OT: Visitor's Guide to Tampa: All Questions Here!

[TeslaCoilFan]

Updated May 29, 2019​

Welcome to hockey paradise! Yes, this is the place where you can wear shorts and flip flops with your hockey jersey/sweater and not get strange looks. You can get sunburned on our gorgeous beaches then cool off inside one of the best hockey venues in the League!

LIGHTNING TICKET INFO
Online – can purchase on the Official Tampa Bay Lightning Website via ticketmaster (which will include STMs reselling their seats), or at various online ticket resale sites.
Arena Ticket Office – open until 5 pm weekdays and later on game days. Some tickets will be available game day, but probably not the choicest seats as the place is regularly sold out.
Scalpers - there are usually a couple lurking near Amalie on game day

To see what the view will be from your seat check out the Virtual Venue below. Just note that the prices listed on the Venue are a couple of years old.
http://tampabaylightning.io-media.com/web/index.html

LIGHTNING PRACTICES
Game day practices are at Amalie Arena and are not usually open to the public. All other practices are held at the official Tampa Bay Lightning practice facility at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon Home and those are always open to the public.

VISITING TEAMS
They usually stay in one of the three closest hotels to the Arena - Embassy Suites just to the west of Amalie, Marriott Waterside just to the south or Westin on Harbour Island. Sometimes players walk to the Forum and enter through a door on the south side along the channel or the team bus picks the team up from their hotel and pulls into the player's parking lot on the east side.

The usual entrance and exit for Lightning players is from their lot on the East side of the Arena. Many players will sign autographs for fans after a game, especially after a win. An Amalie Arena security person can direct you to the approved place to wait for players.

401 Channelside Drive, Tampa, Florida 33602​

Official Plan Your Visit FAQ
http://www.amaliearena.com/plan-your-visit

Bags must be under 12x12x12 inches in size and no big backpacks are allowed. I've brought my drawstring Lightning bag many a time to Amalie Arena and it's been fine.

Special Note: the $62 million in recent renovations to the publicly owned Amalie Arena were privately funded. No financial burden was placed on the community. One of many reasons we love Mr. Vinik!!

THUNDER ALLEY
Thunder Alley is an outdoor plaza between Amalie Arena and the South Regional Garage. It has a statue of 2004 Lightning Captain Dave Andreychuck raising the Stanley Cup and another (right in front of the stairs to enter the Arena) of our Founder/Godfather Phil Esposito. The yellow lightning bolt trio was brought over from the second home of the Lighting, the Thunderdome (now Tropicana Field and home of the TB Rays). There are banners/murals of our guys all over.

There is a music stage where a DJ or a live band does music, a few food trucks and the Corona Beach Bar as well as the Tampa Sports Store (biggest Lightning goodies store). About a half hour before the doors to Amalie open (they open one hour before puck drop), the Bolt Brigade people (perky, peppy young adults with buckets of enthusiasm) appear and have a bunch of different games for kids/adults to play and there's often little kiosks set up of the various local radio stations/etc. with little freebies and occasionally a face-painting station. Thunderbug is usually wandering around, visiting with fans. There is definitely more kid-friendly stuff before a weekend game than weekday, naturally.

TRANSPORTATION TO AMALIE

Tampa International Airport is a good distance west of downtown Tampa. There are a few airport shuttles to the major downtown hotels, but if you’re staying near the airport, a rental car is definitely your best bet.
Homepage | Tampa International Airport

A historic streetcar line travels from Amalie Arena area through Sparkman Warf all the way up to Ybor City. Great option to park in Ybor City to eat/drink then take streetcar to Amalie.
http://www.tecolinestreetcar.org/

Cross-Bay Ferry goes across Tampa Bay (yeah, the actual BAY!) from downtown St. Petersburg to Tampa with a stop at Sparkman Warf with an easy walk to Amalie Arena. This is a nice option for people enjoying the beautiful beaches of St. Petersburg/Clearwater who would like to catch a hockey game.
Cross-Bay Ferry | St. Pete – Tampa

Amtrak’s Silver Line does stop at historic Tampa Union Station in an older part of downtown. Taxis are available and there is a HART bus stop there as well. Not the best part of downtown though.
Tampa Union Station

Buses/Public Transportation - improving downtown, especially with the addition of the streetcar system and the pirate water taxis. Still has a looooooong way to go.
Home | Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority

Public Boat Slips - boat slips are available within easy walking distance of Amalie Arena. Check out their website Boat Docks/Reserve A Slip for further information and to reserve a slip.

