Lightning Ratings Can’t Touch Preseason Bucs
May 9th, 2016
How do Lightning playoff TV ratings compare to meaningless Bucs games?
Joe often chuckles when Tampa Bay sports fans think Lightning playoff games somehow approach the popularity of Buccaneers football.
Let’s compare TV ratings of the Bolts’ series-clinching win yesterday afternoon to a Bucs preseason telecast, both on mighty WFLA-TV, Ch. 8.
Joe’s got data.
Overnight Nielsen ratings for yesterdays’ Lightning game averaged a 7.66 rating and a 17 share. (The “share” is the percentage of market households with television on that was tuned to the game.) The broadcast peaked at a 9.8 rating (20 share) late in the game.
The Bucs’ preseason opener last year on WFLA? It peaked with a 16.1 rating and a 26 share. The total broadcast rating was 12.8 (22 share).
For more perspective, Greg Schiano’s dreadful 2013 Buccaneers averaged a 19.1 local rating per game. In 2015, Game 1 of the Lightning in the Stanley Cup drew a 17.9 local rating in June, a record for a Lightning game. Game 2 drew the second-highest ever rating in the Tampa-St. Pete-Sarasota market at 15.1.
Joe’s not bashing the Lightning here in any way, just reminding everyone we live in a football world — ‘Merica.
May 9th, 2016 at 12:38 pm
So what? Do you think people actually don’t know that?
May 9th, 2016 at 12:38 pm
Hockey fans will never understand this Joe.
You’re going to blow their minds with this.
May 9th, 2016 at 12:40 pm
Leonard….I know one thing. Hardly anyone watches pre-season games. I do. Our hockey team is in the playoffs looking to advance to the East final and hardly no one cared.
May 9th, 2016 at 12:41 pm
plenty of room in my world for hockey .those that aren’t watching are missing out on an exciting young team who are overachieving with 3 key players out
of lineup .they schooled the Islanders yesterday and broke their spirit the two games before that.
May 9th, 2016 at 12:41 pm
At least the lighting fans a watching a team in the playoffs. Oh, and they sell out their arena every night. When is the last time a bucs fan can say that?
May 9th, 2016 at 12:42 pm
Day and time would have a big impact on ratings… Not apples to apples.
May 9th, 2016 at 12:43 pm
Lurch….and if the Lightning start to have losing seasons that place will look like a morgue.
May 9th, 2016 at 12:43 pm
Tampa will always be a football town, but boy the Lightning sure are good. GO BOLTS!!!
May 9th, 2016 at 12:46 pm
I’m both a hockey and an NFL fan. MLB has pretty much lost me although I do occasionally go to a game for grins.
Football and hockey are two different experiences!!! Entirely! One is definitely more big time with lots of hoopla and crowds 3-4 X hockey crowds. The other is more intimate. Each has it’s pros and cons. I love them both.
What’s fun is watching an organization develop into something world class. Jeff Vinik has done that with the Lightning…Yzerman is easily the best GM in the game today…Cooper has done miracles with a team that has fought injuries this entire season. It’s just a quality organization from ownership down to the minor league affiliate in Syracuse.
The Bucs seem to be getting close to mirroring the Lightning Experience. Licht is off to a great start and could up being the Buc’s Yzerman…I think Koetter will be able to mirror Cooper.
And in hockey it’s a franchise goalie…we found ours in Ben Bishop..in football it’s the franchise QB and at last…we have #3!!!
The Bucs make the playoffs this year and get a taste..then next year..watch out!
May 9th, 2016 at 12:51 pm
So, are we trying to have a battle between the Bucs and Bolts? The Bolts win this battle hands down. I’m a huge Bucs fan evidenced by my participation in JBF for the past several years but the Bucs organization doesn’t hold a candle to the Lightning organization. Sorry, it’s just factual. The Bolts are rated as one of the best franchises in sports. They annually appear in the playoffs. Nobody is going to be surprised by the popularity numbers. We all know football is by far America’s sport. The fact of the matter is the Lightning are 8 wins away from the most prestigious trophy in all of sports. Everyone likes a winner. That’s common sense.
