OT: A Visitors Guide To Tampa: All Questions Here!

[ThunderAlleyNomad]

Guys, HOLY CRAP is Tampa a wicked hockey experience. Like I couldn't even comprehend it. I'll post my blog post on it shortly, but it is by far the best we've been to so far. Every single person (staff, fan, etc) was amazing, the rink is superb, and the stuff around it was sick. Wait to you see pics of the $75 night in a sailboat. It was unreal.

You should be very proud of the atmosphere created down there - I know it's for a leafs game so there is a ton of away fans, and my experience was more $$$ then most, but it was mind boggling how much better it was then the 8 others we've been to this year.

Cool. Glad to hear it was a good time.

And I'm very intrigued by those boats. Sounds like an interesting night away. Looking forward to the blog post.

 

[BluejacketNut]

Hey everyone, any photography buff's out there? Im heading down to see a friend in Tampa and will probably try and catch the championship game on Saturday. I'm looking for cool photography spots, not only in Tampa, but anything really within an hour or so drive as well. Thanks!

 

[LightningStrikes]

Guys, HOLY CRAP is Tampa a wicked hockey experience. Like I couldn't even comprehend it. I'll post my blog post on it shortly, but it is by far the best we've been to so far. Every single person (staff, fan, etc) was amazing, the rink is superb, and the stuff around it was sick. Wait to you see pics of the $75 night in a sailboat. It was unreal.

You should be very proud of the atmosphere created down there - I know it's for a leafs game so there is a ton of away fans, and my experience was more $$$ then most, but it was mind boggling how much better it was then the 8 others we've been to this year.

How's that blog entry coming along?

 

[ThunderAlleyNomad]

Hey everyone, any photography buff's out there? Im heading down to see a friend in Tampa and will probably try and catch the championship game on Saturday. I'm looking for cool photography spots, not only in Tampa, but anything really within an hour or so drive as well. Thanks!

Not a photographer, but there are about 1,000 places to get nice beach shots. Some of the views off the big bridges are pretty good. Guess it depends on what kind of scenery you're looking for.

 

[BotterilltheScrivner]

Where can I find center ice in Tampa?

Ill be in Tampa tonight to see Union in the Frozen Four and when that game is done, I really want to catch the sabres game. Does anyone know of a place with center ice there where I can catch the game?

 

[Tokala]

Hey everyone, any photography buff's out there? Im heading down to see a friend in Tampa and will probably try and catch the championship game on Saturday. I'm looking for cool photography spots, not only in Tampa, but anything really within an hour or so drive as well. Thanks!

Ft. DeSoto has the old fort from the Spanish-American War and beaches. Honeymoon Island and Caladesi are more undeveloped beaches with good scenery.
Clearwater Beach will have a bunch of half-dressed spring breakers if that's something you're looking to get pictures of..
Hillsborough River State Park will have the rapids and lots of alligators. Fort Foster is there too.

 

[Tokala]

Ill be in Tampa tonight to see Union in the Frozen Four and when that game is done, I really want to catch the sabres game. Does anyone know of a place with center ice there where I can catch the game?

Buffalo Wild Wings usually has it. Hattricks in downtown Tampa has it.

 

[BluejacketNut]

Ft. DeSoto has the old fort from the Spanish-American War and beaches. Honeymoon Island and Caladesi are more undeveloped beaches with good scenery.
Clearwater Beach will have a bunch of half-dressed spring breakers if that's something you're looking to get pictures of..
Hillsborough River State Park will have the rapids and lots of alligators. Fort Foster is there too.

Thanks guys, just the stuff I was looking for!

 

[Tokala]

Thanks guys, just the stuff I was looking for!

You're welcome! Only 2 rivers in Florida have rapids: Hillsborough and Suwanee. Ft. Foster is a reconstruction of a fort from the Seminole Indian War days.

 

[LTIR Trickery]

...what

 

[brymel]

...who

 

[ProjectPanthers]

Hey Lightning Fans,

I COME IN PEACE!!

My girlfriend and I are heading down to the Tampa area next week and we just have a couple of questions.

We're renting a car and looking for good shopping locations and beaches. We've done a little bit of research and we found Clearwater beach (about a 30 minute drive from our hotel near Tampa Airport) to be a nice spot. How is the area? Is it overly crowded? How's the quality of the beach/sand? Neither of us is too picky but we like a nice spot and we're hoping for a nice experience in Clearwater.