Subway - None, nada, zip, zilch. A very high water table and the quirks of Florida's geological foundations mean that there are no subways (or basements) in Florida.

PARKING

Arena-run Parking Lots - Green, Brown, Teal, Pink & the 2 Foundation Lots – mostly reserved through the ParkingPanda app, but some of them take credit cards too. Price can run from $15 to $25. The $ from the 2 Foundation Lots goes into the Lightning Foundation which gives huge amounts of gifts to various local charities, especially cancer research/patient related ones. The general area of downtown extending some blocks around the Arena is relatively safe and clean. The Silver Lot in the map below now has a building being constructed there.

Best Deal/Closest – South Regional Parking Garage right across from Amalie Arena, it forms one of the ‘walls’ for Thunder Alley. Parking is only $12 but the number of public spaces is limited. I like to get to the game a couple hours before puck drop (doors open one hour before puck drop) and can usually find a spot.

OTHER GARAGES WITHIN EASY/SAFE WALKING

Whiting Street Parking Garage - monthly pass garage that changes over to event parking 2 hours before game time. $12 usually, but more during playoffs. 2 blocks from Amalie Arena.

Fort Brooke Parking Garage - same pricing as above. One more block offset from Amalie Arena than Whiting.

Tampa Bay Port Garage - across the street from Sparkman Warf (shops and eateries) and only a 5 minute walk to Amalie Arena.

Little Known Spot
Right behind Foundation Lot #1 is a small public parking lot under the Crosstown Expressway that charges a flat $20 on game night. Close, and a good option if the other lots are getting full.

There are also plenty of other parking lots in the area that would love to take your money as well as some street parking spaces. Plus, any metered parking north of Kennedy Blvd. is free after 6 pm, but that's a bit more of a walk.

CLOSE TO AMALIE ARENA

Marriott Waterside - https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/TPAMC-tampa-marriott-waterside-hotel-and-marina/ - next to Amalie to the South.

Embassy Suites - Embassy Suites - Convention Center - Tampa Hotels - very close to Amalie to the West on the other side of the South Regional Garage.

Westin Waterside - https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/tpawh-the-westin-tampa-waterside/ - short walk to Amalie.

If you do an Expedia or Travel Advisor search, any hotels close to the Tampa Convention Center will also be close to Amalie Arena as it's a short walk between the two places. If you are staying close to the airport, you'll need a rental car to get to Amalie Arena.

WITHIN EASY/SAFE WALKING DISTANCE

Ferg’s Live – lively bar/grill directly across the street from Amalie with a big outdoor dance area and live music on the weekends. CLOSED FOR RENOVATION!
Bar, Grill, Live Music And Event Venue Tampa | Ferg's Live

Hattricks – sports bar with strong hockey theme. Extremely popular before and after Lightning games, it even has the occasional players stop by. Excellent wings. Can almost always find the non-Lightning hockey game you're looking for on at least ONE of the giant TVs.
Hattrick's Tavern | The Best Sports Bar in Tampa Bay

Yeoman’s Cask and Lion – British pub only a couple blocks from Amalie Arena. It has a great rep for good food and also is very popular before and after games.
Yeoman's Cask & Lion

Jackson’s Bistro Bar & Sushi – on Harbor Island close to the Arena, it's upscale and pricey but good.
Jackson's Bistro & Sushi Bar | Restaurant | Tampa, FL

American Social - on Harbor Island near Jackson's, great place with burgers, sandwiches, and "upscale americana".
Harbour Island, Tampa Restaurant & Sports Bar | American Social

Colombia Café – just across from the Arena to the East connected to the Tampa Bay History Center, it's a satellite of the original historic Ybor City Spanish/Cuban restaurant. If you want real authentic, uniquely Tampa cultural cuisine, this is the place.
Columbia Restaurant

The Pour House - good spot for craft beers just a few blocks NE of Amalie.
https://www.pourhousetampa.com/

Sparkman Warf - new updated version of old Channelside with a bunch of eateries and only a short walk to Amalie Arena.
Sparkman Wharf | Introducing Tampa’s new outdoor waterfront space

Ybor City historic district - just a short streetcar ride away with loads of places to shop, eat, drink and party. Can get rather wild on the weekends/late night.
Ybor Chamber of Commerce

OTHER FOOD IN THE AREA (car needed)

South Howard (SoHo) Avenue area and Hyde Park has a bunch of restaurants/bars that cater to a mixed upscale/yuppie/hipster clientele. There's also some good places on the Riverwalk.

