Tampa's NHL Stadium Series: Pirate Theme and Raymond James Stadium Design

Pirate-Themed Ice Rink Design

• 🏴‍☠️ The NHL's Stadium Series game in Tampa features a unique field design centered around a pirate theme, honoring the city's Gasparilla festivities.
• 🗺️ Instead of a typical field, the area around the ice rink is transformed into an oversized treasure map.
• ⚓ The design incorporates Tampa's history, with elements like a shipwreck and references to pirate lore.

Player and Location Naming

• 📍 The treasure map includes special touches with names referencing Tampa Bay Lightning players and local bay names, such as "Vasileleski Bay" and "Braden's Point of No Return."
• 🎭 The NHL has leaned into the local culture, integrating elements from Gasparilla, including real pirates and floats.

Stadium Logistics and Sightlines

• 🏟️ Raymond James Stadium is noted for having surprisingly good sight lines for a hockey game, even from the upper sections.
• 🧊 Crews are working inside a large tent to construct the ice rink, with the entire event on schedule.

Event Ambition and Scale

• 🏆 The NHL describes this outdoor game as the most complex and ambitious to date, years in the making.
• ☀️ The event is expected to be ready for Sunday, with a favorable weather forecast anticipated.