:format(webP)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/TFXFPLUDBZDRNLMGZ7VOZ7KEKI.JPG "Lightning center Tyler Johnson (9) is mobbed by his teammates as they celebrate his goal against Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Petr Mrazek (34) during Game 4 Saturday at Amalie Arena.")
TAMPA — The Lightning will increase capacity for their upcoming Stanley Cup semifinal home games by about 1,000 seats, the team announced Friday.
Capacity for home games at Amalie Arena this series will be 14,800, which is approximately 78 percent of capacity. Attendance for the most recent playoff game at the arena, Game 4 of the second-round series against Carolina on Saturday, was 13,377.
The increase was made after the team received approvals from local health and government officials, as well as the NHL.
Because they had more regular-season points than the Islanders, the Lightning will have home-ice advantage for the round. Tampa Bay will host Game 1 on Sunday at 3 p.m. and Game 2 Tuesday at 8. If necessary, Games 5 and 7 will be played at Amalie on June 21 and 25.
The additional ticket inventory is now available on ticketmaster.com.
The Lightning played in front of 16,299 fans in their three road games at Carolina. The Islanders played in front of an 86-percent capacity crowd — about 12,000 fans — at Nassau Coliseum during their second-round games against the Bruins.
Bally Sports broadcasting postgame show
While the Lightning’s semifinal games will be shown nationally on the NBC family of networks, the team’s regional TV rights-holder, Bally Sports Sun, will broadcast postgame shows after each game.
Postgame shows for Games 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 will be shown on Bally Sports Sun. Bally Sports Florida will carry the show after Games 3 and 4.
If a Rays postgame broadcast is being shown, the Lightning postgame show will air after its conclusion.
Pep rally slated for Saturday
The Lightning are holding a drive-thru pep rally on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon in the parking lot of WestShore Plaza.
Fans will be able to pick up Lightning playoff yard signs and free 2021 Stanley Cup playoff T-shirts. Dunkin’ will be giving away complimentary donuts and $5 promotional cards for the first 1,000 cars while supplies last.
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