Lightning President Ron Campbell Says Team Not For Sale

Lightning President Says Team Is Not For Sale

Although Palace Sports & Entertainment has hired Galatioto Sports Partners to explore the option of selling the Lightning, team President Ron Campbell said that the club “is not for sale,” according to Damian Cristodero of the ST. PETERSBURG TIMES. Campbell: “At the end of the day, you have to run the business responsibly. We have to make choices.” Campbell added that a “tentative budget” for the team shows $40M allocated for player salaries. Cristodero notes that is $2M less than this season’s payroll of about $42M and $4M less than this season’s salary cap. Campbell said of the $40M figure, “There may be a nudge up or a nudge down. ... We have to find a balance. This will allow us to keep our stars and allow us to keep growing our business.” He added that the payroll “could be significantly higher if the Lightning makes a deep playoff run” this season (ST. PETE TIMES, 1/31).