As we head into the last full month before hockey starts up again, it’s time to highlight some of the community aspects and other happenings in and around the Tampa Bay Lightning team.
The CBA: With a little under six weeks until the current CBA expires, this is the topic sure to dominate all aspects of the current NHL. Will the season be delayed? Will there be a season? What will the concessions be from the owners or players? And nothing definitive has come out of the current talks going on in New York. The Lightning’s own BJ Crombeen is in New York serving as a player rep for the NHLPA. The Tampa Bay Times had Crombeen quoted as saying, “We’ll look at it (the owner’s proposal), and when we get a full understanding of it, we’ll say where we’re coming from.”
So, even though the outcome has yet to be determined, hopefully the two sides can find a common ground so that the season will start on time with all players intact. No one wants a repeat of 2004-2005.
Community Heroes Submissions: This is the second full season of this community oriented program and the time to submit a local hero is now. Jeff Vinik, the owner of the Lightning, and his wife Penny launched this initiative to highlight and financially help those people who are using their time and energy to make the Tampa Bay region a better place to live, work and raise a family. The first submission deadline is August 15th. Nomination criteria and Instructions for the nominations can be found on the Lightning website.
Special Merchandise Sale: With the Times Forum playing host to the Republican National Convention throughout most of August, it was announced that this weekend, August 4-5 from 9 AM to 5 PM, there would be a blowout merchandise sale. Season tickets holders can look to receive deep discounts in addition to those they already receive. In some cases, it could be as much as 50% off. And, if you aren’t a season ticket holder (and seriously, why aren’t you?), don’t fret because you can receive up to 20% of merchandise in honor of the team’s 20th anniversary season.
Calling All Artists: And, in conjunction with the 20th anniversary season, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Times Forum are looking for local artists to submit original artwork to be displayed throughout the building in the 2012-2013 season. Submissions are due at the beginning of September so head on over to the Lightning website for the exhibition guidelines and rules of entry. Good luck!
