Have You Seen Him? Lightning Launch Web Site Promoting Stamkos

Lightning Launch Web Site To Help Generate Excitement For Upcoming Season

The Lightning have created SeenStamkos.com, a Web site designed for "generating excitement" around the team's upcoming selection of C Steven Stamkos with the first pick in the '08 NHL Draft, according to Brant James of the ST. PETERSBURG TIMES. Fans could find cards with the Web address "tucked under their wiper blade, see a billboard, a sidewalk graphic or bumper sticker," or even have their "lunch blitzed by a 'flash mob' of Lightning marketing staffers." Stamkos has been described as the "most heralded prospect since [Penguins C] Sidney Crosby" in '05, and the hope is that fans will "click over to the Web site dedicated to its next star." Lightning Dir of Marketing & Promotions Mark Gullett: "We're just trying to have a little fun in the offseason. This is not necessarily a new approach for us because we've done some stuff like this before. So we're just trying to be aggressive and take advantage of some opportunities out there." James notes the Web site is "decidedly unglossy and low-budget (it could very well have been built by a fan)," and features video testimonials to let Stamkos "sell himself." The only giveaway the site was launched by the Lightning is the "use of its 'Hockey Bay USA' logos." The team said the site is "getting visits from 5,000 unique users per day" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 5/2).