Posted by  Erik Erlendsson, Not the Trop on 10/08  at  01:58 PM

Lauren, the game time is not going to be changed. The Hurricanes turned down the Lightning’s request to start the game earlier so the game time remains at 7:30 p.m. and will not be changed.

But keep on eye on next Saturday’s game on Oct. 18 against Minnesota, which is currently schedueld for 7:30 p.m. The Wild do not play on Friday, so if the Rays are hosting a Game 6 of the ALCS I would bank on the game against the Wild beginning earlier than the 7:30 p.m. time.

Posted by  Lauren Burg, St. Petersburg, FL on 10/08  at  11:34 AM

I believe the Lightning should try to move the time up for Sat night’s home opener if at all possible. I dont want to miss the Rays & have tickets for the Bolts game so I’m going to the Bolts game but I hope they move up the time!I just feel that we need to know really soon so we know when the game starts!

Posted by  Bo,  on 10/08  at  01:08 AM

Baseball is like watching a chess game except not as exciting.

Posted by  Ruthe Robertson, St Petersburg on 10/07  at  06:54 PM

Lightningdogg-Lessburg.

Go to cafepress.com. They have over 600 unique hockey tee shirts available. Just order in a larger size than you would normally wear. Some of them are too funny! I ordered one, too small and the customer service rep. sent me a larger size out the same day I called, and told me to keep the other one and give it to a friend or charity. You don’t find that kind of customer service anymore. Even if you don’t buy one, just reading them is a blast. Of course if Mike in Bangkok wants to make some up I’ll buy one also. Enjoy the season.

Posted by  LightningDogg, Leesburg,FL on 10/07  at  06:19 PM

LOL
Mike you should make up some T-shirts. I’d buy one!

Posted by  Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina on 10/07  at  06:05 PM

Amen Mike!!!!
I agree with you!

HOCKEY IS LIFE

Posted by  Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 10/07  at  05:59 PM

Baseball is 3 minutes of the most intense action imaginable, crammed into 3 hours.

To a hockey fan, nothing trumps hockey.  Even a bad hockey game is better than a good baseball game, on it’s best day.

Football is almost worse.  When you see the teletubbies running down the file and folds of flab are bouncing around their belts.

HOCKEY IS LIFE

Posted by  LightningDogg, Leesburg,FL on 10/07  at  05:41 PM

You go Ruthe! I’m working all night til 6am then driving 100 miles each way to see the opener. Wait and see if the Rays make it to the World Series before adjusting the Lightning schedule. Cue AC/DC, let’s drop the puck! GO BOLTS

Posted by  Thunderstruck, Lakeland, FL on 10/07  at  05:28 PM

Have fun at the Trop then Patrick.  The only thing good about baseball is it’s an excuse to drink beer due to the lame product (yawn) down on the field.  Baseball boring?  You betcha!  Little to no hitting in hockey?  And you’d rather watch NONE in baseball?  I don’t get it.

Posted by  Joellyn Carpenter, Tampa on 10/07  at  05:21 PM

I have been a Bolt fan since 1992 and a Ray’s fan for the past 3 years.  I haven’t missed a Ligtning home opener since they have been at the St. Pete Times Forum but, a Rays ALCS playoff game trumps a Lightning regular season game and unless they change the time, my season tickets will be going to friends.

Posted by  chris, jensen beach on 10/07  at  05:20 PM

Leave it alone, we’ll be driving 4 hours to get there & can watch the rays on the concourse tvs if we must. Scores will be posted on the corner boards I’m sure.

Posted by  Patrick, St. Petersburg on 10/07  at  05:17 PM

Baseball, more boring than hockey?

What year’s NHL are we talking about? Cuz 5-10 years ago, I would have agreed with you. Today’s NHL, with little to no hitting, no emotion, and over coached play—I would rather watch the Rays. And if the NHL keeps going the way of European hockey, I will be a Rays fan for many years to come.

