Tampa Bay Lightning dress code for fans

[roboturner 562]

Even more egregious: A STH Army captain whose duties are preventing him from attending the games is being blocked by the Lightning from selling off his tickets.

What the hell is wrong with them?? No wonder they can't fill their own arena, they treat their own season ticket owners like s***.

And I don't care for all the faux patriotic bulls*** that pro sports teams do (I just read about how the government uses tax dollars to pay for all those reunions and whatnot), but I know I'm in the extreme minority there and treating an Army captain like this because he can't make it to the game do to work is a sure fire way to piss people off.

...But Lightning CEO Tod Leiweke told the Tampa Bay Times on Friday that the team may have gone too far in Dhillon's case and "perhaps on this our passion got in the way."

"If a gentleman serving our country feels he was slighted, oh my god, we owe him an apology," Leiweke said.

Dhillon said he sold about half of his 41 games on StubHub during the regular season without ever hearing from the Lightning.

But problems started in the first round of the playoffs when he attempted to sell tickets to a game against the Detroit Red Wings on StubHub. Dhillon said he was contacted by Jarrod Dillon, executive vice president of sales and marketing for the Lightning, who said the team preferred he didn't sell his tickets in a way where they could end up in the hands of Red Wings fans.

"I told him 'I completely agree as a Lightning fan but I can't control who buys the tickets on StubHub,' " Dhillon said.

Dhillon was informed he had three options: Use the tickets, give them back to the team for games he couldn't attend or have his account canceled. Though it meant forgoing large profits on the secondary market, Dhillon didn't sell any more tickets for the next two rounds.

For the Stanley Cup final, though, he thought if he resold the tickets through Ticketmaster's resale exchange accessed through the Lightning website, Ticketmaster would block anyone outside Florida from buying his tickets. He sold two $290 tickets to Game 2 against the Chicago Blackhawks for $2,600 a piece.

But the out-of-state restriction did not apply to Ticketmaster's resale market, and Dhillon received another phone call from the Lightning front office. This time, he was told the Lightning was taking the rest of his tickets.

A day later, the team backtracked and said he could still use his tickets, but only if he personally picked them up from will call. He could not print them out and was locked out of his online account. If he wanted to give his tickets to another Lightning fan, he would have to inform will call who was taking his place.

Dhillon gave his tickets to a neighbor for Game 1. He was surprised when he learned from his neighbor that Blackhawks fans were sitting directly behind his seats.

Dhillon texted Dillon with the Lightning to ask why he was targeted but not those ticket holders.

Dillon responded: "Looking into it now. Thanks for the heads up."

And later: "Just wanted you to know, that account behind you has been relocated for the rest of the cup and next year. Thanks for bringing to my attention."...

Edited June 6, 2015 by roboturner

[roboturner 562]

And everything indicates that this is due to the Lightning's sales/marketing/business people. Not the GM of the team.

[Hack & Whack Rule! 160]

http://tbo.com/sports/lightning/tampa-will-dye-channel-bolts-blue-before-game-2-today-20150606/

Apparently, Tampa Bay is now forcing it's dress code on public waterways.

[Rhah 195]

People need to drop this. It's obviously only box seats or whatever and there are still plenty of Hawks jerseys in the stands so its ignored or worked around.

Hawks like to pretend they are the downtrodden underdogs and them against the world even when they are top team in league and favored to win. Their manufacturing of angst is getting about as old and ridiculous as Chelsea Dagger.

[roboturner 562]

People need to drop this. It's obviously only box seats or whatever and there are still plenty of Hawks jerseys in the stands so its ignored or worked around.

Hawks like to pretend they are the downtrodden underdogs and them against the world even when they are top team in league and favored to win. Their manufacturing of angst is getting about as old and ridiculous as Chelsea Dagger.

This is almost all wrong. Did you not read the article about the Army Captain season ticket holder who they have been harassing? About who and where he can sell his tickets. About how he would only be allowed to pick them up himself at the ticket office? About how they were threatening to move his seats somewhere else or not let him have them at all? And by the way, this has been their policy since the fist round of the playoffs, it isn't just hawks fans 'manufacturing angst'

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

http://tbo.com/sports/lightning/tampa-will-dye-channel-bolts-blue-before-game-2-today-20150606/

Apparently, Tampa Bay is now forcing it's dress code on public waterways.

Ha. I can't seem to find better pictures of it, apparently they didn't do a good job of dyeing it...

The green is much more noticeable.

[LAWings 160]

Even more egregious: A STH Army captain whose duties are preventing him from attending the games had been blocked by the Lightning from selling off his tickets. Read the article inside the linked article - it's gets shameful in my opinion.

Front page Fox news: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2015/06/07/tampa-bay-lightning-avoids-penalty-box-lets-army-captain-resell-stanley-cup/

They backtracked and gave his tickets back, but only because this blew up in their face. Read the article.

[Rhah 195]

Look I am not defending the TB front office in particular but this s*** gets sensationalized "because it's the cup".

