Not long ago, envisioning a team from the Sunshine State competing for the Stanley Cup seemed as improbable as believing that the Buccaneers would finally amount to something. But tonight the Tampa Bay Lightning attempts to accomplish what the Bucs have already done - rise from pitiful expansion team to the champion of their sport. Game 1 of the final begins at home at 8 p.m. against the Calgary Flames.
Like the Bucs, the Lightning struggled through years with poor owners and dubious management. It also was easy to dismiss hockey here as a sport out of its element. This is Jimmy Buffett country, after all, and Parrotheads have far different priorities when it comes to entertaining with a block of ice.
But the Lightning matured as a franchise, making smarter personnel and management decisions and fostering loyalty among the fans. Tampa Bay is a melting pot. Many people here grew up as hockey fans, while others have grown to appreciate the game. The Lightning's history as an underdog has added to the excitement surrounding this year's team. Demand for finals tickets caused the box office phone system to crash. Hundreds of fans have camped out overnight for the chance to snag a sold-out game.
The trick is converting this year's Stanley Cup fever into a broader, more stable fan base. The postseason is giving the team a financial boost, and the Lightning stands to net up to $1.9-million for every home game in the best-of-seven final. The team is poised to have a profitable season. Advertising has picked up. A thousand new season ticket packages have been sold, and 85 percent of season ticket holders have already renewed. Hotels and bars near the St. Pete Times Forum in downtown Tampa are enjoying a business boom.
Much of the future - for the team and the league - will hinge on how the players and owners settle a new collective bargaining agreement. The current agreement expires in September, and many predict that a work stoppage could cause some National Hockey League teams to fold. For the moment, though, the Lightning is setting records, creating new hockey fans and broadening the image of Tampa Bay. Now let's get on with this business of winning the Cup.