Best Sushi - Soho Sushi on Kennedy Blvd. - take it from a sushi devotee who has tried pretty much every sushi place in Tampa, this little humble storefront sushi place is simply the best. Open for lunch and then again at 5:00 pm, it gets crowded VERY quickly.

For more info, check out EAT: Tampa Bay a Tampa Food Guide written by Bryan Burns, the beat writer for the Tampa Bay Lightning, originally for the All Star Weekend. Mostly full of the pricier places, but still a good guide.

Click to read more...

 

[TeslaCoilFan]

*** BEACHES ***
​

From downtown Tampa, you are about a half hour drive away from some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Since all these beaches have wide stretches of soft white sand meeting the warm calm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, your choice will depend on the location and amenities that you desire. During the early part of hockey season, the beaches are still active but the attendence does thin out as the 'winter' progresses.

From North to South along the barrier islands...

Clearwater Beach - this very popular and very busy beach has all the amenities such as cabanas, some of the best seafood restaurants in the Bay area, a variety water sports, entertainment and a sunset celebration. Fishing, dolphin-watching and leisure charters are also available close-by. It has the largest crowds although they will thin out considerably during the middle of hockey season when we actually do have a little bit of 'winter' chill to deal with.

Indian Rocks Beach - less emphasis on commercial development. A quiet, less crowed alternative to some of the more popular beaches but amenities are minimal with showers, restrooms and parking. The surrounding area features a mixture of residential and vacation rentals with plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from when you want to take a break from the beach.

Madeira Beach - features a funky, retro vibe and offers plenty of wide, white sand beaches and fun activities. At the south end is St. John's Pass that replicates a quaint fishing village and serves as a hub for charter boats, an eclectic variety of souvenir and apparel shops, and a variety of bistros, bars and restaurants. Treasure Island is just south of Madeira Beach and has similar beach amenities.

St. Pete Beach - plenty of beach-side amenities including restaurants, Tiki bars, cabana rentals, jet ski rentals and other adventure opportunities. If you're staying overnight there are plenty of full-service resorts and boutique hotels lining the beach including the beautiful Don Cesar Resort. This huge pink Mediterranean-style hotel was built during the jazz-age and has been the standard of luxury ever since.

Ben T. Davis Beach - the closest beach to downtown Tampa, it offers ideal proximity to the airport for travelers who value efficiency. Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings see the beach populated by local volleyball players. This is one of the best spots in town to watch the sunset and is located adjacent to the new Courtney Campbell Trail, a four-mile biking and pedestrian bridge.

*** ATTRACTIONS ***
​

Busch Gardens - this 335-acre Africa-inspired theme park has thrilling roller coasters, animals, entertaining live shows, 2,000-plus animals including free-roaming giraffes, zebras and white rhinos visible on the Serengeti Railway. Plan to spend an entire day here. Short drive east of downtown.
Florida Theme Park & Animal Encounters | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Florida Aquarium - features more than 20,000 plants and animals in both fresh and saltwater environments including a million-gallon coral reef display that houses over 200 species of fish. Other areas of the aquarium showcase river otters, alligators, deep sea fish as well as "touch" experiences where kids can get up close with stingrays, horseshoe crabs, urchins, and other sea life. A gift shop and restaurant are on the premises. On the streetcar route that connects Amalie Arena to Ybor City.
The Florida Aquarium : Connect With The Sea

ZooTampa at Lowry Park aka Lowry Park Zoo - featuring 1,300 animals with an emphasis on regional endangered species and those in similar climates. Has a Manatee Hospital that rehabilitates injured manatees. New Australian-themed children's area includes rides and other games geared for the little ones. Went through a stupid name change/rebranding as ZooTampa in March 2018.
Home

Dinosaur World - home to over 150 life-size dinosaurs realistically set amidst lush native vegetation, including an animatronic scene featuring a Brachiosaurus, Triceratops and Pterodactyl among others. Kids can also become paleontologists and sift through a dig in search of fossils to take home or take part in a gem hunter's mining/excavation experience. Guests are also invited to bring lunch or coolers of food to munch on in the subterranean picnic area. Located about a half hour east of downtown Tampa in Plant City.
Florida – Dinosaur World

