Lightning announce details for upcoming Fan Fest on Sept. 27
TAMPA BAY -- The Tampa Bay Lightning have announced a detailed schedule for Fan Fest, presented by Florida Hospital, on Saturday, September 27 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Amalie Arena in preparation for the upcoming 2014-15 season on Saturday. Florida Hospital is giving away free t-shirts to the first 3,500 fans in attendance.
The Lightning's annual Fan Fest event is free and open to the public. The fun on Ford Thunder Alley begins at 9:00 a.m. and doors to the arena will open at 9:30 a.m. Fans can park in any Lightning-owned lot for a discounted rate of $5 and enter through the grand entrance on Ford Thunder Alley. The team will be split into three groups for practice with the first group going on the ice at 9:30 a.m. The second group will practice from 11-11:45 a.m. and the final group will practice from 1-1:45 p.m. The team will conduct a 45-minute blue-white scrimmage beginning at noon.
The Lightning will hold a High School Hockey Shootout following their noon scrimmage. Local students from 17 Tampa Bay area high schools will participate in a shootout against two Lightning goaltenders with each high school player getting at least one shot on a Lightning goaltender.
Lightning players will sign autographs in two 45-minute shifts beginning at 1:15 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Lightning Season Ticket Members will have an exclusive autograph signing session on the club level concourse and a private question and answer session in the Firestick Grill (on the club level) during the autograph sessions.
In addition to meeting the team and watching the Lightning scrimmage, fans will also have the chance to receive discounted prices on food and beverages from concession stands inside Amalie Arena. The discounts include $2 hot dogs, $1 sodas, $4 beers, $3 Little Caesars ® pizza slices, $2 Tim Horton's coffees and free popcorn.
A highlight of the day will be the scheduled unveiling of the team's new alternate (third jersey) by captain Steven Stamkos, just before the start of the blue-white scrimmage. Fans will be able to pre order the jersey in the team's merchandise shops and buy ancillary alternate jersey merchandise as well. Please note the jersey will not be available for pick up until the middle of November.
The Lightning will be offering fans an exclusive ticket package, the Bolts Bucks First Four Package, while at Fan Fest. Fans that purchase a full priced promenade, club or terrace level seat for any of the first four regular season games will get Bolts Bucks included in the purchase. Bolts Bucks may be redeemed on game day at any Amalie Arena concession or merchandise location. Promenade and club seats purchased include a $40 Bolts Bucks card per person, while terrace level seats purchased will include a $20 Bolts Bucks card per person. Packages begin at only $25 per seat.
Other Fan Fest highlights include a used equipment sale at section 128, beginning at 9:30 a.m., a broadcasters roundtable featuring Dave Andreychuk, Dave Mishkin and Bobby 'the Chief" Taylor open to all fans in the Firestick Grill from 11:00 -- 11:30 a.m., a special Kids' Zone adjacent the ice at section 123 that will be open all day long and a select-a-seat for fans interested in purchasing Lightning tickets. The Kids' Zone will be directly behind one of the Lightning goals and will feature activities for kids. The Lightning will also hold a used equipment sale at section 128, offering fans the chance to purchase used Lightning gear at discounted prices. Fan Fest will conclude with a 90-minute sled hockey game that begins at 2 p.m.
Below is a schedule of events for all fans at Fan Fest:
| Time | Location | Event |
| 9 AM | Ford Thunder Alley | Alumni Autographs, Kid's activities, Street Hockey |
| 9:30 AM | Amalie Arena | Doors Open for free event |
| 9:30 AM-3:30 PM | Section 128 | Used Equipment Sale |
| 9:30 AM-3:30 PM | Behind Lightning Goal | Kids Zone |
| 10:30-10:45 AM | In-Arena | Steve Yzerman Interview |
| 11-11:30 AM | Firestick Grill | Broadcasters Roundtable |
| 11-11:45 AM | Ice | Practice 2 |
| 11:45 AM | In-Arena | Jeff Vinik Interview |
| 11:45 AM-Noon | Ice | Third Jersey Reveal |
| Noon-12:45 PM | Ice | Lightning Scrimmage |
| 12:45 PM | Ice | High School Hockey Shootout |
| 12:45 PM | In-Arena | Jon Cooper Interview |
| 1:15-2 PM | 100 Level Concourse | Autograph Session 1 |
| 1-1:45 PM | Ice | Practice 3 |
| 2-2:45 PM | 100 Level Concourse | Autograph Session 2 |
| 2-3:30 PM | Ice | Sled Hockey |
| 3:30 PM | Amalie Arena | Event Concludes |