Lurch, I had to wait forever in the late 90’s to get my name called for Bucs season tix. Now, they can’t give them away. It’s not price, convenience, or any other reason. It’s all about winning. The Bolts have been steadily winning for the better part of 2 decades while the Bucs have been steadily crapping themselves for 2 decades. I remain a huge fan of both but the franchises are miles apart right now. I went to Game 5 against the Wings and it was a great, affordable experience. I can’t say the same when I go to Bucs games. I hope that changes.
May 9th, 2016 at 12:51 pm
As for me I go to every game I can. Both Nfl and NHL. These along with the Rays (now over 500) are our home teams and I won’t pit one against the other.
May 9th, 2016 at 12:54 pm
BTW…these numbers are an indictment on the Bucs fans not the Lightning.
The Buc’s numbers are roughly 20% better than the Lightning’s. This is freaking amazing when you think of it. This is just how badly this franchise has been managed the past decade. America’s sport..and that would be the NFL not the MLB…and certainly not the NBA or the NHL..dominates the smaller sports in national coverage!!!
The interest in the NHL is a fraction of the NFL even in the old time “hockey markets” like New York and Boston. The Pats and the Giants/Jets are far more important in those markets than the Bruins or Rangers/Islanders.
For the Lightning to be this close to the Bucs means the Bucs are dramatically underperforming while the Lightning are obviously enjoying playoff success. They are getting thousands to show up in a public courtyard to watch the road games on a big screen.
Bottom line…the number of NFL fans greatly overwhelms the number of hockey fans here in Florida…having said that..the passion of the hockey fans at this point in time totally dwarfs the passion of the Bucs fans. Obviously the product on the field/ice have a lot to do with that!
Times are changing though..soon the Buc’s will reclaim their dominent position at the top of the heap as the NFL big guy in town. I suspect eventually the waiting list for season tickets will revive.
May 9th, 2016 at 12:55 pm
Well said st. Pete, couldn’t have said it better myself. GO BOLTS!!!!
May 9th, 2016 at 12:57 pm
Man, I think if I lived closer to St Pete I would become a Lightning fan. Maybe that’s it. I don’t know. I lived in N.C. for 6 years and became a Hurricanes fan. Went to a few games too. Probably because I lived in the city they were playing in.
Moved back to Florida and left hockey behind.
May 9th, 2016 at 12:57 pm
A lot of people are missing out on a really good thing.
Go Bolts!
May 9th, 2016 at 1:15 pm
I love football the most, but I love hockey too. It’s been great watching the Lightning make this run without two of their top players.
As for comparison of viewership between football and hockey, first, it’s Florida. Warm weather, beaches and bikinis are on most people’s minds this time of year.
Also, Florida is football country … all the time.
That said, go Bolts! Go Bucs!
May 9th, 2016 at 1:18 pm
Football & Baseball……that’s all that matters.
May 9th, 2016 at 1:37 pm
The Bolts are now the first Tampa franchise to make back to back conference championships. Not even the Rowdies did that in their hey day. And the Storm don;t count. Imagine if the Buccaneers did that?
May 9th, 2016 at 1:40 pm
@ R.O.
Joe took numbers from yesterday (Sunday) afternoon, compared a preseason opener which would be a Thursday or Friday night. The Sunday afternoon is actually more favorable for a sporting event for ratings.
For an “Apples to Apples” comparison of day and time, Joe compared the Average for the 2013 season, mostly Sunday afternoon games.
May 9th, 2016 at 1:43 pm
Well the Bolt are a playoff team year after year. And the Bucs are losers year after year. If only the Bucs could find the Bolts winning formula and attitude.
