The Sunshine State is preparing for an unprecedented celebration of hockey as the NHL, NHLPA, Florida Panthers, and Tampa Bay Lightning unite for a two‑month slate of community events leading into the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic and 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series. From mid‑December through early February, Florida will host youth programs, environmental initiatives, adaptive hockey expansion, and even a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS attempt — all designed to grow the game and leave lasting impact across the state.

Sports Talk Florida

Growing the Game in a Rapidly Expanding Hockey Market

Youth hockey participation in Florida continues to surge. According to USA Hockey, the state has seen dramatic increases over the past five seasons:

• 47% overall player growth
• 82% growth among girls and women
• 68% increase in players 10 and under
• 37% rise in Learn to Play participation

With the Panthers and Lightning winning four of the past six Stanley Cups, demand for access to hockey has never been higher. Both clubs — supported by the NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund — continue to invest heavily in grassroots development.

NHL Unites Legacy Project Pep Rally – Dec. 16, Miami

Hundreds of students at SLAM Miami will take part in a ball‑hockey pep rally featuring skills, drills, and a major surprise: 100 tickets to the 2026 Winter Classic. The school will also receive a synthetic ice rink, opening January 9 as part of the NHL Unites Legacy Project supported by GEICO.

NHL STREET Championships – Dec. 21, Sunrise

The NHL and Panthers will transform the Amerant Bank Arena parking lot into a nine‑rink street hockey festival. The all‑day event aims to break a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the largest one‑day street hockey championship.

• First 1,000 registrants receive GEICO ball‑hockey kits
• Open to fans of all ages, no experience required
• Registration fees benefit Hockey Fights Cancer

NHL in ASL Broadcast – Jan. 2

The Sports Emmy‑nominated NHL in ASL returns for its third year, offering real‑time play‑by‑play and analysis in American Sign Language for the 2026 Winter Classic. The broadcast airs on MAX and SN+ and features Jason Altmann and new co‑host Jeff Mansfield.

VIP Youth Hockey Skate – Jan. 3, Miami

Fifty youth players ages 9–12 will enjoy a VIP post‑game skate on the Winter Classic rink at loan Depot park. Supported by GEICO, the experience includes skating with Panthers alumni and a behind‑the‑scenes stadium tour.

Synthetic Ice Rink Ribbon Cutting – Jan. 9, Miami

SLAM Miami will officially open its new synthetic ice rink, complete with equipment for 100 students. The Panthers will provide ongoing programming, marking the first time hockey becomes an athletic option at the school.

Hockey Innovation Competition – Jan. 22, Kissimmee

Florida college students will pitch technology‑driven ideas for the future of hockey at ESPN Wide World of Sports. Supported by SAP and ESPN’s Take Back Sports, the competition awards tuition support, VIP experiences, and recognition from industry leaders.

FORCE BLUE Living Shoreline Installation – Jan. 29, Tampa

FORCE BLUE veterans, the NHL, Lightning, and Tampa Bay Watch will install a living shoreline at MacDill Air Force Base.

• Six tons of recycled oyster shells
• Forty oyster reef buoys
• Designed to improve water quality and protect the coastline from erosion

Adaptive Hockey Legacy Project – Tampa Bay

As part of the Stadium Series legacy, the Lightning and NHL will expand adaptive hockey across six disciplines, enhancing Warrior and Sled programs while launching new Learn to Skate and Learn to Play clinics for Blind, Deaf/Hard of Hearing, and Special Hockey athletes.

Travis Roy Hockey Classic – Feb. 1, Tampa

The Stadium Series weekend will feature the Travis Roy Hockey Classic, supporting the NHL Foundation’s Go Forward! campaign. Funds will benefit organizations including the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, SCIboston, PDLife, and Stay In Step.
Thirty‑two players will participate, each raising at least $5,000, with support from JetBlue, Fanatics Foundation, and BODYARMOR.

The mobile phone company threatens to move jobs out of Overland Park, Kansas if a ballpark is built.

