Amalie Arena

Amalie Arena is a multipurpose arena in Tampa, Florida, United States of America. The sports associated with this arena are ice hockey, basketball, arena football and other than sports concerts and events are also held. It is commonly used as the home for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League. It was constructed in 1994 at a cost of $139 million in an area of 13.8 acres.

History of Amalie Arena

The building was opened on 12^th October 1996 and was originally known as the Ice Palace. The first event that was held in the arena was the Royal Hanneford Circus.  Later on the circus was followed by the first Lightning game played on 20^th October 1996. The building’s naming rights were sold to St. Petersburg Times, which later became the Tampa Bay Times on 31^st December, 2011.

Due to the changing naming rights the name of the arena was then known as St. Pete Times Forum (2002-2012) and later as Tampa Bay Times Forum (2012 -2014). Finally in August 2014, the arena was renamed as Amalie Arena when the naming rights were given to Amalie Oil Company.

The arena has hosted numerous high-profile events including the 1999 NHL All-Star Game, the 2007 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament, the 2008 NCAA Women’s Final Four, the 2009 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament, the 2012 Republican National Convention, the 2012 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four and more.

Renovation

In 2010, the Tampa Bay Times Forum was ranked as the fourth busiest arena in the United States. A $35 million renovation was scheduled to be completed before the 2012 Republican National Convention. 

The renovation included:

• A rebuilt grand plaza entrance
• Elimination of 2 lower-level suites in each corner (8 of current 28 suites) leaving views from the concourse area to the playing area
• Renovation of each suite, elimination of sections 3232 and 324 on the terrace level (574 seats) for a bar and stage area that will feature a new digital theatre organ
• More concessions area on the terrace level
• An 11,000-square-foot (1000 square meter) outdoor deck and party area overlooking outside plaza and facing the downtown skyline
• New climate controls that improve both the ice surface and spectator comfort, new lighting, all new padded seats, resurfaced and redecorated concourse, combining Icons and Medallions restaurants into one venue, and updated restrooms.

Moreover, in 2012, the Tampa Bay Times Forum installed a new video display board. The board is billed as the largest of its kind in North America.

Later on, in 2014, the arena started its 1-acre organic vegetable garden to make the players and fans eat healthy and nutritious food. They utilized an outside area in the back with cooling pipes and recycling bins, a deck was built along with 125 hydroponic towers.

Stakeholders

• Owner- Hillsborough County, Florida
• Operator – Tampa Bay Entertainment Properties, LLC, a division of Vinik Sports Group, LLC
• Architect – Ellerbe Becket
• Structural Engineer – Walter P Moore
• General Contractor – Hunt / Morse Diesel

Significance

• The NCAA Women's Final Four Basketball Championship played at the arena in 2008 and still continues to call AMALIE Arena home.
• AMALIE Arena is consistently ranked a top arena in the country and the world by Pollstar Magazine, the leading industry magazine. October 20, 1996 - First game ever played at AMALIE Arena, a 5-3 win over the New York Rangers
• October 25, 1998 – Vincent Lecavalier scored his first career NHL goal against the Vancouver Canucks
• January 24, 1999 – The arena hosted the 1999 NHL All-Star Game
• November 15, 2003 - Dave Andreychuk recorded his 250th power-play goal to set an NHL career record in a 4-2 win against the San Jose Sharks
• October 5, 2005 – Raised the Stanley Cup Championship banner in front of a record crowd of 22,120
• April 7, 2007- Vincent Lecavalier ended the 2006-2007 season with 108 points (52 goals and 56 assists).
• February 17, 2009 - Steven Stamkos recorded his first NHL hat trick against the Chicago Blackhawks
• May 25, 2010- The Lightning announced Hall of Fame and former Detroit Red Wings executive Steve Yzerman as their new general manager.
• March 31, 2011 - The Lightning clinched a playoff spot for the first time in four years with a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins
• May 4, 2011 - The Lightning completed a four-game sweep of the Washington Capitals in the 2011 Eastern Conference Semifinal
• June 3, 2015- The Lightning maked it to the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in franchise history and lost in six games (4-2) to the Chicago Blackhawks.
• January 13, 2017 – Martin St. Louis, the all-time leading scorer in Tampa Bay history, became the first Lightning player to have his jersey retired, his No. 26 got lifted to the rafters in an emotional ceremony at AMALIE Arena.
• November 13, 2017 – Former Lightning captain and 2004 Stanley Cup Champion Dave Andreychuk was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
• May 11, 2018- The Lightning and Washington Capitals advanced to the Eastern Conference Final and the Bolts lost it in seven games (4-4) to Washington.
• September 11, 2018 – Julien BriseBois was named the seventh general manager in Tampa Bay Lightning history, replacing Steve Yzerman, who stepped aside to become the Senior Advisor to the General Manager.
• November 12, 2018 – First ballot inductee Martin St. Louis was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
• September 28, 2020 – Tampa Bay Lightning became the Stanley Cup champions for a second time.
• July 7, 2021 - Tampa Bay Lightning became the Stanley Cup champions for a third time, and the first ever to win two Stanley Cups within one year.