Sports
Fans Have Fun in the Sun at the All-Star Beach Bash at Pier 60
NHL Stanley Cup, 20-team Lightning Made Street Hockey tournament and other family-friendly events highlight the Beach Bash
CLEARWATER, FL – NHL All-Star weekend in Tampa Bay would not be complete without a party on the beach, and that’s exactly what happened on Saturday as The Tampa Bay Sports Commission hosted an All-Star Beach Bash at Pier 60 Park on Clearwater Beach with thousands of fans in attendance. Partners of the event included Presenting Sponsor DEX Imaging, Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater, the City of Clearwater and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Among the biggest attraction at the event was the presence of the most famous trophy of sports – the Stanley Cup – and fans could be seen posing for pictures with it the morning before it was airlifted back to the Amalie Arena, home of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The event featured a DJ and music on the beach and a youth 20-team Lightning Made Street Hockey round robin-style tournament.
"As the leader of sports and events programming in Pinellas County, we are excited to host the All-Star Beach Bash on Clearwater Beach, one of America's Best Beaches and appreciate our partnership with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Tampa Bay Sports Commission in extending All-Star weekend festivities to our wonderful beaches," Tim Ramsberger, Chief Operating Officer, Visit St. Pete/Clearwater said in a statement.
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The community event attracted kids from all over the country. Judging by the smiles on the kids’ faces, they all had a good time.
“It’s was so much fun playing out here today, hockey is my favorite sport,” said Justin Shumway, 11, of Las Vegas, NV. “Steven Stamkos is my favorite player so I’m excited to see him (in Tampa).”
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Coaches agreed that the day was something special for the youth in attendance.
“It’s been amazing – nothing but smiles on the kids’ faces,” said John Leclair, coach at Watergrass Elementary School in Wesley Chapel, FL. “They’ve been playing in the sand, going out in the water, taking pictures and hive fiving each other. Just a lot of fun for them.”
Leclair said that this was the team’s fourth event this year with the Lightning Made Street Hockey program this year with a few more lined up.
This was just one of the many community events done over the weekend to help promote the 2018 NHL All-Star Game, which is being held on Sunday afternoon starting with the Central vs. Pacific Divisions at 3:30 p.m. at the Amalie Arena, home of the Tampa Bay Lighting in their 25th season in the league.
