Tampa Bay Makes it Difficult for the Visiting Fans

The Tampa Bay Lightning won more home games during the regular season than any other team.

And to keep that advantage during the playoffs, they made it very difficult for fans of visiting teams to buy tickets and show support.

Single games sales are restricted to credit cards with Florida addresses and you can’t wear opposing jerseys in certain parts of the arena.

Ironically, the policy isn’t working very well as the Lightning are only 3-3 at home in the playoffs.  They certainly need to take advantage of home field ice to finish off Montreal.  They don’t want to head back north for Game 7.

More from MyFox Tampa Bay:

Lightning tickets on sale at Ticketmaster has a message for out-of-state fans hoping to score playoff tickets to games at Amalie Arena.

The site reads: “Sales to the event will be restricted to residents of Florida. Residency will be based on credit card billing address. Orders by residents outside the selected area will be canceled without notice and refunds given”

Executive Vice President for Communications Bill Wickett says the policy came at the request of Lightning season-ticket holders.

“Our season-ticket members don’t like coming to the building and sitting next to fans from other teams for the games” Wickett said. “We’re going to do the best that we can to reserve seats at Amalie Arena for Lightning fans.”

Season-ticket members in the upscale Lexus Lounge and Chase Club areas will no longer be seeing red, or any other opposing jersey color. The club areas will be off limits to fans sporting garb from the opposition.

Photo courtesy of Lisa Gansky.