Winter Classic deals with immediate safety concerns right before puck drop

The stage is set for the NHL Winter Classic between the New York Rangers and Florida Panthers in Miami tonight, but concerns are already mounting at loanDepot Park, home of Major League Baseball's Miami Marlins. Fans and pundits alike are watching nervously as the stadium opens its roof and windows ahead of the puck drop of the outdoor game, sparking questions about player safety and the integrity of the ice.

With warm weather now able to reach the rink, the risk of melting or uneven ice is very real. Players could face tricky conditions that make skating, passing, and shooting more unpredictable, raising the stakes for what is typically a marquee, fast-paced event.

Fake snow was used during the players' entrance, but it barely differed the attention of the heat and humidity in the vicinity.

Fans on social media are already sharing their apprehension, while hockey analysts debate how the open-air setup might affect gameplay. Will the NHL have to make adjustments, or will players adapt to what could be the trickiest Winter Classic conditions in recent memory?

You can see the roof opening in this video below:

The puck drops and all eyes will be on how the ice, and the game, holds up under Miami’s warm weather.

But if it reassures anyone, the official game-time temperature has been revised to 63.1 degrees Fahrenheit. at loanDepot Park in Miami, just the second warmest outdoor game in NHL history. However, it's still the warmest Winter Classic...

"Only the Stadium Series in Denver was warmer at 65," writes Nick Cotsonika.