One of the most successful expansion teams in the National Hockey League are the Tampa Bay lighting. They played their first game in 1992 and reached the playoffs only four years later. The Lightning story is full of drama including changes in venue, turmoil over ownership and of course, a championship. Here we will take a look at this unconventional, yet interesting team.
The National Hockey League expanded in 1992 with additions in Ottawa and Tampa Bay. In the late 80s there were two groups seeking the franchise in the Bay area. Much of the drama began with one group front man, Phil Esposito, former player and member of the Hall of Fame. Late in the game, he lost his financial backers but did not let that get in his way.
At the eleventh hour Esposito was able to engage the financial backing of a Japanese consortium of investors. Not satisfied, he then was able to get George Steinbrenner, majority owner of the New York Yankees, to become a limited partner. With all of this financial muscle, the Esposito-led ownership group won the franchise rights for Tampa from the NHL.
The Lightning's inaugural season was not exactly encouraging. But it was not an utter catastrophe either. Within one month of play they were atop of their division. However, the season ended in reverse. They finished the season in last place. They did manage to earn fifty-three points, a total which was the highest for any expansion's team first year.
What really makes that first year limited success remarkable is the where the team had to play. They played at the tiny Expo Hall. It was an indoor arena that could not accommodate even eleven thousand fans. The small crowds were not the worst of it. You see, the Expo Hall was located on the Florida State Fairgrounds. This venue was not exactly endearing to the hockey world. In fact it was the source of more than a few snickers.
The good news was that they would move out of the hall the next year. Now for the bad news. They moved to the Thunder Dome (initially called the Florida Suncoast Dome). This dome was built to house baseball games and was in St. Petersburg. Luckily they did move out of there too and the new baseball team, the Devil Rays (now the Rays) moved in in 1998. The Thunder Dome is now called Tropicana Field.
In addition to venue issues, the team suffered from ownership problems. By the mid-nineties the team was facing bankruptcy and was being investigated by the IRS. There was even talk that Japanese crime syndicates were involved in the money matters of the team. Finally, after a short-lived ownership by Art Williams, the club was sold to Bill Davidson, owner of the Detroit Pistons. It was at this point that Tampa's fortunes changed for the better.
Maybe it was the new ownership, or perhaps the legitimate hockey venue the Lightning came to play in (The Ice Palace in Tampa, and now called The St Petersburg Times Forum) that turned things around. In 2004 the Lightning, against all expectations, prevailed. They defeated the Calgary Flames to win the Stanley Cup.
Author Resource:
Mayhar Manninghansburger is a fitness trainer She likes SportsFanTreasures.com and recommends you check out their info on Columbus Blue Jackets Watch and Carolina Hurricanes Blanket
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