​

*** MUSEUMS ***​

TAMPA

Tampa Bay History Center - a 60,000-square-foot waterfront museum, presents 12,000 years of Tampa Bay history through innovative, interactive exhibits that engage visitors of all ages. Visitors can explore a vast array of Seminole artifacts, learn about the Spanish conquistadors, browse a 1920s-era cigar store, and view over 1,000 Tampa cigar industry-related objects. Next to Amalie Arena on the streetcar route.
Tampa Bay History Center | Visit today and learn about the history of the

Tampa Museum of Art - a boldly designed riverfront museum housing six temporary exhibits and an extensive permanent collection of Greek and Roman antiquities and 20th-century sculpture as well as a serene riverfront sculpture garden. The museum offers an extensive program of events from art classes to Buddhist meditation. Located along the Riverwalk as part of the Waterfront Arts District.
Tampa Museum of Art

Glazer Children's Museum - There are many hands-on exhibits designed for exploration, such as a kid-sized grocery store, airplane, and cruise ship. The best strategy is to let them guide you around the facility. Fun for the whole family, but kids under 11 or so will enjoy it the most. Located along the Riverwalk as part of the Waterfront Arts District.
Home - Glazer Children's Museum

Florida Museum of Photographic Arts - one of only a few museums in the US dedicated solely to photography. The museum is located downtown in the architecturally significant Cube, a soaring six-story atrium building. Promoting photographic art as central to our culture, the museum hosts exhibits of both historic and contemporary photography. The museum also offers gallery talks, "Photography at 5" happy hours, inventive family activities and a myriad of photography classes for all ages. Located along the Riverwalk as part of the Waterfront Arts District.
FMoPA | Florida Museum of Photographic Arts | Tampa, Florida

Henry B. Plant Museum - this history museum is located in what was originally the Tampa Bay Hotel built in 1891 by railroad magnate Henry B. Plant. It was an extravagant resort that drew such guests as Teddy Roosevelt and Babe Ruth. The hotel's striking minarets architecture, lavish furnishings and vibrant gardens provide a rare glimpse into the early years of Florida tourism. Part of the University of Tampa campus near downtown and across the Hillsborough River from the Riverwalk and the Waterfront Arts District.
Henry B. Plant Museum - Home

Ybor City Museum and State Park - housed in the renovated historic Ferlita Bakery, the museum boasts both temporary and permanent exhibits that illustrate how the immigrant cigar workers and their families lived and worked, creating a unique social life and community institutions. Outside you can explore the peaceful 19th-century-style garden and tour a "casita," representative of a typical cigar worker's home. Located in Ybor City on the streetcar route.
Welcome to Ybor City Museum

American Victory Ship and Museum - conveniently located close to downtown and adjacent to the Florida Aquarium, the American Victory Ship is one of only four WWII ships that are still fully-functioning. The Ship is a memorial to the dedicated men and women of the American Merchant Fleet. Almost all areas of the Ship are open to investigation, including the bridge, weaponry, galley and mess halls, crew cabins and Captain's quarters, radio and gyro rooms, and much more. Visitors are given the unique opportunity to experience the living and working conditions of the sailors. Interpretive exhibits fill in the blanks through the display of artifacts, photos, uniforms and medals.
American Victory Ship | Mariners Memorial Museum

Tampa Firefighters Museum - located in downtown Tampa next to Tampa Fire Rescue Station One. Built in 1911, the beautifully restored building served as the Fire Department Headquarters until 1974. The 18,000 square foot facility is designed to preserve the history of the fire department and to promote fire safety and prevention throughout the community. Included among the historical exhibits and interactive educational displays is an early fire wagon looking as bright and shiny as the day it was made, and a piece of metal recovered from the World Trade Towers on 9/11.

