Stadium Series ice set for open-air play as Lightning and Bruins prepare.

The NHL removed a protective tent at Raymond James Stadium ahead of the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series, exposing the ice to open air; players said the practice under the temporary structure felt like a low-ceiling youth rink.

Players and coaches spent a practice day inside a temporary structure at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa and described the experience as familiar and intimate. Charlie McAvoy compared the feel to youth rinks he played in as a child. Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper also noted the low ceiling and said it felt like a small-town rink. The NHL will remove that structure before Sunday, exposing the ice to open air ahead of the Stadium Series game. Key details: - The temporary tent at Raymond James Stadium had been protecting the ice from heat, rain and humidity. - Boston defenseman Charlie McAvoy said the practice felt like the youth rinks he played in growing up. - Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper described the low ceiling inside the tent and the contrast expected when it comes off. - The game is the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins, scheduled for Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET and broadcast on ESPN, SN and TVAS. Summary: Removing the tent will change the visual and environmental conditions by exposing the rink to open air, which players expect will feel markedly different than practice inside the structure. The article reports a sense of nostalgia from participants who compared the enclosed practice to youth hockey rinks, and the Stadium Series game will proceed Sunday evening as scheduled.