You know, Sun Belt cities get a bad rap among hockey fans. People see these cities as an anomaly in the NHL scene, where youngins can't become NHL players because of a lack of ice. It's a common talking point among traditionalists who pine for an all-NHL league north of Kentucky.
Vegas Golden Knights fans and Tampa Bay Lightning fans have heard that rough dialogue before. Yet, both of their teams are living proof that hockey can succeed in warm climates. I mean, players like the Hughes brothers, Tage Thompson, Auston Matthews, and the Tkachuk brothers have been proven Sun Belt commodities.
Still, those ramblings go on from the haters...
With that, I traveled to Tampa for a hockey game last week. I enjoyed checking out Sun Belt hockey in Florida to see what the hype was about. After all, you don't earn a reputation after winning back-to-back Stanley Cups during the COVID years.
Believe it or not, the success stems past those COVID seasons. They won a Stanley Cup against the Calgary Flames in 2003-04 in seven games, bringing the Stanley Cup to the Sunshine State for the first time ever. They also ran an Original Six gauntlet in 2014-15, taking down the Detroit Red Wings, the New York Rangers, and the Montreal Canadiens. Ultimately, they fell to the Chicago Blackhawks in six games, watching Chicago continue their dynastic run throughout the 2010s.
There's plenty of substance to Tampa being a bona fide hockey town. The city has a winning pedigree in recent years, thanks to incredible management and superstars like Andrei Vasilevskiy and Nikita Kucherov. Let's meet some crazy Florida men making love to alligators and see what Tampa's premier hockey team's all about. That includes what to watch for and the playlist you should be rocking.
Getting to Tampa
Traveling to Florida from Las Vegas requires a plane. I stayed in an Airbnb hosted by a man named John, who had his two daughters with him. He told me about the Tesla coils hanging in Benchmark International Arena and how they gave off sparks whenever the Lightning scored (get it? Electricity!).
But a funny thing happened. My flight, which was with Spirit (not flying with them again), was changed. I had to get to the airport by Friday instead of taking the overnight flight. That complicated my work schedule, where I had to miss a whole day instead of just missing night reports. Again, 0/10 with Spirit. Definitely wouldn't recommend even if they were the only airline on Earth.
Still, it was relatively smooth sailing in getting a hotel for one night (free breakfast, too!). But I do have one weird suspicion: my hotel might've been haunted since I kept hearing little kid's voices. I don't really believe in ghosts so I can't necessarily prove that. But still, if you stay at La Quinta by Wyndham in Tampa, be on the lookout!
What I did as a Vegas Golden Knights fan
I had to check out Waffle House and, boy, does it have that authentic small-town diner feel. No, I didn't get into any fights, as is Waffle House tradition. However, I did slam into some excellent waffles, fried eggs, and hash browns! Oh, and I also had bacon with that. Can't forget about bacon.
But I also went to Raymond James Stadium to watch the San Francisco 49ers play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Unfortunately, Fred Warner dislocated his ankle and the Niners lost. But hey, the Niners still had the division lead afterward!
Despite the loss, Raymond James Stadium was boatloads of fun! Did you know they have a pirate ship that shoots gunpowder every time the Bucs score a touchdown? It scared the daylights out of me a couple of times.
Of course, there were some mandatory Publix trips. I was slightly disappointed by how expensive it was compared to the Sprouts I normally shop at. Still, Publix is a nice grocery store to check out.
If you're going to the game, check out Top Shelf Sports Lounge. It's a 10-minute walk from Benchmark International Arena and it has the best beer and food. You'll likely run into Cooch, a bartender from New York who's honestly hilarious. He spent the time trash-talking my Niners hat, but was still cool to talk to. He even went to the first home game ever at T-Mobile Arena, where the Golden Knights honored the 58 lives lost from the tragic mass shooting on October 1, 2017.
As for next time? I plan on checking out Busch Gardens. Here, you can ride on roller coasters AND see giraffes! That's a winning combo.
Playlist for going to a Tampa Bay Lightning game
Dethklok
Fun fact: the fictional lead singer of Dethklok, Nathan Explosion, is from New Port Richey, which is nearly 38 miles north of Tampa. It's only fitting to honor the Lightning with tunes from the band from Metalocalypse, a show formerly on Adult Swim.
Some incredible bangers to play en route to Benchmark International Arena include "Go Into The Water," "Duncan Hills Coffee Jingle," "Laser Cannon Death Sentence," and "Burn The Earth." Here's a little tip for you. Play "Burn The Earth" at the 3:44 mark when the Lightning step onto the ice. It'll make for one of the most electrifying on-ice entrances you'll ever see.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
I remember writing about "Free Bird" being used by Team USA every time Jack Eichel scored. I got an email from someone in Boise regarding the band's spelling and I haven't forgotten about it since. To the one reader in Boise, I say "Thank you!"
Obviously, everyone knows about "Free Bird" and how it's associated with U.S. hockey. But there's also "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Simple Man" that works here. You can also play "Gimme Three Steps" for the Jacksonville band, bringing some Southern rock to the drive.
Bring Me The Horizon
If you're all about the Chad memes, "Can You Feel My Heart" is the jam for you. But there's also "Chelsea Smile" and "Pray For Plagues" that go well with Lightning hockey. You can also play this driving from Las Vegas to Los Angeles for the long road trip!
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
No, it's not "Red Velvet Asparagus." Instead, the band from Middleburg, Florida, also brings some thunder to Florida's rock scene. Hits like "Face Down," "Your Guardian Angel," and "Da*m Regret" should be on your playlist when driving to watch the Lightning.
PUP
I stumbled upon this band while reading Drew Magary's old content. This was before I went to reading Barstool because they were much cooler. Still, the band kicks arse and is worth a listen.
Songs like "DVP," "If This Tour Doesn't Kill You, I Will," and "Kids" are worth jamming out to before and after the game. If you're looking for something new, definitely give PUP a try!
Bonus: Beyonce
Songs like "Crazy In Love" are definitely worth listening to for some comfort tunes. You also can't go wrong with anything off of Cowboy Carter.
What I thought about Benchmark International Arena
Going into Benchmark International Arena felt like a different world. It felt like you were sitting front row in front of a beautiful storm, watching the Lightning play hockey. Granted, Tampa Bay lost to the New Jersey Devils, 5-3. However, the Lightning fans were into the game, coming up with all sorts of chants. That included one of the Devils players allegedly stealing catalytic converters.
Before I headed to Benchmark International Arena, I talked to a woman named Colleen. Colleen and her husband were originally from Upstate New York and had been season-ticket holders since Tampa Bay's inaugural season. She showed me a picture of her husband holding up the season tickets they got in 1993.
"Initially, we didn't have the money for two reasons," said Colleen. "One, we grew up in Upstate New York, where there's snow. Two, there was no extra money with a kid."
Yet, she said her husband believed in the franchise. Fortunately, his company did direct withdrawals every year. After that, they stuck around through the tough times, whether it was during the Ice Palace years or the rebuild years.
I saw exactly what she was talking about when I entered the arena. A Sun Belt team with a passionate fanbase and a winning pedigree. Sound familiar, Golden Knights fans? It should because that's the same thing Las Vegas has with an excellent front office.
That's why I'm giving Benchmark International Arena a 9.9 out of 10. It felt like I was at a Golden Knights game, only with Tesla coils and an Eastern Conference team. I highly recommend going to Benchmark International Arena for a Lightning game whenever Vegas plays them. It'll "electrify" you.