Officials from T-Mobile have said. If the owner of Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Royals franchise, John Sherman, cuts a deal with Overland Park, Kansas elected officials near a T-Mobile campus in town, they are moving and taking with them around 3,500 employees. T-Mobile might find another area in Overland Park to relocate or simply leave the town. Sherman is considering Overland Park and other areas. Kansas politicians have set a December 31^st deadline for Sherman to decide on whether he wants Kansas taxpayer money to help pay to build a park in the state

Sherman has been looking for financial help from Kansas and from Missouri since Jackson County, Missouri voters said no in April 2024 to extending a sales tax that would have partly paid for a downtown Kansas City baseball venue and a renovation of the National Football League’s Kansas City Chiefs’ business home stadium. Missouri and Kansas have proposed financial packages to help pay for the construction of the stadium or in Missouri’s case the renovation of the football stadium. North Kansas City and Clay County, Missouri political and business leaders are interested in bringing Sherman’s business north of Kansas City. Kansas lawmakers approved a proposal that would see STAR bonds used to help pay 75% of the cost of building two stadiums in Kansas. Additionally, sports gambling and lottery gaming and sales tax revenue from businesses in the stadium development districts would cover bond debt. Another source of revenue to pay off the debt would come from a liquor tax. Kansas lawmakers could use a mechanism that would allow up to 100% of sales tax revenue on alcoholic liquor sales within a stadium district to pay off bonds for the structures. Missouri politicians will pay up to 50 percent of the construction costs in an attempt to keep the businesses in the state.

Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191

Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com

Could we see some surprise exits once NFL regular season ends?

One month, four games remain in the 2025 NFL regular season and while some teams will be headed to the postseason, others are already thinking about the 2026 season.

Part of that thought process will include whether to keep the coaching staff in place, or go out and find replacements. Two teams — the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans — are already in that mode. Who will join them? Here’s a team by team look.

NFC East

Philadelphia — There are fans who might want Nick Sirianni gone. Spoiler: It’s not going to happen. You go to two Super Bowls and win one, you’re not losing your job. The only way that happens is if he balks on bringing in a new offensive coordinator.

Dallas — Brian Schottenheimer has actually done a nice job in his first year. The Cowboys have gotten better as the year progressed and still have a slim shot at the postseason.

Washington — Despite a disaster of a season, Dan Quinn isn’t going anywhere.

New York — Brian Daboll was fired midway through the season. Mike Kafka hasn’t justified having the interim tag removed from his title yet. Look for a big name with head coaching experience to take over.

NFC North

Green Bay — Matt LaFleur heads into the final year of his contract in 2026. New President Ed Policy says he doesn’t want a lame duck coach. So how the Packers do in the playoffs might determine LaFleur’s extension.

Chicago — In his first season Ben Johnson has been as good as advertised and is probably the runner-up as Coach of the Year.

Detroit — Dan Campbell missed Johnson and Aaron Glenn as his coordinators this season, but he’s done enough to stay around Motown a few more years.

Minnesota — Kevin O’Connell and Co. really messed up the QB situation the team is paying for it. But he’s not going anywhere.

NFC South

Tampa Bay — If the Bucs blow the division there may be some in the organization who blame Todd Bowles. It would be a mistake letting him go, however.

Carolina — Dave Canales, in his second year, has done a really nice job in turning the Panthers into a playoff contender.

Atlanta — Raheem Morris was a curious choice two years ago. Two bad years and it’s time to move on to someone else. The Falcons might want an offensive minded coach to work with their young stars on offense.

New Orleans — Kellen Moore, in his first season, has done as much as he can do with the least talented roster in the league.

NFC West

Los Angeles — If the Rams win the Super Bowl it wouldn’t be a shock to see Sean McVay step away. And that’s the only was a change would happen.

San Francisco — Same goes for Kyle Shanahan.

Seattle — Mike Macdonald will also be on the Coach of the Year list for the job he’s done with the ‘Hawks.

Arizona — When a team loses seven games by four points, or less, and then looks like it quit, the coach is in trouble. And that’s the case for Jon Gannon.