May 9th, 2016 at 2:07 pm
Please Joe… I saw the hockey game on the national network …NBC…. yesterday thankfully, being over a thousand miles away from Tampa….I love the Bucs…but don’t expect many of their preseason games to be broadcast nationally. The interesting comparison would be the Lightning national recognition and competitive reputation, particularly as of late, compared to the Bucs.
May 9th, 2016 at 2:08 pm
Sounds like Lightning bashing to me Joe. Bad taste to say the least. More of that and there will be less of joebucsfan
Feel free to make stuff up by reading between lines. Joe writes about what’s interesting. This certainly meets that standard.–Joe
May 9th, 2016 at 2:10 pm
Bucfan20…a little harsh…but goes along with my thoughts,…which team has “better represented” the Tampa Bay area, particularly as of late…not from a community involvement perspective and such..many great guys in both organizations, but within their particular sport as a competitive force to be reckoned with.
May 9th, 2016 at 2:15 pm
Big Irish….in person, as a spectator, Hockey beats them both by miles. Love all three, but for the TV timeouts and such……But BB can at times be just plain boring….and a good deal of football time is spent regrouping from the last play and getting ready for the next play.
May 9th, 2016 at 2:29 pm
I’ve really come to enjoy hockey over the last couple years, and the Lightning are a fantastic organization. However, it will never be put above football in my household. I don’t care if they Lightning win every year and the Bucs go 0-16. Besides, it’s hard to get into a sport that has a work stoppage what seems like every 3 years.
If the Bucs played in a stadium the size of Amalie, the games would be sold out and in high demand too. That is just a dumb comparison. The problem is you don’t have 60,000 die hards wanting to go to the game (and sit in the heat), especially with a product that hasn’t been very good in a while. But there are 20,000 that are there every game screaming their heads off.
May 9th, 2016 at 2:38 pm
When the Bucs were winners. Car flags were everywhere to be seen.
I never see Lightning flags.
May 9th, 2016 at 2:44 pm
Hockey is just ahead of Soccer in this country. I’ve been to several Hockey games and I really enjoy myself but if the NFL draft was on at the same time as a Lightning Game, the draft would win every time. The 4th preseason game would win over a hockey game for me. I love football that much over hockey…no contest.
May 9th, 2016 at 3:19 pm
Little unfair comparison considering it was Mothers Day on a perfect Sunday at 3 in the afternoon when a preseason Bucs game is normally on a Friday or Saturday night in August with little to compete with. I would have liked to have watch that game from start to finish but mother has different ideas.
Awfully sexist there. So women don’t watch hockey, or football? Little to compete with on a Saturday night? Really? –Joe
May 9th, 2016 at 3:38 pm
Hardly.
Just demonstrates what Joe has been saying for years: We live in a football world.
May 9th, 2016 at 3:41 pm
I think a huge factor in more viewership for NFL games regardless of the market is supply and demand. There are so many more games in hockey, baseball and basketball as well as the series system versus a measly 16 regular season games and playoffs not being series but one game. Naturally, since there are so much fewer opportunities to watch the Bucs, they get higher ratings. That has nothing to do with the quality of the franchise or how the organization is run. I think plenty of Bucs fans are also supportive of the Bolts since they are a good team and hockey is a full contact, action packed sport. The Rays and baseball……well that is another story.
May 9th, 2016 at 3:41 pm
All preseason games that are not nationally televised on FOX, BSPN, CBS or NBC are rebroadcast on the NFL Network to a national audience, sometimes two or three times.
May 9th, 2016 at 3:45 pm
87 I see Lightning flags daily. No offense, I love the Bucs but saying you dont see any Lightning flags dosen’t mean much if anything.
Btw, there is no greater sporting event one can attend live than an NHL playoff game. I saw the Bolts play the Penguins in 2011 and I’ve been hooked ever since.