I would bet you could find a hundred disgruntled fans in every franchise city who's specific ticket policies have screwed them over and they are mad at the team. The whole make fun of small markets because they are trying to rally their fanbase is getting old.

Let them do their little stunts and the big ol' bad thin skinned Hawks fans don't need to get all salty over it. The captain article had nothing to do with the Hawks part of the story I was commenting on.

Edited June 9, 2015 by Rhah

[vladdy16 2,154]

This has nothing whatsoever to do with the Hawks. I hate the Hawks. I hate that someone has to win this series. The Bolts could pull this anytime, anywhere against anyone and it would still be a punk move. There's nothing in the Bolts ticket policy that states he can't sell his tickets, to Hawks fans or anyone else. He didn't violate any agreement, hence them caving.

[Rhah 195]

I'll just leave this here:

http://www.secondcityhockey.com/2015/6/2/8701869/amalie-arena-policies-jerseys-tickets-blackhawks-lightning-2015-stanley-cup-final

But don't let it get in the way of the yellow, sensational, journalist rhetoric...

[HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878]

I got into with a Hawks fan on Twitter and she was all pissed because of this policy. Kept going on about how they couldn't have a good time and blah blah blah (pretty sure she was a bandwagon fan lol). I had no idea where the sections are located in the arena (never been there) but said its probably like 2 or 3 sections of the arena. Pretty much was right and got blocked from her lol.

Long story short, who cares?

[Shaman 713]

Well, premium tickets usually are season ticket holders anyway.

[roboturner 562]

I'll just leave this here:

http://www.secondcityhockey.com/2015/6/2/8701869/amalie-arena-policies-jerseys-tickets-blackhawks-lightning-2015-stanley-cup-final

But don't let it get in the way of the yellow, sensational, journalist rhetoric...

And none of this explains why or what happened to the Army Captain. Do I have to quote it again and bold everything for you so that you can understand that none of this article applies to him?

But problems started in the first round of the playoffs when he attempted to sell tickets to a game against the Detroit Red Wings on StubHub...

Dhillon was informed he had three options: Use the tickets, give them back to the team for games he couldn't attend or have his account canceled. Though it meant forgoing large profits on the secondary market, Dhillon didn't sell any more tickets for the next two rounds.

A day later, the team backtracked and said he could still use his tickets, but only if he personally picked them up from will call. He could not print them out and was locked out of his online account. If he wanted to give his tickets to another Lightning fan, he would have to inform will call who was taking his place.

He was surprised when he learned from his neighbor that Blackhawks fans were sitting directly behind his seats.

Dhillon texted Dillon with the Lightning to ask why he was targeted but not those ticket holders.

Dillon responded: "Looking into it now. Thanks for the heads up."

And later: "Just wanted you to know, that account behind you has been relocated for the rest of the cup and next year. Thanks for bringing to my attention."...

So to recap, his seats were NOT in the 'restricted' sections mentioned. He first tried to sell on StubHub when they then threatened to take his account away. The account behind his seats DID loose their seats, and again they are not in any of the 'restricted' sections mentioned.

But you're right, wouldn't want to let facts get in the way here...

[Rhah 195]

My first post had nothing to do with the captain story but about cry baby Hawks fans yet you keep bringing it up. Perhaps you shouldn't have replied to my post with something not relevant when trying to dispute my claims of Hawk fans stupid behavior that I listen to on Chicago sports radio and my workplace everyday.

Edited June 9, 2015 by Rhah

[roboturner 562]

My first post had nothing to do with the captain story but about cry baby Hawks fans yet you keep bringing it up. Perhaps you shouldn't have replied to my post with something not relevant when trying to dispute my claims of Hawk fans stupid behavior that I listen to on Chicago sports radio and my workplace everyday.

Well your post made it sound like it was only Hawks fans being crybabies about it. And again that wasn't the case....

You're first post claimed 'obviously its only box seats' which I showed you was not an accurate statement because we have the story of the Army Captain (who is not a Hawks fan but a Lightning season ticket holder). Add in the season tickets behind his that were also moved due to this policy. Neither of those tickets were box seats or seats in any of the restricted sections. And yet they were getting harassed due to this policy all the same.

You also claimed this was just 'manufactured angst' of Hawks fans. But this policy has been in place even before they were playing the Hawks and has affected the other 3 fan bases, as well as their own season ticket holders. It very clearly isn't just Hawks fans' persecution complex. There are more than just the Hawks fans that you listen to that are upset about this policy.

I'm sorry you have to listen to the Hawks fans complain about it, but both your statements were misleading at best and flat out false at worst.

Edited June 9, 2015 by roboturner

[Wing Across The Pond 196]

This nonsense again? I bought tickets to Game 7 via Ticketmaster resale with a UK credit card. No issue but I probs wasn't in an area that I wasn't allowed in. However I do wonder what I would have done as I was with my partner and her dad (she's a Bolts fan). Would we have been separated? In short, I had no trouble from staff beyond a girl who wouldn't accept my ID for a beer and wanted a passport (although I had already bought a beer), just lots from fans around me who told me to "go home". He wasn't a nice man. He was an angry man.