Also, any good local places to eat that any of you would recommend?

Any info would be greatly appreciated, especially as a fan of the enemy.

 

[snowden]

I personally hate Clearwater Beach. So many tourists and annoying people so the beach is always crowded. Plus I hate paying to park. I always go to Treasure Island. There's areas where you can park for free and the beaches aren't always as crowded in some places. There are all kinds of local places to eat and shop on Gulf Blvd, too, including John's Pass.

 

[tbaz]

Fort desoto park is the best hands down, also I'll second Clearwater is super busy and touristy. Shopping just google best malls or outlet malls. Johns pass is touristy but worth a see.

 

[nobuddy]

Coming in for vacation next week. Any suggestions on where to get Lightning merch anywhere in the general area?

 

[nobuddy]

Coming in for vacation next week. Any suggestions on where to get Lightning merch anywhere in the general area?

Bump. Anyone?

 

[HeavyHammer]

Bump. Anyone?

Whoops, totally missed that

Might want to check out the Tampa Bay Times Forum. There is a merch shop below that has a bunch of stuff.

http://www.tampabaytimesforum.com/arena-information/team-shop

 

[nobuddy]

Whoops, totally missed that

Might want to check out the Tampa Bay Times Forum. There is a merch shop below that has a bunch of stuff.

http://www.tampabaytimesforum.com/arena-information/team-shop

Thanks!

 

[LTIR Trickery]

Bump. Anyone?

New shop in the forum is complete, called Tampa Bay Sports.

 

[Dave C]

New shop in the forum is complete, called Tampa Bay Sports.

Cool. 9 days until I head to Orlando and going down to Tampa the first 3 days to see the area, stadiums and catch a Rays, Mets game.

I was hoping to go in the arena to see the ice. Do you think I'll be allowed? Im not sure how far down the line they are with the screen construction.

 

[Felonious Python]

Cool. 9 days until I head to Orlando and going down to Tampa the first 3 days to see the area, stadiums and catch a Rays, Mets game.

I was hoping to go in the arena to see the ice. Do you think I'll be allowed? Im not sure how far down the line they are with the screen construction.

Unfortunately, I don't think they'd have an ice sheet right now.

 

[Dave C]

Unfortunately, I don't think they'd have an ice sheet right now.

Good point! I still wouldn't mind actually going inside the arena itself. To see how it compares to British ice hockey. It'll be incredible compared to the Nottingham Panthers arena which holds 6,000... And that's one of the biggest!!

 

[LTIR Trickery]

Cool. 9 days until I head to Orlando and going down to Tampa the first 3 days to see the area, stadiums and catch a Rays, Mets game.

I was hoping to go in the arena to see the ice. Do you think I'll be allowed? Im not sure how far down the line they are with the screen construction.

Screen is still being built, old one is gonna be in a while. No idea on the tour part, i'd lean more towards no just with everything going on (events, setup for republican national convention) but you never know.

 

[Dave C]

Screen is still being built, old one is gonna be in a while. No idea on the tour part, i'd lean more towards no just with everything going on (events, setup for republican national convention) but you never know.

Back in the UK now :-( I popped into the forum on Thu 14th before I headed to the Rays Mets game. The lady in the shop was superb. Gave me a 10% discount and my 2 year old daughter a free badge (bolts logo). She also said she would have taken me inside but there was a concert on so everyone was busy getting it ready.

Tampa is a beautiful place. Glad I got my first jersey from the arena itself. However it is really expensive! Already planning my next trip. It'll be November time (2013) so I can catch a Bolts and Bucs game.

 

[LTIR Trickery]

Back in the UK now :-( I popped into the forum on Thu 14th before I headed to the Rays Mets game. The lady in the shop was superb. Gave me a 10% discount and my 2 year old daughter a free badge (bolts logo). She also said she would have taken me inside but there was a concert on so everyone was busy getting it ready.

Tampa is a beautiful place. Glad I got my first jersey from the arena itself. However it is really expensive! Already planning my next trip. It'll be November time (2013) so I can catch a Bolts and Bucs game.

Oh yeah, I think it was Avicii. They were very protective, even employees couldn't be around or open concourse curtains and all that. Hell of a light show, though.

Hope you enjoyed it, and hopefully next time you can get a cruise through the building