Hockey has had a banner year in the cultural zeitgeist and to match that winning energy comes a puck shot out of a cannon of great magnitude. NHL Innovation Lab Powered by Verizon scores big in 2026 and it will forever keep the momentum going.
The National Hockey League, in partnership with Verizon and the New Jersey Devils, has officially opened thee new hub, which is a a simulated arena environment that will help the League office and its technology partners create, develop and enhance tools for use by venue and hockey operations staff, as well as game officials, coaches and players.
(Courtesy Verizon)
Located inside Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, the NHL Innovation Lab is an ecosystem that when you witness reveals an empowered world that glows up the game in the most spectacular way. Considering that hockey has reached epic new heights in 2026 with everything from the fantastic gold medal champions in the Winter Olympics to the smash show Heated Rivalry, perhaps there is no better time for the game of hockey to get sizzling with dazzling new technology.
This past week invited guests gathered to celebrate the launch with the likes of NHL heads Sean Williams, VP of Innovation,John Frantzeskakis, SVP Tech Operations, and Grant Nodine, VP Technology, who were joined by Verizon’s Jake Kornblatt, VP, Global Enterprise, VBG. Collectively, they toasted the day that was full of magnetic energy that buzzed with excitement for the future of NHL thanks to Verizon.
(Courtesy Verizon)
Cutting-edge tech was toasted before members of the media and loyal staff members who warmly embraced this merger of magic.
They all skated in gleeful harmony knowing that the brilliant NHL Innovation Lab powered by Verizon makes the League the first U.S. professional sports league to establish a dedicated facility focused on testing, validating and incubating technology in a simulated arena environment.
(Courtesy Verizon)
Whether you are at an NHL game for the first time or you are a lifelong fan who longs to be on the ice yourself, there is a grand sense in feeling gratitude and pride in all that Verizon has helped launch to bring hockey to the forefront of a brand new world.
What they have accomplished is not just another trend. The next phase of the League’s technology strategy that builds on its long-standing relationship with Verizon, the Official 5G Partner of the NH, is a cupping of success in the sports world.
(Courtesy Verizon)
The NHL Innovation Lab serves as a centralized space to explore practical applications of emerging technologies that support on-ice performance, game operations and fan engagement. In parallel with the development and build-out of the NHL Innovation Lab, the League will test several new initiatives in and around the Prudential Center’s adjacent practice rink – the RWJ Barnabas Health Hockey House.
These are aspects that bring enlightenment to the game with gigantic strides. It may seem like small seamless details, but the overall task is a herculean accomplishment that nets better sports performance and an enhanced fan experience.
(Courtesy Verizon)
“This innovation lab is the next phase of our long-standing partnership with the NHL, allowing us to push the boundaries of what’s possible on the ice, in the arena, and for the fans,” said Kyle Malady, CEO, Verizon Business. “By deploying Verizon’s Private 5G Wireless Network and Secure Cloud Interconnect (SCI) solutions, we are providing a dedicated, high-speed, and secure technology foundation for the NHL to incubate and validate next-generation solutions. We are proud to serve as the technological partner that helps the NHL strengthen its game.”
The deployment of Verizon’s Private 5G Wireless Network will provide the NHL Innovation Lab with a dedicated, high speed and secure wireless infrastructure designed to enhance both game day operations and the overall fan experience.
Purpose built by Verizon, the private network will enable the League to implement innovative solutions, including the enhancement of live coach to player video access on iPads for faster and secure analysis from the bench. The network will also serve as a scalable platform for future innovation, with the potential to support additional technology integrations, including secure wireless connectivity to support real-time alerts in the NHL Watch Comms app on Apple Watches worn by NHL Officials.
In addition, the network provides a strong and flexible foundation for expanded media capture workflows. The Verizon private network will also function as a secure “express lane” for critical data, including near real-time statistics and analytics, helping deliver consistent performance.
Here is to achieving goals on the ice and around the ring with the always towering dedication of the team at Verizon.
