Advertisement

Jeff Vinik contributing $6 million to fund Lightning's practice facility upgrade

 
The plan will create a brand new locker room and training facilities for the team, an 18,000 square foot addition.
The plan will create a brand new locker room and training facilities for the team, an 18,000 square foot addition.
Published June 29, 2017

With free agency beginning Saturday, Lightning GM Steve Yzerman will have another selling point in the courting process.

Owner Jeff Vinik is investing $6 million in upgrading the team's practice facility, the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon. The plan will include an 18,000 square foot addition, featuring state of the art lockerrooms, training rooms, an expanded player lounge and video room/theater. By comparison, the team's facility at Amalie Arena is 14,500.

They will break ground in September, with the renovations expected to be done by the end of March, president Steve Griggs said.

"We're trying to do everything at the best level possible," Yzerman said. "We want the best players, the best coaches, the best staff. We're demanding of everyone and that comes with our facilities too."

The Lightning also agreed to a 10-year lease extension with the Ice Sports Forum, which will be investing $500,000 in the project. Yzerman said with Amalie Arena getting busier due to other events, the team might practice more often in Brandon, and it made sense to upgrade the facility, which is currently 5,500 sqare feet. There will be elements not available at Amalie, like hydrotherapy facilities and a video room/theater. Practices will still be open to the public.

"Our players are really going to appreciate it," Yzerman said. "It's going to allow for better off-ice training in the offseason, in the camps, and the medical facility will be state of the art, updated. We're really excited."

Griggs said the Lightning looked into other areas for its own facility, but felt with the great partnership in Brandon, it was the best fit to add on to the north end of the building. Florida Hospital Center Ice in Wesley Chapel is likely too far for players and staff.

Griggs said they took a look at several other facilities in North America, including Toronto and Pittsburgh. The organizations have selected sports architectural firm AECOM, which has an office in Tampa, to design the new facility.

"We have addressed a number of things as an organization on and off the ice since purchasing the team in 2010, but one thing that has not been improved to this point has been the team's practice venue," Vinik said. "That will change this fall when we break ground. We remain steadfast in our commitment to winning the Stanley Cup, and that begins with providing every resource for our players to train and prepare."