Home - Tampa Firefighters Museum
​

ST.PETE/CLEARWATER

Great Explorations Children's Museum - Spread throughout its 24,000 feet of "learning space," are exhibits and programs encouraging kids to follow the museum mantra: "Make a discovery, make a mess and even make a new friend." The Critter Cave allows them to peek into the intriguing world of arachnids and reptiles.
Great Explorations Children's Museum - St. Petersburg, Florida

Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg - thousands of art objects spanning early antiquity to the present are showcased in one of the finest art collections on Florida's West Coast. It features a comprehensive permanent exhibit as well as varied slate of traveling shows. Art, artifacts and majestic sculptures hail from ancient Greece, Rome, Asia and South America. Masterpieces by Monet, Renoir, Whistler, Cézanne, O'Keeffe and others lead the list of artists on display. Located on the waterfront in downtown St. Petersburg.
https://mfastpete.org/

Salvador Dali Museum - home to an important collection of Salvador Dali's art, spanning his lifetime. The dazzling building itself is a masterpiece with more than 1,000 triangular-shaped glass panels encasing it. Inside, you'll find more than 2,000 works - the largest collection outside of Europe - including oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, photographs, sculptures and other objects d'art. In addition to the permanent exhibit, a host of rotating artists and photographers are featured throughout the year. Located on the waterfront in downtown St. Petersburg.
https://thedali.org/

St. Petersburg Museum of History - the oldest museum in the city, it houses a collection of historical artifacts and a poignant tribute to the first commercial flight on Jan. 1, 1914, along with a host of traveling exhibits featured throughout the year. Baseball fans will be impressed by the collection of autographed baseballs - the largest in the country. Of special note is the Lady of the Nile, a 3,000 year-old mummy tucked into an ancient sarcophagus.
St. Petersburg Museum of History | St. Petersburg, Florida

Florida Holocaust Museum - founded in 1989 by Holocaust survivor Walter P. Loebenberg, the poignant museum showcases the tragic plight of Holocaust victims via a series of personal histories, photographs and artifacts. Tattered clothing - including camp uniforms and tiny shoes worn by young victims of the atrocity - and movie clips offering narratives by Holocaust survivors and a boxcar once used to haul prisoners to concentration camps are also part of the sobering exhibit.
Homepage - Florida Holocaust Museum

Tampa Bay Automobile Museum - automobile enthusiasts of all ages will appreciate the display of 70 vintage cars on parade as part of the private collection of French entrepreneur Alain Cerf and his family. Amassed over a period of 30 years, the exhibit contains mainly European-built vehicles (there are 11 from the US) and is focused on cars which demonstrate "special creativity and imagination in their history and engineering." All cars are in running shape and are taken on the road regularly. Vehicles range from the 1930s to 1990s models in addition to a replica of a 1770 steam carriage.

Tampa Bay Automobile Museum
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******REST OF THIS AREA UNDER CONSTRUCTION!!********​

Performing Arts/Music

Seminole Hard Rock Casino

Outdoor Experiences

GASPARILLA!

 

[TeslaCoilFan]

AS OF 5/28/21 THIS POLICY WILL NO LONGER BE ENFORCED
(post left here for historical reasons)
PLAYOFF DRESS CODE POLICY THAT
ONLY APPLIES TO VERY SPECIFIC AREAS!!

QUOTED FROM AMALIE ARENA WEBSITE (emphasis is mine, material between [ and ] is additional information to clarify the areas on the seating chart above)​

"In support of our hometown Tampa Bay Lightning and in an effort to turn Amalie Arena blue for the playoffs, please note that we have adopted a Playoff Dress Code Policy, which will be in effect in premium club areas, including, the Chase Club (inclusive of all club common areas and the corresponding seating sections) [CLUB1 to CLUB18, the dark green areas on the left of the chart - full food/drink included], the Lexus Lounge (inclusive of all lounge common areas and all Row A & Row B, and just the Row C seats behind the benches) [the first two rows by the glass, all the way around the rink, marked in gold and black in the center of the chart above plus the row directly behind the benches - full food and drink included], the Heritage Loft, and corporate suite 49.

Only Lightning-branded or ‘neutral’ attire and apparel will be permitted in the above sections during Lightning playoff games (including any pre-game and any post-game activities). Any attire, apparel, articles of clothing, accessories (e.g., hats, lapel pins, hair accessories, jewelry), or promotional collateral (e.g., flags, noisemakers) that are branded with the name, logo, or registered trademark of the then-current playoff opponent of the Lightning are expressly prohibited."

The complete policy with the accommodation options given to those who disregard the rules, may be found at the following link... Policies | Amalie Arena

SO THE LIMITED AREA IS LESS THAN 10 % OF THE ENTIRE 19,029 SEATS!!OPPOSING TEAM LOGOS/JERSEYS/STUFF IS ALLOWED EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE ARENA!!

