. 2, with the Florida Panthers vs. the New York Rangers, while the Stadium Series game is scheduled for Feb. 1, with the Tampa Bay Lightning hosting the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium.