Lightning Fan Fest Set For This Weekend

TAMPA, FL – The Tampa Bay Lightning will celebrate the start of its silver anniversary while continuing to help hurricane relief efforts during its annual Fan Fest.

The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 16 at Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa. Season Ticket Members will have access to an exclusive practice beginning at 8:30 a.m. while doors will open to the general public at 9:30 a.m.

Fan Fest is the first opportunity for Tampa Bay Lightning fans to see and interact with the 2017-18 team. The event is free but fans must obtain a mobile ticket by visiting www.tampabaylightning.com/fanfest.

The first 10,000 fans to arrive will receive a player interaction at either an autograph or photo station. In honor of the Bolts’ 25th anniversary, Lightning alumni will sign autographs at RumFish Grill behind Section 108 from noon to 1 p.m.

In addition, the first 250 Florida Blue members at Fan Fest will receive an extra player photo voucher. Florida Blue members can present their insurance card at the Florida Blue tent on Ford Thunder Alley prior to entering AMALIE Arena for Fan Fest.

Fan Fest attendees also will have access to food trucks, a merchandise sale, kids play area, used equipment sale, food and beverage specials and more.

Fans will have the opportunity to make monetary and in-kind donations to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief efforts. Earlier this month, Jeffrey and Penny Vinik and the Lightning donated $1 million to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.

Earlier this week, the Lightning, along with the Florida Panthers, the NHL and the NHLPA, combined together to donate $2.7 million to Hurricane Irma relief efforts. Aside from Fan Fest, the Lightning and Panthers will also collect cash donations from fans at each of their home preseason games, which begin next week:

• Tuesday, Sept. 19 – Carolina Hurricanes at Tampa Bay Lightning
• Friday, Sept. 22 – Nashville Predators at Tampa Bay Lightning
• Sunday, Sept. 24 – Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning
• Tuesday, Sept. 26 – Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers
• Thursday, Sept. 28 – Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers

The Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation and the Panthers also have separate YouCaring fundraisers underway for fans who can’t make it to the preseason games. The Tampa Bay Lightning Hurricane Relief Fund is looking to raise $100,000 after passing its initial $50,000 goal, while the Florida Panthers Hurricane Irma Relief fund is looking to raise $25,000.

Five former Tampa Bay Lightning players donated to the Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation YouCaring fundraiser on Wednesday. Former Lightning captains and assistant captains Dave Andreychuk, Martin St. Louis, Brad Richards and Vincent Lecavilier each donated $10,000 to the relive efforts, while Fredrik Modin contributed $2,000.

Fan Fest is scheduled to end at 2 p.m., but fans are invited to stay at Amalie Arena to watch the final practice of the day.

Patch staff photo