The Tampa Bay Lightning only want their own fans at games during the Eastern Conference Final and their measures are going extreme.
Earlier this week, the Washington Post first reported that the Lightning are instituting a dress code to prohibit Caps fans from wearing red at the game.
Chase Club and Lexus Lounge ticket holders: Please note that for all 2018 NHL Playoff Games at Amalie Arena, only Tampa Bay Lightning-branded team apparel (or neutral apparel) will be permitted in these clubs and in the adjoining seating areas. Fans wearing visiting team-branded apparel will be asked to remove such apparel while in these areas.
The dress code is in effect for only about 10 percent of the Amalie Arena crowd. The Lightning’s Lexus Lounge includes seats on the glass while the Chase Club affects people sitting in luxury suites.
The Washington Post’s Rick Maese also reported that Caps fans will be required to wear “neutral apparel” and the team would provide a new t-shirt if needed. This policy by the Lightning was also in place against the Boston Bruins during the second round.
Meanwhile, the team is already disallowing any tickets to be bought outside of Florida. All ticket orders by residents outside of Florida will be, according to the team, canceled without notice and refunds given.
“It’s just an added measure to keep our building as blue as possible,” Lightning executive vice president of communications Bill Wickett said.
The Lightning geo-blocking certain ticket sales is the same policy the Capitals are currently enforcing. During the second round, the Capitals blocked residents from the state of Pennsylvania from buying seats for their series against the Penguins. The Capitals also forbid the resale in general of certain tickets.
For the Eastern Conference Final, only residents of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC will be able to buy tickets to games at Capital One Arena.
Caps doing DC/MD/VA again for this round too pic.twitter.com/K67Njxbnk9
— Bud McDonald (@primetimereds) May 9, 2018
Headline photo: Mike Ehrmann