Posted by  Herb, Sarasota on 10/07  at  05:07 PM

Figures, someone out of town (Bill Thornton), would say that the game time start should change. I have to work Saturday morning/afternoon. I am a full season ticket holder who was a full season ticket holder last year that suffered through a horrific season. I want to be there Saturday in the worst way to kick off another season (of hope). Come on EE put down the crack pipe.

Posted by  msanders, ohio on 10/07  at  04:48 PM

i take my previous comment back.  it’s the carolina game in november that they’ve changed the time for.

Posted by  msanders, ohio on 10/07  at  04:44 PM

lightning website says they’ve changed the time to 3pm.  they must’ve been listening to ya.

Posted by  Anne B, Tampa on 10/07  at  02:02 PM

Keep it the same time. Some of us have to work before the game. Its not like the TV’s at the forum won’t have the baseball game on.

Posted by  Tampafan, tampa on 10/07  at  01:53 PM

I can’t believe you would even think to change the time/date.  I have been to a few Rays games and I can tell you the fanatical fans they have right now are fair weather.  Up until recently the stands were never even close to full unless the Yankees were in town.  Leave the hockey alone.  Hockey fans are always true fans because once it hooks you, it reels you right in.  There is nothing like it.

Posted by  Nick, Valrico on 10/07  at  01:43 PM

DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT:  I HAVE WAITED SINCE LAST YEAR TO SEE THE LIGHTNING. I HAVE WENT TO ALOT OF RAYS GAME THIS YEAR AND I AM CHEERING THEM ON, BUT THERE GAME ISNT GOING TO CLINCH ANYTHING SO NO WAY.

Posted by  Cookie, Valrico on 10/07  at  01:42 PM

Thunderstruck, my initial reaction to attending a baseball game a few years back was that my husband had taken me to a hockey addict detox center.  It’s never been a game I enjoyed.  This year, each Rays game I attended was truly enjoyable.  Fanatic fan of the Bolts always.  My daughter even consulted me as to the last possible day of the Stanley Cup playoffs , before she set her wedding date!  What the Rays have accomplished so far is a first.  I’d like to cheer the home team on.  First Bolts opener I’m missing in 7 years. Forgive me!

Posted by  Teresa P., Tampa on 10/07  at  01:29 PM

Speak for yourself, Ruthe.  I’ve suffered through with the Rays as long as I did with the Bolts, no fair weather fan here.  I’d love the chance to see both.  Would be a classy move by the Lightning.

Posted by  Ruthe Robertson, St Pete on 10/07  at  01:20 PM

Don’t even consider changing the date and time. All the so called Rays fans are fair weather fans anyway. Where the heck were they two years ago when they couldn’t draw 5,000 fans to a game. At least the Bolts fans supported the team, even when finishing last in the division. Just drop the puck! We’ve waited a long time for the season opener. Hockey vs. Baseball, a no brainer. Go Bolts.

Posted by  dale, fl on 10/07  at  12:46 PM

Rays tickets $100.00, Beers $7.00, parking difficult at best, hooking up with freinds for the Bolts season opener, priceless!!!!!!!! Updates on the Rays will work for me.

Good luck Rays, let’s go Bolts.

Posted by  Thunderstruck, Lakeland, FL on 10/07  at  12:30 PM

By the way, just read another comment from another ‘fan’.  Please don’t call yourself a ‘fanatic’ Bolt’s fan if you’d rather watch that nonsense over in St Pete.  That is proof right there that a ‘fanatic Bolts fan’, you are NOT.  :(

Posted by  Thunderstruck, Lakeland, FL on 10/07  at  12:27 PM

Mike J is right on the money!  I’d rather count stars in the night time sky than watch baseball.  Are you kidding me?  Hockey even ruined football for me!  Football is too much standing around with the clock tick-tick ticking away.  What do they really play in football-25 to 35 min?  Heck NO, I’m ready to watch some real action.  Leave the Bolt’s home opener AS IS!

Posted by  Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 10/07  at  12:03 PM

Watching baseball is like watching paint dry.  It’s been too long since the last hockey game.

LET’S PLAY HOCKEY!!!