You can sit in the third row up and flash your opposing team jersey as much as you wish! You'll still probably get on camera.

 

[2020 Cup Champions]

Nice work.

 

[LightningStrikes]

Previous thread for reference: OT: - A Visitors Guide To Tampa: All Questions Here!

Again, a huge THANK YOU to TeslaCoilFan for creating this guide!

 

[LeafsNation75]

Even though the Leafs lost last night I have to say I very much enjoyed my time at the Amalie Arena. First I found it weird that MapQuest said to take that Selmon Expressway and my navigation said the same thing. Plus I didn’t want to pay the toll fee. Instead I got off at exit 45A and followed the navigation the rest of the way. I was able to park in the Green lot which made it easy getting back to my car after the game. One thing I was shocked at was the price of a 20oz bottle of Coca Cola. I’m sure you all know the cost is $6.75 which is like $9.00 Canadian when you convert the exchange rate. In Walt Disney World where I’m now the cost at my Hotel is $4.29, however I still paid the price since I was thirsty.

 

[TeslaCoilFan]

Even though the Leafs lost last night I have to say I very much enjoyed my time at the Amalie Arena. First I found it weird that MapQuest said to take that Selmon Expressway and my navigation said the same thing. Plus I didn’t want to pay the toll fee. Instead I got off at exit 45A and followed the navigation the rest of the way. I was able to park in the Green lot which made it easy getting back to my car after the game. One thing I was shocked at was the price of a 20oz bottle of Coca Cola. I’m sure you all know the cost is $6.75 which is like $9.00 Canadian when you convert the exchange rate. In Walt Disney World where I’m now the cost at my Hotel is $4.29, however I still paid the price since I was thirsty.

Glad you had a good time despite the loss! Yeah, the prices are pretty high for food/drinks. My husband always complains when I drag him to a game as he hates to pay too much for a beer. But it's pretty comparable to most sporting event concessions around here. Fortunately I'm a half season ticket member so I get a wee bit of a discount (10%) on the food/drink. Full season ticket members get a 25% discount on food/drink along with their 35% merch discount. Makes the prices a bit more reasonable. But I'll still often grab a quick bite to eat before I get to the arena as my work is not far away so I often just buy a bottle of water at the arena. Though if I'm in a mood to splurge a bit, the firecracker shrimp from the Rumfish Grill concession is really good.

 

[LTIR Trickery]

The drink prices at games are unnecessarily high and stupid. I understand they bumped things up over the years but the cost of water and soda is f***ing insane. Just go to the designated driver stand and tell them you're the DD for the night and you'll get free drinks though.

 

[LTIR Trickery]

Also, next to Jacksons for food - American Social. Great place with burgers, sandwiches, and "upscale americana".

Good place for craft beers nearby - The Pour House, a few blocks NE of the arena.

 

[TeslaCoilFan]

Also, next to Jacksons for food - American Social. Great place with burgers, sandwiches, and "upscale americana".

Good place for craft beers nearby - The Pour House, a few blocks NE of the arena.

Added to the guide!! Thanks so much for the input!

 

[LeafsNation75]

Glad you had a good time despite the loss! Yeah, the prices are pretty high for food/drinks. My husband always complains when I drag him to a game as he hates to pay too much for a beer. But it's pretty comparable to most sporting event concessions around here. Fortunately I'm a half season ticket member so I get a wee bit of a discount (10%) on the food/drink. Full season ticket members get a 25% discount on food/drink along with their 35% merch discount. Makes the prices a bit more reasonable. But I'll still often grab a quick bite to eat before I get to the arena as my work is not far away so I often just buy a bottle of water at the arena. Though if I'm in a mood to splurge a bit, the firecracker shrimp from the Bonefish Grill concession is really good.

If the gates did not open right before 6:30 PM I kind of wished I walked around more to see the Bonefish Grill concession. I ended up just getting a Hot Dog and an Cheese Empanada which was very good, because that food concession was close to where I was sitting and I didn't want to miss the warmups since I took a lot of pictures on my iPhone. Bonefish Grill is one of my favorite restaurants when I'm in Orlando.

If the Leafs are playing the Lightning in December 2019 I will go to another game because thanks to the Bounceback room only offer from WDW, I made my reservations for August 2019 and December 2019 which got me 30% off Disney's Boardwalk Inn.

