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While Tampa Bay Lightning players check opponents on the ice this season, fans can do their own checking - of e-mail, Web sites and more.
The St. Pete Times Forum is adding a Wi-Fi network so fans can go online wirelessly with mobile devices.
"It's almost expected nowadays that a major facility like ours becomes a hot spot," said David Everett, vice president of management information systems and telecommunications at the forum.
Starting out, access will be free, but later the forum will sell access on a per-event basis or as part of its season-ticket packages. In addition, it will have computer kiosks available, according to a release. At some point, it will provide custom content, but precise plans have not been worked out, Everett says.
"We'll figure out something that's fair," Everett said. "No one's going to get rich on it."
Thousands of Wi-Fi access points, also known as hot spots, have been set up over the past few years. Arenas such as the forum are a bit of a technical challenge because of the metal and multiple levels to be covered.
The forum will use a system from Vivato, a San Francisco company. It will require only two base stations, and it won't require all the wiring and power of the access points. Kevin Ryan of Vivato says the company's technology allows the signal to travel miles, not hundreds of feet as standard Wi-Fi hot spots cover.
Work on the system should start soon, and both companies expect it to be ready for the Oct. 13 Lightning season opener - assuming there's not a lockout in the National Hockey League.