May 9th, 2016 at 4:10 pm
First lightning post on this here part of the interwebs and it’s about how poor the ratings are when compared to the NFL
SMH
Not the first Lightning post and well, this is a Bucs/NFL site.–Joe
May 9th, 2016 at 4:17 pm
Largo….you are a hair closer to St Pete than I am in Pasco. So perhaps that’s why you see the flags. I ain’t lying I haven’t seen any. I’m going to actually keep an eye out for them on the road and get back to you. lol
May 9th, 2016 at 4:18 pm
BS JOE
You are bashing them. You always have and it is pathetic. If by understand why you do it.
Personally I root for the Bucs, Bolts and Rays. For some reason you always bash the Bolts. Your prerogative I guess, but it turns a lot of fans off
May 9th, 2016 at 4:18 pm
Any flags in Spring Hill Joe?
May 9th, 2016 at 4:19 pm
Think you read something that’s not here.–Joe
May 9th, 2016 at 4:19 pm
Are we supposed to be shocked that football does better in Florida, or just about anywhere for that matter?
GO BOLTS
May 9th, 2016 at 4:24 pm
Love my Bucs. But love the Lightning too! Turn it on folks
May 9th, 2016 at 4:29 pm
Chuckle all you want Buc Joe, at least their WINNERS!!!!!
May 9th, 2016 at 4:31 pm
Joe. Car flags. When the Bucs were winners Buc flags were everywhere to be seen on people’s cars. From Brooksville to Tampa.
I never see any Lightning flags here in Port Richey. Have you seen any in Spring Hill?
In fact when I lived in NC I used to see Hurricane flags all the time when their NHL team was winning.
Floridians don’t LIKE hockey.
I wonder what the ratings are like in say Pittsburgh. Steelers vs Penguins. Pittsburgh LOVES hockey.
May 9th, 2016 at 4:40 pm
Buc1987
That’s where you are I guess.
I see lightning flags all over from Brandon to Sarasota.
Again though, I don’t understand why JOE and you and others are putting one against the other. It’s idiotic. Ive never seen this in any town I’ve ever lived in with major sports ( several).
Anyway, go BUCS AND BOLTS AND RAYS !! 🏈🏒⚾️
May 9th, 2016 at 4:44 pm
I love the Lightning. Never watch them on TV though. I DO go to games sometimes.
To me, Hockey is hard to watch on TV. LOVE LOVE LOVE going to games. No sun, Air conditioned. No drunks spilling beer on the backs of the ten or so kids I bring along…
May 9th, 2016 at 4:45 pm
Personally, the Rays could leave town and I wouldn’t care a wit. I hate baseball. Far too boring to me.
I would rather have football, hockey and basketball.
May 9th, 2016 at 4:57 pm
The market is much smaller that you can’t argue. But to measure the success of the ratings it needs to be apples to apples, lightning compared to the rest of the NHL.
May 9th, 2016 at 5:07 pm
The Bolts have won just as many playoff games in the last 2.5 weeks as the Bucs have won in the last 2 years.
Our last 3 games have included 2 games we tied up late and won both in overtime in NY and yesterday was a domineering shutout for the home team fans.
I can only hope the Bucs find similar success.
May 9th, 2016 at 5:08 pm
Biff…yet no one saw it.
May 9th, 2016 at 5:18 pm
I’m a football fan first but hockey is easily the most exciting sport to watch, especially in playoffs.
Don’t care too much for basketball. Like baseball but definitely slow.
Although I golf and love watching the big tourneys and even smaller ones with top players
Regardless – this whole article and comment section is ridiculous.
GO BOLTS! and BUCS! and RAYS!
May 9th, 2016 at 5:21 pm
Buc1987 Don’t know where you hide out but a lot of people (BIG FANS) saw the games and stayed up late to do so. Sorry your area is missing out. I see car flags, flags almost the size of us stars and stripes, banners everywhere and oh yeah, I watch them too.
