Visiting Fan Seating?

by Sparki on Jan 12, 2011 12:52 PM EST

I'm transplanted Philly fan that lives quasi-locally (Orlando).

I'm looking at the team site, stub hub, and all the rest to get tickets for the Feb 15th game and I love how I can grab seats anywhere.. So I wanted to know: Is there an area of sections for visiting fans? Or is it pretty much everyone anywhere? I see plenty of good tickets available even @ ice level, which is good cause it will be my wifes first game. We're not rowdy types, but I do plan on cheering & wearing a jersey.

Also how civil is it the home crowd? Us Philly fans are always classified as villains, which doesn't make sense... but its stuck. So how would one be received? Light parking lot banter or am I a hated villain that should bring some back up?

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The crowd’s usually pretty civil, and seating’s pretty much anywhere. I highly recommend an end or a corner. Anywhere else, especially the lower you sit, you’re not going to be able to see the entire sheet of ice. But if you don’t mind that, then sit wherever.

The closer you get to the game time-wise, tho, those tickets are going to get scarcer. So get them now while you still can. Enjoy!

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by Cassie McClellan on Jan 12, 2011 4:28 PM EST reply actions

To give you an idea of the crowd: I was at game 7 of the SCF in 2004. The climax of a heated series. Flames fans complained after the game TB fans were too NICE.

Mind you, Tampa’s got the perception that Philly is their eal rival in the east. Fans might hold it against you (bieng a Flyers fan) more willingly. Anyone who gets beered up is going to be an issue — but that’s universal in sports.

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by John Fontana on Jan 12, 2011 7:23 PM EST reply actions

Tampa v Philly

I always hear that stuff from my friends that are Buc fans, and I don’t get it.. I know I wasn’t liking the Bucs a for few years when they had the Eagles number.. but I wouldn’t call it a rivalry, our rivals are pretty much narrowed to to divisional foes. Same w/ hockey for me… Tampa’s another team in the East (granted in hockey, unlike football, we play you almost as much as we play div teams) but theres not nearly the same history. As a philly fan though, its just rare to receive a warm welcome… seems everyone wants say something, like I was there throwing the first snow ball at Santa (not like I wouldn’t have though, I never got that Red Ryder BB Gun).

by Sparki on Jan 13, 2011 2:54 PM EST up reply actions

Before the Bucs had the Eagles number, the Eagles were kickign the Bucs out of the playoffs in the first round. Two years in a row i I do recall.

Before that? The Tampa Bay Lightning made the playoffs for the first time in 1996 and faced off against — ta da — the Flyers in the first round. Losing the series 4 games to 2, it got the fans riled up. We didn’t care for Lindros much either (for years to follow).

Lets not forget the Rays / Phillies world series. Locally, people saw this as another example of the rivalrybetween cities… Though it seems Philly fans don’t see it or feel it.

Hell, we had an altercation here on Raw Charge when the Gagne trade went down. Flyer fans were over here, being classy (and I do mean classy) talking about Simon, and we had a Lightning react rather hostilely to it / to them.

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by John Fontana on Jan 13, 2011 4:06 PM EST up reply actions

I guess...

But cities with multiple teams are bound to meet up multiple times in multiple sports, and for Tampa/Philadelphia chances are even greater since our teams always seem to be in the same conference (Rays/Phillies kinda excluded here.. but you can’t really say theres a rivalry there w/ only 1 series of history anyway – world or midseason). I guess with Philly having a divisional rivals in multiple sports from in the same markets – like: NY, NJ, Washington… and how teams will always play divisional foes more than others and how divisional games mean more to rankings.. its easier to lose the feeling of “rivalry” in games played outside of the division. While the games do mean something, especially those in the post season, theres a different feel when its a rival you play all the time… Don’t you feel differently when watching a Tampa team playing against one from Atlanta (any sport)?

No matter what though, Flyers and Lightning are both doing well so it should be a good game.

Side note, which section walkway does the visiting team walk out from? I see possible paths in 102, 104, 120, & 130? And decent prices for 120 & 104 (so hoping its one of those even though the other 2 are behind the benches)…

by Sparki on Jan 13, 2011 4:34 PM EST up reply actions

102

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by John Fontana on Jan 13, 2011 6:43 PM EST up reply actions

Sparki – I hope you post something about your experience. I’ll be in the same boat come March 7th, so I’m interested to hear your thoughts as a visitor. Tampa will be the last of my 3 Caps road games which all happen within about 3 weeks or so of one another.

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by Carl Putnam on Jan 17, 2011 1:49 PM EST reply actions

WE WILL KILL YOU!!!

I keed, I keed… or do I?…haha. I’ve been a life long hockey fan and have been going to Lightning games since their first season at the ol’ Expo Hall. Still attend games on the regular as I’m about 20min. from the Forum(live in St. Pete). I’d have to say.. if you were to ask me who is the Bolts biggest “rival” over the years? I’d have to say the Flyers and then maybe the Caps after past few seasons.

I had the luck to attend that first play-off game vs. the Flyers in 1996, was only about 12 but will remember it for rest of my life. It was loud, intense and brutal. So that’s where the “rivalry” started pretty much. But when it comes to fans and sports in general… Tampa/Florida lacks in “heat”. Not temperature wise but rivalry wise. Especially compared to other more hockey/sports ~~friendly~~ towns… such as Philly. I’d say you’d probably catch more crap being a Bolts fan in Philly than the other way around.

I will also be in the kinda the same boat come Feb. 17th when the Red Wings are in town. Born in Michigan, raised in Florida.. so yeah.. those are my teams. It’s almost a family tradition that we all go to the game whenever the Wings are in town, which is rare. But when they are, their usually tends to be much more RED in the crowd on those nights, then say Black or Blue. Which I don’t expect to change with Yzerman now on board. Still though, makes it hard to pick a team for the night. I just stand when both teams score and usualy wear a Wings jersey with a Bolts hat or vice versa.

Point being… Lightning home games/fans are a mixed bunch, as is all of Florida.. so you shouldn’t have any major problems and don’t need any “back-up” Hope you enjoy the game even though I also hope the Flyers lose, haha. Welcome!!

As far as seats go… pick a corner for best view. Not usualy a particular spot for visiting team’s fans unless they’ve pre-organized some type of road-trip thing. Which I’ve seen Caps fans do on occasion.. in which case they were all behind the Caps bench. I would try and avoid sites like stub-hub if possible you can add $15.00 bux to any price you see on there for their crazy shipping crap. Best bet would be craigslist or check box office for special deals and such. The Forum/Bolts have quite a few decent deals.

As always… GO WINGS/BOLTS!!

STAND TALL, FLY STRAIGHT, USA ALL THE WAY!

by DetroitALLtheWay09 on Jan 22, 2011 3:16 PM EST reply actions