Fair enough, its 1000 seats out of 19,500 seats. I still think its ridiculous that a team can make a rule that tells people what to wear or what not to wear.... If that section is so rich I'm surprised it was a problem to begin with, seats shouldn't come available to the general public!

As a hockey fan, i think the tampa team and the fans are great. its just a shame that 1000 season ticket holders (or likely 500 if they each have 2 seats) spoil the sportsmanship of the game. if they were real hockey fans they'd accept being a hockey fan with other team's fans.
- JetsAvs

Not saying its right but I understand why the Lightning cater to these people. Due to the lack of corporate companies buying up these expensive tickets they have to rely on individual people who buy them. Trust me the people in those seats are not there for the Lightning they are there because its the cool thing do to and be seen. As for opposing teams buying them during the playoffs these tickets were on the aftermarket for around 1-2k for all three series which I guess is still cheap for some fans from Detroit, Pitt, etc and they buy them.

This Ultimate Team Ranking model is flawed. It favours teams in markets that do not have a high ticket demand. Teams have to really work to get noticed.

There is no coincidence most Canadian teams start the season at home and sun belt teams start on long road trips. Too much competition from high school and college football. Games are largely Tuesday and Thursday nights. Same reason. Ticket demand is low and supply is high, so you can buy a pizza from Poppa Johns and get a free ticket to a game.
- EugenesAxe

Maybe the Canadian teams should cater to their fans some more, its the fans of those teams who let them get away with not paying them any attention because the people will always show up. The Lightning always start at home almost every year for a good 4 -6 game home stand then they head up north, I think one of the reasons is the ice conditions. As for ticket demand I don't think you can group all sun belt teams into one. The Lightning have 15000 season ticket holders and have no problem selling out Amalie Arena. I look at Ottawa as I watch the game tonight they clearly are not selling out there barn so I think each teams attendance needs to be looked at individually.

joke of a list

Dear Ek:

Quit with the ads that hijack my browser..

This is a deal breaker
- Atomic Wedgie

You get stupid Casino add pop up? Only happens on my iphone but its an absolute pain in the ass.

You get stupid Casino add pop up? Only happens on my iphone but its an absolute pain in the ass.
- Larsson_fan

Happens on both computer and phone. It's been raised many times, he just doesn't give a poop. I personally have sent a PM about it, and I know a good number of people in the Sabres thread have as well. I don't mind banner ads that don't hijack my sound. But the annoying ones that do, and the pop-ups and redirects are really damn annoying. This is the site that made me use Adblockplus.

the city of tampa bay is a garbage dump with a hockey arena in the middle

Butthurt much? LOL. Have fun freezing your ass off this winter with a sorry team.

Spot on!

- BobTrost

More butthurt. How'd it feel to get trounced in the playoffs last year? Again, have fun freezing your ass off this winter with a weak team.

Tampa??? The organization that bans other fans from wearing the oppositions jerseys? Haha. I completely disagree with some of these rankings. Espn generally isn't credible.
- JetsAvs

That was only in one section comprising less than 10% of the seats. Have fun watching us raise the Cup this season. Your team is nowhere close.

Happens on both computer and phone. It's been raised many times, he just doesn't give a poop. I personally have sent a PM about it, and I know a good number of people in the Sabres thread have as well. I don't mind banner ads that don't hijack my sound. But the annoying ones that do, and the pop-ups and redirects are really damn annoying. This is the site that made me use Adblockplus.
- Wetbandit1

Whats ad block plus? How does one install for the iPhone?

That was only in one section comprising less than 10% of the seats. Have fun watching us raise the Cup this season. Your team is nowhere close.
- GalacticStone

Ok. Now youre sounding like youre the one butthurt.

Also, winter is pretty awesome if you can hack it. Just a month or so too long.

Whats ad block plus? How does one install for the iPhone?
- Larsson_fan

just google it and follow the steps, it's real easy.

That was only in one section comprising less than 10% of the seats. Have fun watching us raise the Cup this season. Your team is nowhere close.
- GalacticStone

well actually its closer to 5% but who's splitting hairs I wouldn't mind if Tampa won the cup this year, simmer down champ

That was only in one section comprising less than 10% of the seats. Have fun watching us raise the Cup this season. Your team is nowhere close.
- GalacticStone

you're such a baby. Stop crying already

That was only in one section comprising less than 10% of the seats. Have fun watching us raise the Cup this season. Your team is nowhere close.
- GalacticStone

That's a hell of a statement to make. Need to get through Pittsburgh and Washington first. I'm all for believing in your team but you sound like an arrogant ass when posting something like this.

That's a hell of a statement to make. Need to get through Pittsburgh and Washington first. I'm all for believing in your team but you sound like an arrogant ass when posting something like this.
- Kinger34

If it walks like a duck and sounds like a duck.....

Ok. Now youre sounding like youre the one butthurt.

Also, winter is pretty awesome if you can hack it. Just a month or so too long.
- Larsson_fan

I am just as immune to butthurt as you are to spellcheck.

I can hack winter, I choose beaches and 70F winters instead.

you're such a baby. Stop crying already
- JohnnyNYR27

You mistake tears of laughter for tears of sadness.

That's a hell of a statement to make. Need to get through Pittsburgh and Washington first. I'm all for believing in your team but you sound like an arrogant ass when posting something like this.
- Kinger34

Yeah, I know. If I was a betting man, I would put my money on Pittsburgh or Tampa. Actually, everyone picking Tampa might put the jinx on us.

Are we ever going to see unbiased refereeing in this league? I'm not sure I've ever seen as blatant of a bias as I saw in last night's game. Disgusting.

Are we ever going to see unbiased refereeing in this league? I'm not sure I've ever seen as blatant of a bias as I saw in last night's game. Disgusting.
- kainiurb

Fully agree, Boston got away with so much BS, unbelievable.

Are we ever going to see unbiased refereeing in this league? I'm not sure I've ever seen as blatant of a bias as I saw in last night's game. Disgusting.
- kainiurb

When bad officiating gives you a championship, you don't get to complain about it going against you until everyone has been given one as well.

ESPN sucks. Stick to showing highlights of Basketball dunks. (frank)ing losers.

ESPN sucks. Stick to showing highlights of Basketball dunks. (frank)ing losers.
- glove_was_stuck

Yeah and guys like steven a. smith ranting that hockey is a white sport only.....

Yeah and guys like steven a. smith ranting that hockey is a white sport only.....
- Alexzanki

Let's end racism but keep dicing everyone into groups. Steven A. Smith is a (frank)ing blow hard female genitalia.

Geez this narrative still. Let's get this straight... only during the playoffs do they ask the opposing teams fans who paid to sit in the RICH SECTIONS of the arena to wear neutral colors. Do you know why because Tampa's season ticket holders are GASP individuals not corporate entities and requested the team to do it. They are catering to their richest clients like all companies do. Its less then 1000 seats out of the 19,500 in the arena. What ever they are doing is working because they now have over 15000 season ticket members and growing in a non-traditional market.

I'm not rich so next playoffs if the Jets or Avs ever make the finals against the Lightning you can come sit next to me in 1 of the other 18000+ seats wearing your favorite Jets or Avs jersey.
- stammerman

IF you actually had real fans instead of transplants rooting for other teams, this wouldnt even be an issue.