NHL leans into pirate theme for outdoor game in Tampa during Gasparilla
- - NHL leans into pirate theme for outdoor game in Tampa during Gasparilla
Sean LeahyJanuary 30, 2026 at 12:00 AM
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The 2026 Stadium Series game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins will be the NHL's 45th outdoor game since the 2003-04 season. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images) (Mark LoMoglio via Getty Images)
Sunday's NHL Stadium Series game at Raymond James Stadium between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins might feature the most unique design surrounding the rink.
Coinciding with Tampa's annual Gasparilla parade, which begins on Saturday, the NHL has gone all-in on the pirate fest and there will be a treasure map with hockey-themed landmarks as the focus of the field design.
The landmarks will feature specific references such as “Brayden's Point of No Return,” after Lightning forward Brayden Point, and "McDonagh's Marsh," after Tampa defenseman Ryan McDonagh. There will also be props such as barrels, boats, a shipwreck scene that will have the names and logos of both teams, and probably a few real pirates involved.
"We've got props everywhere," NHL president of content and events Steve Mayer said, via NHL.com. "There's 120 barrels coming. We've got boats coming. We've got a lot of pieces you'll see in the far side of the field, behind both benches. It's a shipwreck that will actually be the identifiers of both the Bruins and the Lightning. So we're really leaning into the pirate theme. And on Sunday, you may see a few live pirates as well as we open up the game and really lean into Gasparilla. This is what Tampa Bay is all about."
Pirates and treasure maps will be the theme at this year's #StadiumSeries. 🏴☠️Don't miss the 2026 @NavyFederal NHL #StadiumSeries this Sunday at 6:30p ET on @espn in the US and @Sportsnet and @TVASports in Canada! pic.twitter.com/UEHN50H4XV
— NHL (@NHL) January 27, 2026
The famous 103-foot pirate ship replica in the north end zone will also be involved in the stadium presentation.
"We're going to take it over," Mayer said. "And make it very Stadium Series-centric."
To combat any potential weather issues affecting the ice, the entire rink was constructed inside of a 34-foot high, 125-foot wide, 240-foot long steel-framed air-conditioned structure to protect it.
The NHL has held 44 outdoor games since the 2003-04 season. They've played at historic venues such as Fenway Park, Notre Dame Stadium, Wrigley Field, Michigan Stadium, Dodger Stadium and Yankee Stadium, among many more. What they had never done before until this season was host such an event in the state of Florida.
Sunday's game will be the second outdoor game this season the NHL has held in the Sunshine State following the New York Rangers-Florida Panthers Winter Classic game held earlier this month at loanDepot Park in Miami, home of baseball's Marlins.
Source: “AOL Sports”