May 9th, 2016 at 5:33 pm
Seriously Joe, who cares? I like both sports and both teams. All this blog post does is make Joe look pompous. I couldn’t care less about which team or sport has better TV ratings.
May 9th, 2016 at 5:36 pm
Old Buc, game 3 was a Roman feast for those of us who hate the Islanders.
Tie it up with .38 left and make short work in OT to win.
I see brighter days ahead for the Bucs too. There’s a lot to like since Solid, GM, coaching and a nucleus of promising young players.
May 9th, 2016 at 5:42 pm
For anyone who is wondering….
A Rating is the percentage of all potential viewing in the Market (whatever demographic) in this case Households…. so a
19 rating is 19% of all Tampa Market Households…..pretty strong….
Shares are relatively unimportant compared to ratings…. you could have a very high share but not many viewers if tune in at the time is low….ie late night.
May 9th, 2016 at 5:44 pm
you mean football is bigger than hockey..wow, I had no idea
May 9th, 2016 at 5:47 pm
old buc fan Says:
May 9th, 2016 at 5:21 pm
“Buc1987 Don’t know where you hide out but a lot of people (BIG FANS) saw the games and stayed up late to do so.”
Not according to the TV ratings. Hence the article. Those ratings to me look like to me hardly anyone knew they were even on TV.
Sorry to ruffle the hockey fans feathers. The Bucs suck and no one watches hockey, but they still watch the Bucs. That’s the whole point of the article anyways. The ratings say so. Hardly anyone knew they were even playing last night.
Okay I’ll leave the hockey fans alone for now. Sorry take it easy.
Go Bolts. Just make sure you go to games when they suck someday. Don’t let up your fandom even though you live in a heavy bandwagon area.
@Joe…see what you got me into. lol
BTW was it last night? I was watching re-runs of Night Court.
May 9th, 2016 at 5:49 pm
TBBF…sigh.
Okay I’m done.
May 9th, 2016 at 5:58 pm
This is a hockey town now. You can’t even give away football tickets. Just because trashy broke ham n eggers like to watch football on tv while eating their stouffers frozen enchiladas doesn’t mean it’s not.
May 9th, 2016 at 6:04 pm
At least the Lightning don’t embarrass this community every year… And they have nice uniforms
May 9th, 2016 at 6:26 pm
@ 87
I know your would be interested to know that the ratings times the share equals the HUT (Households Using Television)
Now you can sigh again!!!
May 9th, 2016 at 6:38 pm
I like all the local sports teams, pro and college but the Bucs rule the roost hands down. I agree with who said hockey is hard to watch on TV, now maybe if I had a big 70 incher. I’ve only been to one hockey game, a regular season game in Pittsburgh against Montreal in ’92, the year the Pens won their first Cup. Lemiuex was perhaps the greatest hockey player of all time. He played with Hodgkins (sp) disease and a bad back. He was mostly unstoppable.
May 9th, 2016 at 6:44 pm
We should be doing an apples to apples comparison. What’s the Bucs playoff ratings vs. the Bolts playoff ratings? Oh wait… The Bucs haven’t had a playoff game in years.
Just kidding (sort of). I’m turning into a bit of a cynic with the Bucs.
May 9th, 2016 at 6:54 pm
hockey is probably the absolute best game to watch live in person.
Football is fantastic to watch on TV. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE going to football games, but a live hockey game is definitely more exciting. Non-stop action.
May 9th, 2016 at 6:55 pm
Well I can tell you one thing the bolts being up 4 to 0 didnt help ratings. Also, if there would have been a bucs game on yesterday at 3:20, my tv would have been on the bolts, at least until they were up 3 goals then I would switch the the preseason football. Ive only been watching hockey for 3 years and Ive gotta say its got me hooked. Great way to be entertained since I went on strike from watching Rays games! J.M Left and I followed watch the cubs games now weird how theyre that good now!!!
