Heading to the Lightning home preseason game Friday? Read this first

Posted Sep 22, 2011 by Erik Erlendsson

Updated Sep 22, 2011 at 07:40 PM

The following is a statement from the Lightning intended for fans attending Friday’s home preseason game due to all the renovations still taking place inside the St. Pete Times Forum:

The $40 million transformation of the St. Pete Times Forum will continue through the month of October as the design and construction team works diligently to complete the extensive arena project. The aggressive renovation remains on schedule for a majority of the projects to be completed in time for the Tampa Bay Lightning’s regular season home opener on October 17. However, certain areas of the Times Forum will still be under construction this Friday when the Lightning play a home preseason game against the Florida Panthers.

“We are asking fans to ‘pardon our dust’ this Friday,” said Chief Operating Officer Steve Griggs. “We are very pleased to be able to showcase certain areas of the facility for the Panthers game, but we knew when starting the project that we would not be 100 percent functional for some events and this game will be one of them. But the facility is coming along fabulously and we know fans are going to be excited at what they see.”

New sports lighting has been installed, the terrace and club levels have all new seating, concourse floors have been resurfaced, hundreds of gallons of paint have been applied to the walls inside the bowl of the arena, all of the arena’s suites have been renovated and beautiful main concourse vistas have been created allowing fans to see inside the bowl.

“Wow’ factors like the grand pipe organ and performance stage, the 11,000 square foot outdoor party deck, new digital signage and live lightning strikes will debut for the regular season opener on October 17. Later this fall, the arena’s reconstructed restaurant and a grand west entry featuring a new ticket office, team retail store and deli will be unveiled. Additionally, an extensive photography and art collection will adorn the interior walls of the Times Forum, offering fans a walk through the history of Tampa Bay, the Lightning and the Tampa Bay Storm.

As fans prepare to attend Friday’s game against the Panthers (7:30 p.m.), Lightning management asks them to please take note of the following:

The McDonald’s Ticket Office (and will call windows) will be located in temporary facilities on the West Plaza near the parking garage
The Metro PCS Client Services Lounge for season ticket members is being relocated to the Rolling Thunder marketing vehicle near the ticket office
Doors to the arena will open at 5:30 p.m. to allow fans more time to enter through stair towers on the east and west side of the Times Forum, rather than the conventional entrances, which are being rebuilt as part of the new West Entry

Fans with questions are encouraged to call the St. Pete Times Forum before coming to the game on Friday at 813.301.6500.