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 annualGasparilla parade, which begins on Saturday, the NHL hasgone all-in on the pirate festand there will be a treasure map with hockey-themed landmarks as the theme 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@NavyFederalNHL#StadiumSeriesthis Sunday at 6:30p ET on@espnin the US and@Sportsnetand@TVASportsin Canada!pic.twitter.com/UEHN50H4XV
— NHL (@NHL)January 27, 2026
The famous 103-foot 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 ofa 34-foot high, 125-foot wide, 240-foot longsteel-framed air-conditioned structure to protect it.
The NHL has held44 outdoor gamessince 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 thesecondoutdoor game this season the NHL has held in the Sunshine State following theNew York Rangers-Florida Panthers Winter Classic gameheld earlier this month at loanDepot Park in Miami, home of baseball's Marlins.