May 9th, 2016 at 6:55 pm
TBBF…lol go through the threads on site.
I was a MAJOR troll today. It was fun. Now I see why people do it.
I’m done trolling. I’ll leave everyone alone for the rest of the night. lol
May 9th, 2016 at 6:57 pm
Kevin I never understood why fans would come on here and bash Maddon. Never got it.
May 9th, 2016 at 7:20 pm
Wow Joe. Nothing sexist about saying on Mothers Day people might be doing something else. I suppose there are many mothers that might like to watch the Lightning on their day. However, I would imagine most people were either taking their mothers or wives out to dinner or to BBQ, or even possibly the beach on a perfect day. I would imagine data would support that more men would tune into the game this Sunday than women or mothers. But hey, I’m sure you’ve done extensive analysis on the subject.
May 9th, 2016 at 7:23 pm
NOTHING beats playoff hockey.
May 9th, 2016 at 7:48 pm
I just got home from work. Whassup Fellas!? I must say, from someone who grew up in Florida and never played Ice Hockey, that watching Playoff Hockey for a Team that you Support is FREAKIN’ Awesome. Do I like football more? Hel yes but I can tell you the non-stop action and edge of your seat shots on goal are just as good if not better than lining up and just getting one pass at the endzone in a 2 to 3 minute time period with maybe the obligatory TV Timeout thrown in there. MOST importantly TAMPA, the city I grew up in and still LOVE, is in the hunt for the Stanley Cup!!!!!! THAT makes it worth it all.
May 9th, 2016 at 7:58 pm
Love football and my (usually) sad sack Bucs but hockey players are the hardest working guys in team sports no question. I dare anyone to go to a Lightning game and not get hooked for life. The Bucs have my heart but the Bolts own my soul. GO BOLTS!
May 9th, 2016 at 7:59 pm
All I know is a sports fan who does not like playoff hockey is someone I just don’t understand. It is by far the most exciting series or playoffs and sports, and I to like football better.
May 9th, 2016 at 8:04 pm
87, when he left that was it…hes easily the best manager in baseball. The guy was a miracle worker here. Blows my mind the morons that wanted him gone, hope theyre enjoying rays baseball now cuz im watching the BOLTS!!!!!!
May 9th, 2016 at 8:37 pm
When we watched the Lightning win the cup at the Forum, it by far best any sporting event that I had ever been to. It was epic, just like when the Bucs won the Super Bowl, but I couldn’t go to that. As far as value goes, the Lightning by far is the best bang for your buck.
May 9th, 2016 at 8:48 pm
The point at the end of the day is…Go Bolts and Go Bucs. Right now it’s all Bolts baby. Football doesn’t start until September. We talkin bout practice………. until then.
May 9th, 2016 at 8:49 pm
@Kevin,
In all honesty, I don’t know anyone at all that wanted Maddon gone. I believe he’s the best manager in baseball by a good margin. It’s not just his decision-making. He brings the best out in his whole team.
May 9th, 2016 at 10:01 pm
I have had the privilege of attending some awesome sporting events. I’ve been to a Super Bowl, NCAA National Campionship game both football and basketball, World Series games and have attended the Masters several times in addition to a US Open. However, I must say that the Lightning Game 7 win in the Stanly Cup was by far the most exciting event I have ever attended.
May 9th, 2016 at 10:33 pm
JOE – “Feel free to make stuff up by reading between lines. Joe writes about what’s interesting. This certainly meets that standard.”
Leonard – No it doesn’t!
May 9th, 2016 at 11:29 pm
JabooBuc
I was there at the Stanley Cup game 7 too…I agree the winning of the Cup or hockey championship is more exciting. I did watch on tv the Bucs world championship but these big stadiums take away from the crowds level of enthusiasm.
I think the comparison of the NFL to NHL markets is not fair in the South. NFL wins hands down. Up North its more mixed but NFL is still king. Those of you attacking Joe over what he writes need to lighten up…its a free world man. We choose to read.
