The State of Florida is hosting two outdoor games next year — the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic between the New York Rangers and Florida Panthers at LoanDepot Park in Miami on Jan. 2 and the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on Feb. 1.
For SAP, a longtime NHL partner, this initiative represents a natural extension of its University Alliances program, which connects SAP with academic institutions worldwide to prepare the next generation of innovators through hands-on learning and access to SAP technologies. By aligning this educational effort with the Innovation Competition, SAP helps empower students to apply creativity, data, and design thinking to real-world opportunities within the sport.
With the NHL, NHLPA, and SAP joining forces — and ESPN Take Back Sports helping bring the competition to life — the NHL/NHLPA Innovation Competition presented by SAP will spotlight the power of collaboration, imagination, and technology to grow the game for future generations.
Students can learn more and register before Nov. 17, 2025, at hockeyinnovationcompetitionfl.com.