TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING “GAME ONE - 2023-2024 OPENING DAY”

WHEREAS, the City of Tampa and the citizens of Tampa, Florida are extremely proud of our

exceptional professional Tampa Bay Lightning ice hockey team, who were established in 1991, and

played their first National Hockey League (NHL) season in 1992, to the delight of Tampa hockey fans; and

WHEREAS, the Tampa Bay Lightning, known as the “Bolts” are a top-rated member of the

NHL’s Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference, and they play with determination, excellence, and

extraordinary skills, and their home games are held in the Amalie Arena located on Channelside Drive in

downtown Tampa, where they delight their cheering and loyal fans; and

WHEREAS, over the years, the Bolts have brought national and international exposure to our

community with their history of successes including earning fifteen Stanley Cup playoffs which are the

NHL’s annual elimination tournaments, and five championships that resulted in winning three Stanley

Cups, in 2004 and back-to-back wins in 2020 and 2021; and

WHEREAS, committed to the community, the Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation, a nonprofit

organization whose mission includes using the power of Lightning hockey to make an impact in the greater

Tampa region, has generously supported and been involved in many important areas that benefit our city

and residents, local sports, and children, and in collaboration with the Vinik Family Foundation, its

signature event is the Lightning Community Heroes event that honors a local hero and awards $50,000 to a

nonprofit charity of their choice, to-date they have celebrated over 550 heroes and distributed more than

$29 million; and

WHEREAS, the City of Tampa is honored to join with Jeffrey Vinik, Chairman of the Vinik

Sports Group, Coach Jon Cooper, the entire Tampa Bay Lightning team, and Bolt’s fans everywhere in

celebration of the start of the Tampa Bay Lightning season on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, when they play

the Nashville Predators, and we will be cheering them on throughout the season to success and a fourth

Stanley Cup Championship, bringing the trophy back home to Tampa.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jane Castor, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of the

city of Tampa, Florida, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, October 10, 2023, as

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING “GAME ONE - 2023-2024 OPENING DAY”

in the city of Tampa, Florida and urge all citizens to join me in support of our outstanding Bolts, and in

thanking our home team for their contributions to our community both on and off the ice rink.

Dated in Tampa, Florida this 10

day of October 2023.

__________________________

Mayor