May 10th, 2016 at 2:34 am
I go to a lot Bucs and Bolts games.
If you never visted a Bolts playoff game in person, you missed out big time.
Way more fans (%wise) are into the game as at a Bucs home game.
Indoors makes also the crowd noise more intense.
And speaking about “noise”, I love the modern sound tracks at the NHL games.
Bucs, please stop with the old school tracks. It’s annoying.
Bucs should visit some Bolts games and learn how to pump up the crowd.
And i go even further. The Orlando City Soccer Club has more crowd noise than the Bucs. And they only have 25-30.000 in that stadium.
Btw, Attendance numbers – regular season – :
Bucs 2015: total of 492,480 (93.5%) – ranked 26th in the NFL
Bolts 2015-16: total of 782,772 (100.0%) – ranked 8th in the NHL
OSC 2015: total of 558,407 (?) – ranked 2nd in the MLS
yes i know that they have different numbers of home games, but look how these teams rank in their league.
I like all these products. From a quality perspective, the Bolts have the advantage now.
The Bucs have one big PRO: IT’S FOOTBALL!!!
But throwing beads in the crowd doesnt pump up the crowd these days.
May 10th, 2016 at 6:09 am
Exactly cmurda
May 10th, 2016 at 6:56 am
What’s the point? We’re talking about the TAMPA BAY Lightning, we should be supportive. I’m a Season Pass Member for the BUCS and I cheer for all of our TAMPA BAY teams. Who cares that the BUCS have better TV ratings. Hockey is AWESOME and we have a GREAT TEAM! Enjoy it! The Lightning are going to their 4th Eastern Conference Final. 3rd time in 6 years, Bring home the CUP! The Lightning are more successful than the Bucs. Go BUCS! Go Bolts!
May 10th, 2016 at 9:28 am
Who says this other than the out of touch, fringe Lightning fan?
The NHL is a niche product, and that’s OK.
May 10th, 2016 at 11:31 am
BucDaddy82 Says:
“What’s the point? We’re talking about the TAMPA BAY Lightning, we should be supportive. I’m a Season Pass Member for the BUCS and I cheer for all of our TAMPA BAY teams.”
Some of us don’t. Me for one. I’m a Red Sox fan. Booooooo yah I know.
May 10th, 2016 at 6:56 pm
The reason the ratings for the Bucs are high is because people would rather save their money then spend it on a losing team. Wasn’t it just a couple years ago the Bucs games were blacked out? I am a former Bucs fan who used to complain about spending $30 on a game, and now, as a Bolts season ticket holder, I have no problem dropping a couple hundred at a Bolts game- tickets, parking, beer, merchandise ,etc. Going to a Bolts & Bucs games are like night & day. One has a great fan experience throughout the day, the other is a great fan experience before the game, and then it ends. Going into RJS is like walking into a funeral.
The Bucs owners don’t care about their team, so why should their fans give a damn? Just because people love football doesn’t mean they should be suckers.
Go Bolts!
May 11th, 2016 at 11:38 am
How’d that feel yesterday on 620 WDAE? Everyone on the planet knows that NFL>NHL in terms of market share. Thank you Cpt Obvious. You really scooped that story. LOL.
Bottom line is that the Lightning Organization is by far the better one from the top down. The Bolts are a WORLD class organization. The bucs? Not so much.
May 12th, 2016 at 9:41 am
The audience (especially in Tampa) is wider for the NFL because hockey has a mostly white audience. I’m sure you didn’t go there though.
May 12th, 2016 at 5:28 pm
All the lightning losers got all mad when they heard the truth. THE TRUTH HURTS BOLT FANS, GET OVER IT. BUCS DOMINATE THIS TOWN AND THATS ALL THERE IS TO IT. I don’t care how good the bolts are, and don’t get me wrong I love the bolts, but there’s no comparison.