I have lived in Tampa for 25 years and it is a great place to live, just because you had a bad experience doesnt mean it is not a great place to live. It's the perfect small city, you are 1 hour or less from anything you want fishing, beach, amusement parks, night life, nature/parks, 2 hrs from Naples and 4 hrs from Miami if you want the high life. And the hockey market is not weak, it has consistently grown since the inception of the Bolts even when they sucked ass they still drew 15 thousand fans - the fan base is 20 years old and we have to deal with transplants who still root for their home team, I know some of the Bolts account reps and they are finally seeing the youth of Tampa who have grown up Bolts fans who are consuming adults buying season tickets, it takes time these kids have to grow up and have money. So the Bolts fan base is only getting bigger.
- stammerman

I didnt say it was a bad place, just that people from outside of Fla that have never actually lived there tend to think its some tropical paradise.... which it isnt. I didnt have a bad experience. Personally I just dont think its the greatest place to live. I prefer cooler temps, big city, and more options. Like the mountains, snowboarding in the winter, beach in the summer and a real sports city. I know just as well as you do about the sports fever in Tampa and its mostly a football town. They cant even sell out the Bucs games. The hockey fans have very limited knowledge on the game. Thats not everyone but most of them and the seats are mostly filled with tickets that have been given away. Listen its not the Lightnings fault or Tampas fault its just the reality of the situation. Its Fla, its hot, its not a traditional hockey market and it never will be. They are doing better than anyone else in the south.. I'll give you that.

I didnt say it was a bad place, just that people from outside of Fla that have never actually lived there tend to think its some tropical paradise.... which it isnt. I didnt have a bad experience. Personally I just dont think its the greatest place to live. I prefer cooler temps, big city, and more options. Like the mountains, snowboarding in the winter, beach in the summer and a real sports city. I know just as well as you do about the sports fever in Tampa and its mostly a football town. They cant even sell out the Bucs games. The hockey fans have very limited knowledge on the game. Thats not everyone but most of them and the seats are mostly filled with tickets that have been given away. Listen its not the Lightnings fault or Tampas fault its just the reality of the situation. Its Fla, its hot, its not a traditional hockey market and it never will be. They are doing better than anyone else in the south.. I'll give you that.
- GOA88

That's completely false.

That's completely false.
- Michael_Stuart

How could you say thats false when I witnessed it myself? I lived in Tampa from the time the Lightning came onto the scene all the way until just a couple years ago. I still go back to visit my parents and attend games and have plenty of friends there. I dont just make this up to start poop. Its my opinion based on the 1,000's of people I have interacted with over the years in Tampa.

someone help me.......which team in the US spends to the cap every year, and yet have sucked for a decade, have inept managment, and with no real light at the end of the tunnel...............................they could be the Toronto of the US.
- sensarmy_11

Haha a senators fan taking shots at Toronto. One of those kind of days.

Like Ottawa has anything going for them. Captain wanted out and I'm sure your best forward wants out as fast as possible.

Lots to look forward too though! At least the Leafs will be icing a competitive team this year, can't say the same for the sens.

Haha a senators fan taking shots at Toronto. One of those kind of days.

Like Ottawa has anything going for them. Captain wanted out and I'm sure your best forward wants out as fast as possible.

Lots to look forward too though! At least the Leafs will be icing a competitive team this year, can't say the same for the sens.
- SameOld

We are all just extremely bored and waiting for hockey to start. Thats why Im on a bolts page..

Haha a senators fan taking shots at Toronto. One of those kind of days.

Like Ottawa has anything going for them. Captain wanted out and I'm sure your best forward wants out as fast as possible.