On a side note, in like, 2012 I went to the Bolts home opener in a Wings jersey (I bought the tickets the night before because they weren't selling - this was the days of Guy Boucher and his ultra-boring "trap" I believe. They went on to lose 7-4.) and the lady on the door said "Oh I don't know if you can come in wearing that." I laughed, it's a standard joke, I had Rays fans dissing my Tigers hat, that sort of thing happens, it's part of the inter-team camaraderie that you share as 'fans of sport'. I walked in. She didn't laugh however. She looked at me with serious intentions of asking me to leave. Once again it's lucky I was with my partner in full Bolts gear (well, not FULL gear, that would be silly. But tee and hat). In short (again), this doesn't seem to be a new policy, it's just they're in their first final since 04. Being there in the post-season, literally they seem to have everything riding on it this year - the city is buzzing with a real belief that they will win, billboards are changed seemingly daily (seriously they were all Stamkos, then suddenly Johnson, then "Bolts Win"), non-hockey fans (like my partner's cousin, uncle, and gramps) are keeping up with every game and even starting to become fans. I think they're doing everything to make sure it happens because if it doesn't, man that's going to be the biggest let down. The Hawks will move on, restock, go again next year, after all (kinda like us at the moment) it's not like they really need one. They've been pretty spoilt recently. Thinking of it, I hope Blash can get this sort of fire in us... just in a way that is everything opposite of Jon Cooper.

[Rhah 195]

I guess my final thought.

I thought the no jerseys thing was blown out of proportion and that TB media guy's article seems to back it up that its only a few sections.

The media jumped on the nazi like rules in those sections and to get traffic made bold claims that it was the whole arena.

I feel the Army Captain story is separate issue and a bad PR/Customer Service nightmare (that they fixed or backtracked on) and the only reason it became even worse of a story was because of the attention the no jersey thing was getting... if that wasn't going on, it would have been a small blurb story (and maybe it gets fixed with less attention, maybe not...)

I don't want to fight with any more of my Wing's peeps about stupid crap in other cities. I am probably wrong about everything and only through the internet can I throw out my stupid opinions onto a message board.

Peace, my brothers.

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

This nonsense again? I bought tickets to Game 7 via Ticketmaster resale with a UK credit card. No issue but I probs wasn't in an area that I wasn't allowed in. However I do wonder what I would have done as I was with my partner and her dad (she's a Bolts fan). Would we have been separated? In short, I had no trouble from staff beyond a girl who wouldn't accept my ID for a beer and wanted a passport (although I had already bought a beer), just lots from fans around me who told me to "go home". He wasn't a nice man. He was an angry man.

On a side note, in like, 2012 I went to the Bolts home opener in a Wings jersey (I bought the tickets the night before because they weren't selling - this was the days of Guy Boucher and his ultra-boring "trap" I believe. They went on to lose 7-4.) and the lady on the door said "Oh I don't know if you can come in wearing that." I laughed, it's a standard joke, I had Rays fans dissing my Tigers hat, that sort of thing happens, it's part of the inter-team camaraderie that you share as 'fans of sport'. I walked in. She didn't laugh however. She looked at me with serious intentions of asking me to leave. Once again it's lucky I was with my partner in full Bolts gear (well, not FULL gear, that would be silly. But tee and hat). In short (again), this doesn't seem to be a new policy, it's just they're in their first final since 04. Being there in the post-season, literally they seem to have everything riding on it this year - the city is buzzing with a real belief that they will win, billboards are changed seemingly daily (seriously they were all Stamkos, then suddenly Johnson, then "Bolts Win"), non-hockey fans (like my partner's cousin, uncle, and gramps) are keeping up with every game and even starting to become fans. I think they're doing everything to make sure it happens because if it doesn't, man that's going to be the biggest let down. The Hawks will move on, restock, go again next year, after all (kinda like us at the moment) it's not like they really need one. They've been pretty spoilt recently. Thinking of it, I hope Blash can get this sort of fire in us... just in a way that is everything opposite of Jon Cooper.

I've made some of my most genuine friends chirping at each other like this, but there is always that guy/girl who didn't understand that this wasnt a serious thing and try to get rowdy about it.

I once went to a Chicago/Detroit game when my AAA team was in town for a tournament, the blaxkhawks werent really relevant yet, but I jokingly made fun of a girl I found attractive and I ended up becoming friends with her dad.

Who chirped me literally on the smallest things, when we accidentally iced a puck, or blew an edge for example.

I've also been witness to a Pittsburgh fan, a grown man, spitting beer at my twelve year old goalie.

I don't like the fact that the soldier has had problems selling his tickets, or anyone for that matter.

But I also understand that tampa isn't Chicago, or Minny, and needs to do everything they can to grow the game in the area...

So I'm conflicted, which ultimately means I don't care enough either way.

[BottleOfSmoke 5,965]

there is always that guy/girl who didn't understand that this wasnt a serious thing and try to get rowdy about it.

YOU F**KING WOT M8?!

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

YOU F**KING WOT M8?!

1 v 1 me bro!!!! Edited June 10, 2015 by jimmyemeryhunter