Also if I can ever go back I would not want to sit behind the net. For some reason I couldn't see the goal line based on how the seats were setup. For example when Tampa scored their 1st goal on that shorthanded breakaway everyone stood up and never saw the puck enter the net behind the line. We only knew it went in because of the red light and the fans cheering. So I would look for seats around the Leafs bench and might even pay extra for the re-sale tickets.

 

[TeslaCoilFan]

If the gates did not open right before 6:30 PM I kind of wished I walked around more to see the Bonefish Grill concession. I ended up just getting a Hot Dog and an Cheese Empanada which was very good, because that food concession was close to where I was sitting and I didn't want to miss the warmups since I took a lot of pictures on my iPhone. Bonefish Grill is one of my favorite restaurants when I'm in Orlando.

If the Leafs are playing the Lightning in December 2019 I will go to another game because thanks to the Bounceback room only offer from WDW, I made my reservations for August 2019 and December 2019 which got me 30% off Disney's Boardwalk Inn.

Also if I can ever go back I would not want to sit behind the net. For some reason I couldn't see the goal line based on how the seats were setup. For example when Tampa scored their 1st goal on that shorthanded breakaway everyone stood up and never saw the puck enter the net behind the line. We only knew it went in because of the red light and the fans cheering. So I would look for seats around the Leafs bench and might even pay extra for the re-sale tickets.

My error, it's the Rumfish Grill concession but it does have some similar quality/offerings as the Bonefish Grill restaurant. Their firecracker shrimp is just like the boom boom shrimp. But yeah, my seat is up in Section 330 which on the side so I get a great view of the entire ice. I'm spoiled and don't care that much for the end seats anymore. There's almost always some seats available in the sections nearest the visiting team's bench. Hope you get the chance to catch another one!

 

[LTIR Trickery]

Oh, Yeomans is north of the arena, british pub style place - great wings with the curry, good beer selection, but can be a little cramped.

 

[TeslaCoilFan]

Oh, Yeomans is north of the arena, british pub style place - great wings with the curry, good beer selection, but can be a little cramped.

Got it already, thanks! I really need to try it myself but the crowds before/after a game are a bit intimidating. lol

 

[Doggy]

This is an awesome start! Gonna be killer for visiting fans when completed. Thanks for the hard work.

 

[TeslaCoilFan]

This is an awesome start! Gonna be killer for visiting fans when completed. Thanks for the hard work.

Thanks! Just added info about Beaches, Attractions and Museums in the Tampa Bay area.

 

[Doggy]

REally excited for Tuesday night. Are DW and I safe wearing our CBJ sweaters in the pavilion hanging out before the game and afterwards on the rooftop?

 

[TeslaCoilFan]

REally excited for Tuesday night. Are DW and I safe wearing our CBJ sweaters in the pavilion hanging out before the game and afterwards on the rooftop?

Sure! We get plenty of people in opposing team sweaters for games and, as long as y'all aren't rude and obnoxious, we generally aren't rude or obnoxious either.

Floridians in general are used to being polite to visitors from out of town.

Of course, if fans of either team indulge a bit too heavily in alcoholic libations, things can get chippy.

 

[EmptyNetAssassin]

REally excited for Tuesday night. Are DW and I safe wearing our CBJ sweaters in the pavilion hanging out before the game and afterwards on the rooftop?

Yes. This is not Philly or Boston. You may hear some GO BOLTS or the jackets suck if you are lucky enough.

 

[LeafsNation75]

I just have a question about something I forgot to previously ask. On MapQuest when I had put in the address of where I stayed in Walt Disney World as the starting point and obviously the Amalie Arena as the destination, it said to take the Selmon Expressway to the Amalie Arena when I-4 had ended and the navigation system in my car said the same thing. However on the Amalie Arena website it said when coming from Orlando to take I-4 to I-275 and get off at exit 45A, which is what I did and it was very easy finding the Amalie Arena since I followed the signs and my navigation updated the route since I went that way. Anyway I'm wondering how much faster would it have been to take the Selmon Expressway and how much is the toll? The reason I ask is because when I'm on vacation in Florida the only time I take any toll roads is the Florida Turnpike when getting off I-75 and State Road 429 when first driving into Disney World.

