Lightning Bans Spectators From Amalie Arena For At Least 8 Games

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Bay Lightning CEO Steve Griggs announced that fans will not be permitted to attend home games in the Amalie Arena through at least Feb. 5.

Amalie Arena in Tampa is home to the Lightning and temporary home to the Toronto Raptors National Basketball Association team.

Griggs said the decision to ban spectators was made by the team without any direction from local health or government officials based on the rise in positive coronavirus cases and hospitalizations across west-central Florida.

That means the Lightning won't have fans in the stands for at least the first eight home games of the season, although one or two of those homes games were likely to be postponed since the Dallas Stars announced they won't be able to start the season until at least Jan. 19 due to a coronavirus outbreak in their training camp. The Lightning are scheduled to host the Stars at the Amalie Arena on Jan. 17 and 19.

The National Hockey League is hosting a shortened season due to the coronavirus pandemic with the league's 31 teams playing just 56 games instead of the usual 82 games.

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said he isn't worried that the home game ban will impact the Lightning's growing fan base after winning the 2020 Stanley Cup, noting that most of the Stanley Cup Playoffs were played without fans in the stands in Canada.

"On our side, we know what it's like," Cooper said in an interview posted on the NHL team's website.

"I was looking forward to playing in front of some of our fans," Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev admitted, adding, "We've just got to make sure everybody's safe in our community, this country, Canada. If that's what's best for people for their safety, that's what it is."

The Lightning planned to host a ceremony, raising their Stanley Cup banner prior to their first home game Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Griggs hasn't said if that ceremony will proceed.

"That's going to be tough especially because it's kind of a landmark night with the banner raising," Cooper said. "You're kind of hoping people can be in there to see that."

FOX Sports Sun, the television home of the Lightning, will televise 49 regular season Lightning games. The puck drop for Wednesday's game is scheduled for 8 p.m.

All FOX Sports Sun broadcasts throughout the season will feature half-hour "Lightning Live" pregame shows along with extended postgame coverage.

New play-by-play announcer Dave Randorf will make his broadcast booth debut this week alongside color analyst Brian Engblom, who returns for his sixth season.

"Lightning Live" host Paul Kennedy will be joined once again this season by players Bobby "The Chief" Taylor and Dave Andreychuk as analysts during pregame, postgame and intermission. Former Lightning winger Adam Hall also returns in his role as analyst for select games.

Fans can also watch the Lightning on the NHL's official live stream. The price of the league’s streaming service has been reduced for the abbreviated season. An all-access pass costs $99.99; a monthly pass is $24.99; and a single-team pass is $84.99, with some blackout dates applying.

Games will be broadcast on NBC and NBCSN through FuboTV and SlingTV as well or fans can tune into Lightning Radio.

Before Saturday's decision to ban spectators from Amalie Arena, the Raptors were among a few NBA teams that were allowing a 25 percent-capacity crowd at its home games. The Raptors made the decision to move its training camp and home games to Tampa due to the stricter coronavirus guidelines in Canada. Now, they, too, will play for empty stands during their first home games.

Basketball fans can watch the Raptors and other NBA games through NBA live stream.

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• Tampa Bay Lightning Claims 2020 Stanley Cup
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