Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning are one of 31 teams that compete in the National Hockey League (NHL), playing its home games at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, FL. They have won the Stanley Cup three times – 2004, 2020, and 2021. The team is currently a member of the Atlantic Division of the NHL's Eastern Conference. The Lightning were purchased March 2010 by an entity controlled by Jeff Vinik. The team and the arena they play in both committed to a complete brand and business transformation under the banner of Vinik Sports Group, LLC. The Lightning have been led by General Manager Julien BriseBois since September 2018 and have been coached by Jon Cooper since March 2013. Their captain is Victor Hedman, who has worn the 'C' since September 2024. Under the new ownership and management group, the fans have responded, more than doubling the team’s season ticket base. In 2016, ESPN named the Lightning the No. 1 team in all of professional sports in its annual “Ultimate Standings,” which ranks organizations on a number of factors, including affordability and fan accessibility.