 

[TeslaCoilFan]

I just have a question about something I forgot to previously ask. On MapQuest when I had put in the address of where I stayed in Walt Disney World as the starting point and obviously the Amalie Arena as the destination, it said to take the Selmon Expressway to the Amalie Arena when I-4 had ended and the navigation system in my car said the same thing. However on the Amalie Arena website it said when coming from Orlando to take I-4 to I-275 and get off at exit 45A, which is what I did and it was very easy finding the Amalie Arena since I followed the signs and my navigation updated the route since I went that way. Anyway I'm wondering how much faster would it have been to take the Selmon Expressway and how much is the toll? The reason I ask is because when I'm on vacation in Florida the only time I take any toll roads is the Florida Turnpike when getting off I-75 and State Road 429 when first driving into Disney World.

There's actually an I-4 and Selmon Expressway connector that runs between them north/south and joins the two roads. The connector is just east of Ybor City and is a Left exit off I-4. It can be faster to get downtown at the end of the day because most people are heading OUT of downtown on the Crosstown/Selmon. It also allows you to avoid the usual I-4/I-275 junction chaos/congestion which can slow you down considerably during rush hour.

I'm honestly not sure of the price since I have a SunPass which gives a discount. But probably not more than a dollar or so. But that particular stretch of toll road does NOT have any manned booths so you have to either have a SunPass or have them Bill-By-Plate which has a ridiculous processing fee.

 

[LeafsNation75]

There's actually an I-4 and Selmon Expressway connector that runs between them north/south and joins the two roads. The connector is just east of Ybor City and is a Left exit off I-4. It can be faster to get downtown at the end of the day because most people are heading OUT of downtown on the Crosstown/Selmon. It also allows you to avoid the usual I-4/I-275 junction chaos/congestion which can slow you down considerably during rush hour.

I'm honestly not sure of the price since I have a SunPass which gives a discount. But probably not more than a dollar or so. But that particular stretch of toll road does NOT have any manned booths so you have to either have a SunPass or have them Bill-By-Plate which has a ridiculous processing fee.

You are right about the chaos & congestion because once I-4 had ended I couldn't believe the traffic on I-275 and it was just after 3:00 PM when I got on, where as I-4 was not congested at all. Thankfully 45A was not that far to get off at. In fact I remember in August 2017 when I drove from Walt Disney World to St. Petersburg for a Blue Jays and Rays game, the traffic on I-275 was bad and it was just after 10:00 AM. Plus the traffic going back on I-275 towards I-4 was even worse.

Thanks for letting me know that there are no manned booths because we wouldn't have wanted to pay the toll later on if a picture was taken off our license plate and mailed to my house, so obviously we would not have purchased a SunPass. At least when I have gone on the Florida Turnpike and State Road 429 they have manned booths where you can pay cash and those are the only times I don't mind using those roads.

 

[TeslaCoilFan]

You are right about the chaos & congestion because once I-4 had ended I couldn't believe the traffic on I-275 and it was just after 3:00 PM when I got on, where as I-4 was not congested at all. Thankfully 45A was not that far to get off at. In fact I remember in August 2017 when I drove from Walt Disney World to St. Petersburg for a Blue Jays and Rays game, the traffic on I-275 was bad and it was just after 10:00 AM. Plus the traffic going back on I-275 towards I-4 was even worse.

Thanks for letting me know that there are no banned booths because we wouldn't have wanted to pay the toll later on if a picture was taken off our license plate and mailed to my house, so obviously we would not have purchased a SunPass. At least when I have gone on the Florida Turnpike and State Road 429 they have manned booths where you can pay cash and those are the only times I don't mind using those roads.

Yeah, there's really just two toll roads actually in Tampa: the Crosstown/Selmon running mostly east/west from downtown/South Tampa to Brandon and the Veteran's running North/South from the airport to the north suburbs on the west side of Tampa, and both of those pretty much have no manned booths any more.

 

[Beville]

Hey,

We’re coming to Orlando for a week and then the sort of St Pete’s/Clearwater area for the second week in June this year.

Now this time I can’t see any hockey but is there any other sport going on in the Tampa area that people are aware of? Any help would be great!

 

[Hoek]

Hey,

We’re coming to Orlando for a week and then the sort of St Pete’s/Clearwater area for the second week in June this year.

Now this time I can’t see any hockey but is there any other sport going on in the Tampa area that people are aware of? Any help would be great!

Well there's the Tampa Bay Rays for baseball and the Tampa Bay Rowdies for minor league soccer. Both are in St. Pete. The Rowdies play in a nice little waterfront stadium in downtown. It's a great view and lots to do around it before or after the game!