Tampa Bay Lightning have the best outside atmosphere before a game..

[Ferris]

Originally Posted by frettless5

I loved it there. Full bars, live bands. It was awesome. I like the inside also. It was weird not seeing skyboxes. Other then that it reminded me a lot of the UC. But you all need to get out there and support your team more. It was empty and the really sucked. I hate to see hockey teams struggle. I saw it to long in Chicago.

Imagine my surprise at seeing this thread title! I used to be a season-ticket holder for the Lightning, but after the Lightning won Lord Stanley's Cup, my season-ticket package DOUBLED in price.... Nothing like gouging your base. That ownership group is now gone, and a new one is in place, so I'll consider a half-season package....

Anyway, back on topic... the atmosphere is pretty good outside the forum. This is mainly because we can host stuff outside all year (I see that as a good and bad thing... the weather gets OLD when you oly have Summer and Indian Summer)...

I'm glad you liked our arena. My wife and I are DYING to see the Blackhawks play in Chicago. We both really love Chicago, and the Blackhawks.

As for supporting our team.... the Tampa area is full of people from other places (I am from NY and my wife is from Canada). If they were born here, they didn't have hockey growing up, so they don't care about it. It's starting to grow here, but it'll be quite some time before you see an NHLer born in Central Florida!