The NHL launched a grand experiment in 1992 by dropping a franchise into the state of Florida. Ice hockey in Florida? Sure, why not?! There have been some rough moments along the way, but more than a quarter-century later, professional hockey has survived the heat – and even thrived at times – in the Sunshine State. Today, that experiment is best known as the Tampa Bay Lightning, the NHL’s first Floridian residents.
As most expected, the Lightning didn’t experience instant success as an NHL franchise. Tampa Bay failed to make it to the playoffs in nine of their first 10 seasons and lost the only postseason series they played during that time. Needless to say, it was an inauspicious start for the franchise.
Fortunately for the Lightning, things started to turn around in 2002. By that time, Vincent Lecavalier had blossomed into a star and become the team’s captain. The same was true of Martin St. Louis, who signed with the Lightning in 2000. Led these two, the Lightning won their first-ever division title and playoff series in 2003. They took things to the next level the following season, winning their second straight division title and ultimately taking home the Stanley Cup, defeating Calgary in a dramatic seven-game series.
Unfortunately, the NHL’s lockout came the season after the Lightning won their title. Things went a little south for Tampa, as they missed the playoffs five times in six seasons between 2008 and 2013. After a rebuilding period, the Lightning returned to prominence and reached the Eastern Conference Finals three times in a four-year period, including a failed trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2015. The Lightning also won the Presidents’ Trophy for the first time during the 2018-19 season, helping maintain their status as one of the top teams in the NHL, despite a few disappointing playoff losses.
The Lightning currently make their home at Amalie Arena , which is located in the heart of Tampa on the banks of the city’s inner coastal waterways. The arena initially opened in 1996 with the name Ice Palace, but it's had multiple name changes since. The Lightning is currently the only tenant at Amalie Arena, although the facility used to be the home of an Arena Football League team and has also hosted both college basketball and college hockey tournaments.
Tampa Bay Lightning tickets go on sale before the NHL begins its regular season. In fact, cheap Lightning tickets to games played at Amalie Arena are available months in advance, as are Tampa Bay Lightning tickets for away games. In other words, there’s no rush to check the Lightning schedule. Just grab tickets whenever you’ve got the itch.
With Lightning tickets being available so far ahead of time, it’s easy to buy tickets whenever you want to – but there’s little need to plan ahead. You can often get cheap last-minute tickets to Tampa Bay Lightning games by waiting to make your purchase until the very last minute. As game day gets closer and sellers drop their prices, fans reap the benefits.
The best way to buy cheap Lightning tickets is always going to be from a secure online platform that connects fans and resellers. These ticket marketplaces often have some of the cheapest ticket prices and are the easiest way to shop for Tampa Bay Lightning tickets. Can you buy Lightning tickets at the stadium? Sure – but you’ll likely be paying a higher price than you need to!
Ticket marketplaces are the best place to find sports tickets. And when it comes to cheap Tampa Bay Lightning tickets, Gametime is a no-brainer. Seats bought through us are affordable because we charge some of the lowest service fees anywhere. On top of that, we show you the view from the seats you’re shopping for thanks to our panoramic seat view photos. You’ll never have to buy seats blind with Gametime – you’ll know what your view at Amalie Arena will be before you buy those Tampa Bay Lightning tickets.
So the next time you’re in the market for cheap Tampa Bay Lightning tickets, turn to Gametime.
