How Strong are the Lightning as a Franchise and Fanbase?
Posted 8:50 PM ET | Comments 0
This is going to be a test. A test of loyalty. A test of commitment. And a test of dedication. Since the Bolts were first born here in Tampa Florida, they have always been the second sports team in town. Now with the emergence of the Rays and their fairytale rise to the top, and the success of the South Florida Bulls Football team in a college football crazed state, the Lightning find themselves, for the first time, slipping to the basement of Tampa's sports hierarchy.
Behind the Buccaneers, the only time the Lightning was tested for the runner-up spot was the inaugural season of the Devil Rays. Even with the emergence of a Major League Baseball team in town, the Devil Rays supporters quickly dwindled down to nothing thanks to horrible teams and even worse ownership. The Lightning on the other hand was showing signs of progress. After the teams’ first playoff appearance in 97', and a move into a brand new arena in downtown Tampa, the Bolts future was looking bright.
Enter Bill Davidson and Palace Sports...
With stable ownership (from a far at least), a new arena, and the arrival of the Vinny Lecavalier (the Bolts first true franchise player), the future was most certainly bright. With another playoff appearance, added fan favorite players such as Marty St. Louis and Brad Richards, and an eventual Stanley Cup victory, the Tampa Bay Lightning were arguably the hottest ticket in town.
The glory days might be over...at least for the near future.
For the last five years the Lightning has been playing in a sold out arena with a new legion of fans. But were they just playing steward to the thrown? Yes the Bolts were the hot team in town, but was that due to the teams overall popularity and fans dedication to the game, or was it because the other franchises in the city were horrible. Though, it is a bit early to tell, the signs lately have not been promising for the Bolts. There has always been a bit of skepticism of how successful hockey can be in the south. Though the Lightning are a success story, they have done so without any help. Lets just say the amount of coverage the Rays have been getting both locally and nationally has dwarfed what the Lightning received during their Stanley Cup run. Though it is still to early to see how loyal these brand new "Rays fans" are and how it will effect the Lightning’s following, the abundance of national media hype has helped attract more casual sports fans in the Tampa Bay area to the Rays than the Lightning could have even dreamed of. Along with the Rays, the area now finds itself with another success football team. The USF Bulls, like the Rays, are enjoying huge success being in the top 25 in the past 2 years and having major national coverage. Just like the Rays, the fans jumped on in droves.
This was just inevitable…right?
I mean come on, a hockey team in Florida, in the same city as a successful MLB, NFL, and College Football team? Being the 2nd favorite team in town? Of course they will eventually be overshadowed.?.? Well, we’ll see. It is still to be determined how loyal these new Rays and Bulls fans will be, and how it effects the Bolts popularity. But my guess is that Tampa’s sports market will run the same as most American cities. In Tampa, the Buccaneers will always be the first love. If all success is equal the Rays will be 2nd behind them. That leaves the Lightning and the Bulls. I would give the edge to the Lightning as long as they stay competitive. As in some ways like the Rays, there are a lot of Florida Gators, FSU Seminoles, and Miami Hurricanes fans that live in Tampa. So this will probably cut down the loyal number of Bulls fans. Unless they play for the national championship of course, then people will be jumping on like never before.
That is not to say that the Lightning will never be the darling of the town again. They will some day. I compare it to Pittsburg. When the Rays are horrible again and the Lightning are competing for the Stanley Cup, the glory days will return. Until the stars align again.
Behind the Buccaneers, the only time the Lightning was tested for the runner-up spot was the inaugural season of the Devil Rays. Even with the emergence of a Major League Baseball team in town, the Devil Rays supporters quickly dwindled down to nothing thanks to horrible teams and even worse ownership. The Lightning on the other hand was showing signs of progress. After the teams’ first playoff appearance in 97', and a move into a brand new arena in downtown Tampa, the Bolts future was looking bright.
Enter Bill Davidson and Palace Sports...
With stable ownership (from a far at least), a new arena, and the arrival of the Vinny Lecavalier (the Bolts first true franchise player), the future was most certainly bright. With another playoff appearance, added fan favorite players such as Marty St. Louis and Brad Richards, and an eventual Stanley Cup victory, the Tampa Bay Lightning were arguably the hottest ticket in town.
The glory days might be over...at least for the near future.
For the last five years the Lightning has been playing in a sold out arena with a new legion of fans. But were they just playing steward to the thrown? Yes the Bolts were the hot team in town, but was that due to the teams overall popularity and fans dedication to the game, or was it because the other franchises in the city were horrible. Though, it is a bit early to tell, the signs lately have not been promising for the Bolts. There has always been a bit of skepticism of how successful hockey can be in the south. Though the Lightning are a success story, they have done so without any help. Lets just say the amount of coverage the Rays have been getting both locally and nationally has dwarfed what the Lightning received during their Stanley Cup run. Though it is still to early to see how loyal these brand new "Rays fans" are and how it will effect the Lightning’s following, the abundance of national media hype has helped attract more casual sports fans in the Tampa Bay area to the Rays than the Lightning could have even dreamed of. Along with the Rays, the area now finds itself with another success football team. The USF Bulls, like the Rays, are enjoying huge success being in the top 25 in the past 2 years and having major national coverage. Just like the Rays, the fans jumped on in droves.
This was just inevitable…right?
I mean come on, a hockey team in Florida, in the same city as a successful MLB, NFL, and College Football team? Being the 2nd favorite team in town? Of course they will eventually be overshadowed.?.? Well, we’ll see. It is still to be determined how loyal these new Rays and Bulls fans will be, and how it effects the Bolts popularity. But my guess is that Tampa’s sports market will run the same as most American cities. In Tampa, the Buccaneers will always be the first love. If all success is equal the Rays will be 2nd behind them. That leaves the Lightning and the Bulls. I would give the edge to the Lightning as long as they stay competitive. As in some ways like the Rays, there are a lot of Florida Gators, FSU Seminoles, and Miami Hurricanes fans that live in Tampa. So this will probably cut down the loyal number of Bulls fans. Unless they play for the national championship of course, then people will be jumping on like never before.
That is not to say that the Lightning will never be the darling of the town again. They will some day. I compare it to Pittsburg. When the Rays are horrible again and the Lightning are competing for the Stanley Cup, the glory days will return. Until the stars align again.