Rare commercial postcard showing the Lightning's 1st home arena!

EXPO HALL

Tampa, Florida

First home of the National Hockey League's Tampa Bay Lightning, 1992-93

One of several venues on the Florida State Fairgrounds, Expo Hall hosted the Lightning during their inaugural season. Capacity for hockey was 10,425, and all seats were filled for the opener against the Chicago Blackhawks when the Lightning pulled off a stunning 7-3 victory. Although finishing their season with a 23-54-7 record, the team played many exciting matches as General manager Phil Esposito was building talent for the future. Expo Hall seating for ice hockey consist of 46 rows along the sides of the rink. With 5,000 permanent seats, the first 25 rows are portable, which allows flexibility for events such as concerts, trade shows, Ringling Bros. Circus and gran prix horse jumping. St. Petersburg's spacious Suncoast Dome housed Lightning home games beginning in 1993-94 and was renamed the Thunderdome in honor of its new tenant. Following the Lightning in Expo Hall for a brief time in 1994 were the Tampa Bay Tritons, a roller hockey team. In 1997 the Lightning settled into the Ice Palace (today's St. Pete Times Forum), its current home on the Tampa Bay waterfront.

Unused 4" x 6" continental size postcard.

Florida State Fair Issue