Tim McGraw found himself at the center of online debate after his intermission performance during the NHL Stadium Series game on February 1.
The country superstar took the stage at Raymond James Stadium during the matchup between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston Bruins. The event marked a historic first for the NHL: an outdoor hockey game played in a football stadium in the state of Florida.
While the venue itself made history, McGraw’s performance quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the night — and not entirely for positive reasons.
Following the game, fans flooded social media with mixed-to-negative reactions, with some calling the performance one of the weakest of McGraw’s career. Several viewers questioned his vocals, energy level, and whether portions of the performance were lip-synced.
“This Tim McGraw thing is simply one of the worst live vocal performances I’ve ever heard,” one fan wrote on X.
Another added, “Is nobody going to talk about how bad this Tim McGraw performance is during the NHL game in Tampa? Is it really him? Is he lip syncing?”
Others criticized the overall presentation, describing the intermission set as “low energy” and “laughably bad,” despite the elaborate pirate ship–themed stage setup.
McGraw’s performance consisted of a ten-minute medley of his greatest hits, something he acknowledged was unusual for him. Speaking during a pregame press conference, the singer explained that the medley format was a first.
“We decided to put together a medley of some of our favorite things, some of the things that we thought most people would like to hear,” McGraw said. “Which is the first time we’ve ever done a medley, by the way. I’m not a big medley fan. This one turned out pretty good.”
He also emphasized the scale of the production, comparing it to a full concert experience.
“With all the bells and whistles it’s going to feel like a real concert, like on tour with all that stuff going on,” he said. “I wish I could play longer.”
Despite the criticism, McGraw remains one of country music’s most enduring live performers, with a career spanning more than three decades. Outdoor stadium performances — especially in non-traditional hockey venues — often present significant technical challenges, from sound delay to acoustics, which may have contributed to the mixed reception.
Still, the reaction highlights how high expectations remain for McGraw, particularly on such a prominent national stage. Whether fans ultimately view the performance as a misstep or a moment taken out of context, it succeeded in doing one thing unmistakably well: getting people talking.