Lots to look forward too though! At least the Leafs will be icing a competitive team this year, can't say the same for the sens.
- SameOld

oh, did you mean competitive as in competing for McDavid........then yes, i agree.

oh, did you mean competitive as in competing for McDavid........then yes, i agree.
- sensarmy_11

you'd be better served to stop posting and go buy some sweaters so your team doesn't have to relocate soon.

you'd be better served to stop posting and go buy some sweaters so your team doesn't have to relocate soon.
- 1979AD

We are all just extremely bored and waiting for hockey to start. Thats why Im trolling on a bolts and Islanders page..
- GOA88

fixed

I know but he is as old as the hills. I remember when Briere, Gionta and Bourque were solid players, then they went to smurfville. Who was the last good player that regressed in Toronto. Jason Blake? Toskala? keep reaching
- GardinerExpress

Clarkson. Or does he not qualify as good?

- sensarmy_11

Seriously though, he's right. Losing millions every year is not a good way to run a business..

Seriously though, he's right. Losing millions every year is not a good way to run a business..
- leafer89

i'm not gonna get into this here and hi-jack michael's blog......will just say that the team actually makes lots of money, the losses are incured by the owner becaues he refinanced himself through the team. travis has written about it a lot.

We are all just extremely bored and waiting for hockey to start. Thats why Im on a bolts page..
- GOA88

if thats why you're on a bolts page you have no life, i hope the flyers eat (frank)ing poop this season and get slaughtered

- sensarmy_11

I hope the irony of this was intentional.

if thats why you're on a bolts page you have no life, i hope the flyers eat (frank)ing poop this season and get slaughtered
- RileyB77

Comon, there might be 10 lightning fans out there.. Someone has to give Michelle his hits.

Always a good time in this blog

Always a good time in this blog
- Yeti1181

Never fails to disappoint.

Never fails to disappoint.
- Michael_Stuart

Well if you don't read the blog it doesn't ..........oh snap son

if thats why you're on a bolts page you have no life, i hope the flyers eat (frank)ing poop this season and get slaughtered
- RileyB77

Don't get troll bated by guys who only get laid with the help of Rohypnol.

Well if you don't read the blog it doesn't ..........oh snap son
- Yeti1181

BOOM! Roasted.

someone help me.......which team in the US spends to the cap every year, and yet have sucked for a decade, have inept managment, and with no real light at the end of the tunnel...............................they could be the Toronto of the US.
- sensarmy_11

maybe Seattle or Las Vegas will when they buy the senators

I also see that we have re-upped with Syracuse for another 2 years. They have been pumped full of young blood.

I agree with you in some sense but looking at it from a different perspective... I used to live in Tampa as well and it's not the greatest place to live and it's a weak hockey market. Most players dream of playing under the big lights. Having that pressure to perform. Win a cup with your childhood favorite team. Lindros once said the highlight of his career was playing in Toronto. As crazy as that sounds.... players actually feel that way.
- GOA88

Me and my friends are an example of the new homegrown lightning fans. We been fans passionately for 2 years now. In that timespan we've gained extensive knowledge of the game its players, started playing hockey both real life and videogame. Any who, I love this damn sport and can't wait to break my bank account going to games this year baby!
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Me and my friends are an example of the new homegrown lightning fans. We been fans passionately for 2 years now. In that timespan we've gained extensive knowledge of the game its players, started playing hockey both real life and videogame. Any who, I love this damn sport and can't wait to break my bank account going to games this year baby!
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- DrouinsDrone

That's good to hear. It's nice to see hockey is growing. Now if the Arizona Coyotes and Florida Panthers could do the same that would be great. This profit sharing to keep these teams in the league are hurting Ed Sniders pockets.

That's good to hear. It's nice to see hockey is growing. Now if the Arizona Coyotes and Florida Panthers could do the same that would be great. This profit sharing to keep these teams in the league are hurting Ed Sniders pockets.
- GOA88

The fact you consider Tampa's base as comparable to Florida or Arizona shows the current ignorance of your argument. During our early years while we had circus after circus posing as ownership your argument had some merit. Now with stability and commitment from Vinik this market is a far cry from the past. Sorry you had to witness the bad years during your time in Tampa, but that is in the past and you can take this to the bank, this is a solid stable organization on solid and stable financial ground with a very bright future on and off the ice. Do other markets have issues including the ones you listed, I won't argue that. Lumping Tampa in with those I will.