* No, the Lightning didn’t make it to the Stanley Cup finals and, no, the Bolts weren’t named the top professional sports business team of the year by SportsBusiness Journal. But they came close on both. They made it to game seven of the conference finals with only token appearances by Ben Bishop and Steven Stamkos, and they were the top-rated franchise in the NHL. And let’s not forget that the Lightning was ranked No. 1 in the ESPN Ultimate Sports Rankings last year for stadium fan experience.
Safe to say that the Lightning is seen as a professional sports model. Just ask the Rays and Bucs.
* Speaking of the Rays, they are not conceding bad attendance until there’s a facility change. They remain very proactive in their marketing. In fact, what they’re doing in Clearwater breaks new promotional–and societal–ground.
The Rays have donated hundreds of vouchers–good for four seats to any home game the rest of the season–to the Clearwater police. Officer may use the vouchers to reward car owners who lock their vehicles–and discourage auto theft. Whatever it takes, apparently, including what residents should be doing in their own self interest anyhow.
* Zika, water quality, rampant crime, crippling recession, presidential impeachment. There are multiple reasons why the Summer Olympics in Rio is beyond poor timing. Wouldn’t this be an appropriate time to reconsider Olympic venues? Too often they’re a product of corruption in the selection process and nationalism at the expense of infrastructure priorities.
How about holding the Summer Games in Athens, the birthplace of the Olympics, every four years? Money not spent on bribes can help the Greeks do the hosting.