The Stanley Cup Final will begin Wednesday with the Tampa Bay Lightning hosting the Chicago Blackhawks and they will try to fully utilize home court advantage restricting ticket sales to Florida residents only also banning Blackhawks gear in certain areas of the Amalie Arena.
According to Fox Sports, on the "Buy tickets" page of the Lightning website there is a note on the restriction of ticket selling to Florida residents only.
The note says, "Amalie Arena is located in Tampa, FL. Sales to this event will be restricted to residents of Florida. Residency will be based on credit card billing address. Orders by residents outside the selected area will be canceled without notice and refunds given."
An additional note is included on the page allowing only Lightning gear/merchandise for Chase Club and Lexus Lounge ticket holders.
"Chase Club and Lexus Lounge ticket holders: Please note that for all 2015 NHL Playoff Games at Amalie Arena only Tampa Bay Lightning team apparel (or neutral) will be permitted in these club and adjoining seating areas. Fans wearing visiting team apparel will be asked to remove them while in these areas," the note read.
The New York Times reported that fans wearing the visiting team's apparel and refuses to remove them will be transferred to a different seat but nobody will be thrown out.
In Fox Sports' report, Lightning executive vice president of communications Bill Wickett said that they will not apologize for the policy according to the Times.
Wickett added that he understands if hockey fans do not like the policy but they just want to make sure that Lightning fans are prioritized and they are the ones inside the arena.
In response to the Lightning's policy, Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel issued a statement saying that they are willing welcome Tampa Bay and hockey fans, Hockeyfeed.com reported.
Emanuel asked Tampa Bay to welcome Chicago fans to their arena during the Stanley Cup Final and to not be afraid of them.
He added, "As Mayor of Chicago, I welcome Tampa fans –and hockey fans from around the country – to fly to Chicago and enjoy our world class hotels, restaurants, cultural attractions, and then go watch Stanley Cup hockey in Chicago. It doesn't get better than that."
