During the 2025 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series, NHL officials will be implementing an innovative approach that fans might need to observe closely to appreciate.

For the inaugural time in an outdoor game, league referees will utilize the NHL Watch Comms App, designed by Presidio for the Apple Watch, to receive real-time situational updates throughout the match.

This advanced technology will provide officials with haptic feedback notifications regarding important game metrics like the countdown of the game clock, the penalty clock, and the jersey numbers of players currently in the penalty box.

Although this app has been tested and fine-tuned over the past few seasons in various indoor arenas, Saturday marks its outdoor debut at Ohio Stadium, home of The Ohio State University, where the Columbus Blue Jackets will face off against the Detroit Red Wings.

The typical in-game atmosphere, filled with enthusiastic crowds and rapid gameplay, presents certain communication challenges for officials, and these difficulties can be amplified in an outdoor venue.

This is where the NHL Watch Comms App proves invaluable.

David Lehanski, the NHL’s Executive Vice President of Business Development and Innovation, explained, “Every time the officials step onto the ice, the conditions change. Clearly, there are more significant differences during the Stadium Series.”

According to Lehanski, a major adjustment lies in the absence of a large scoreboard directly above center ice in outdoor settings, which complicates officials’ ability to monitor game timing and scenarios. The objective of the NHL Watch Comms App is to relay that essential information directly to officials’ wrists.

Nearly all officials in the league have adopted this technology this season, showcasing its widespread use.

“Achieving over a 90 percent participation rate within just a few years speaks volumes,” Lehanski noted. “The officials were involved from the very beginning. We understood the need for a tailored solution and wanted their input throughout the process.”

To develop the custom app for Apple Watch, the NHL partnered with both Apple and Presidio.

Andres de Corral, Vice President of Digital Services at Presidio, stated, “As an innovation partner for the NHL, Presidio was tasked with creating a solution to enhance game clock and penalty box awareness, improving safety for players and officials while minimizing game delays. Our team collaborated with NHL officials along with their operations and technology teams to craft the optimal solution to bring their vision to life.”

Lehanski praised the collaborative efforts between the NHL, Apple, and Presidio in developing this cutting-edge technology.

“In our partnerships involving technology, we confidently assert that we’re working with the top partners in the industry,” emphasized Lehanski. “We feel exactly the same about the innovative solution we created with Apple and Presidio.”

The NHL has consistently collaborated with Presidio to enhance the experiences of players, officials, coaches, and fans alike. Presidio’s contributions encompass the entire NHL technology framework, from modernizing IT infrastructure to developing key applications and enriching the streaming and production experience for fans.

Additionally, the NHL and Apple have a history of working together to elevate the game through technology. Since 2017, iPads and Macs have been utilized to provide coaches and players with real-time video, enabling them to make immediate adjustments during games.