Ever go to a Lightninggame when the opposition is from a major Northern city? You know where I’m going.
The Lightning beat the Detroit Red Wings a couple of weeks ago at Amalie Arena in front of a big, raucous crowd that was evenly divided in its allegiance. It goes with being a city of relocatees. It goes with being a winter sport in Florida. And with a franchise that sells about 11,000 season-ticket packages in a 19,204-capacity venue, there are always tickets for the motivated.
For the record, Lightning officials are sensitive on this one. A packed house is still a packed, even if divided, house. Stuff happens here that doesn’t happen there. We get it.
But, still, it’s really, really annoying when you’re sitting next to in-your-face, loud mouths in their out-of-town-team jerseys. It reminds you of why a lot of us moved here–to get away from them.