Lightning Owner Jeff Vinik is investing $6M in "upgrading the team's practice facility, the Ice Sports Forum," according to Joe Smith of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. The plan for the facility in Brandon, Fla., 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." Lightning CEO Steve Griggs said that they will "break ground in September, with the renovations expected to be done by the end of March." Lightning VP & GM Steve Yzerman said, "We're trying to do everything at the best level possible. We want the best players, the best coaches, the best staff. We're demanding of everyone and that comes with our facilities too." Smith noted 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 that 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 square 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." Griggs said that the Lightning "looked into other areas" for their own facility (TAMPABAY.com, 6/29).
