Sorry, Red Wings Fans: Tickets For Tampa Bay Lightning Playoff Games Restricted To Florida Residents
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - The Detroit Red Wings are on track to meet the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the NHL playoffs -- so it's too bad that if the series takes place, Red Wings fans will not be able to attend the games.
The games in Florida are for Florida residents only. In other words, Red Wings fans, your money's no good there.
Is it to eliminate trash talking the home team, seeing a sea of opponents' jerseys, cutting down on off-the-ice brawls? The Tampa Tribune reports that "loud contingents of fans of teams in Chicago, Montreal, Winnipeg and Detroit have attended Lightning games this season."
The hockey team says only that it wants to "create a home atmosphere" for the upcoming series, according to the Associated Press.
Anyone who tries to purchase tickets online with a credit card that is not associated with a Florida address will have his order canceled, according to the team's Ticketmaster page.
"Amalie Arena is located in Tampa, FL. Sales to this event will be restricted to residents of Florida. Residency will be based on credit card billing address. Orders by residents outside the selected area will be canceled without notice and refunds given."
The team is standing behind its exclusionary policy.
"We don't feel the need to apologize for doing our best to create a home atmosphere for our season ticket members and our team,'' team spokesman Bill Wickett told the Tampa Tribune.
Theoretically, fans with Florida friends could have them purchase tickets on their behalf, but there is a six-ticket limit. Orders past that limit will be cancelled.
As if requiring Florida addresses on the cards of online ticket buyers is not restrictive enough, the Lightning has issued another policy: only Tampa Bay gear will be permitted in certain areas of the arena.
"Chase Club and Lexus Lounge ticket holders - please note that for all 2015 NHL Playoff Games at Amalie Arena, only Tampa Bay Lightning team logos will be permitted in these areas. Fans wearing visiting team logos will be asked to remove them while in the Chase Club and Lexus Lounge areas."
