Catch the Lightning “unplugged’’ in a no-question-left-unanswered setting

Posted Sep 26, 2009 by Erik Erlendsson

Updated Sep 26, 2009 at 07:31 PM

Here’s something new from the team in which fans can come and meet and greet select players at select Tampa Bay area locations throughout the season. The first one is Thursday at Pete and Shorty’s in St. Petersburg.

From the team:

The Tampa Bay Lightning and its players are introducing a new series of fan friendly events to the Tampa Bay community. Entitled “Tampa Bay Lightning, Unplugged”  the series will be hosted by former Lightning player and 2004 Stanley Cup Champion Chris Dingman, who will offer fans a chance to meet the Lightning players and ask them questions in an open, casual, barrier-free environment.

Unplugged will be a staple of the Lightning’s “Together We Will” marketing campaign all year long, bringing at least two Lightning players into the neighborhoods of Tampa Bay each month to family friendly restaurants and pubs. The first event will feature new Lightning defenseman Matt Walker and high scoring forward Alex Tanguay joining Dingman at Pete & Shorty’s Tavern in Pinellas Park (7402 49th Street/727.549.8000), beginning at 7:00pm on Thursday, October 1.

“Our goal with the Unplugged series is to allow our fans to better connect with the Lightning players,” said Angelina Lawton, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications. “We are taking off the helmets, peeling away their uniforms, letting them communicate with the fans in a relaxed, open environment designed to promote interaction. No question will go unanswered; hockey players are the best people in sports and we look forward to achieving new levels of openness with our fans.”

Unplugged sessions will feature appearances by the new Lightning mobile marketing truck, as well as Thunderbug, the Bolt Brigade, and the Lightning Girls. This week Pete & Shorty’s will provide food and drink specials, as well as trivia, prizes, and free Lightning giveaways.

Lightning fans should look for regular announcements detailing the future stops of Unplugged throughout the 2009-10 season. And as always, they are encouraged to visit http://www.tampabaylightning.com  and stay tuned to twitter.com/tblightning for more details.