Vince Vaughn Picks Up Tab for Tampa Bay Lightning Coach

Courtesy Chicago Cut Steakhouse Facebook Page| Vaughn, with staff at Chicago Cut Steakhouse.

Tampa Bay might not care about being hospitable to Chicago Blackhawks fans, but that’s not the Chicago way.

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper enjoyed a free meal while visiting Blackhawks territory Tuesday—courtesy of actor Vince Vaughn.

The Lightning have been famously rude to Chicago fans, tossing a former Joliet fan out of their home arena because she was cheering for her Hawks, banning Blackhawks apparel from certain parts of their arena, and stopping an Army captain from reselling his Lightning tickets to Blackhawks fans.

While in Chicago, Cooper was dining with 19 others at Chicago Cut Steakhouse—a tab that included meals and drinks for his assistant coaches and front desk management.

WGN reports that Chicago Cut managing partner David Flom told the Chicago Tribune Vaughn and Cooper are friends, and Cooper had initially offered to pay for Vaughn’s meal.

“Vince looks at me and says, ‘I know that guy just called you over to pick up my check. That’s not how we roll in Chicago,’” Flom told the Tribune. “He goes, ‘This is Chicago, my town. This is how we treat people. I got his check.’”

Read more:

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• 2015 Stanley Cup Final Schedule: Blackhawks vs. Lightning
• Blackhawks Fan Booted from Tampa Arena After Cheering for ‘Wrong’ Team