In Tampa, Joe Smith reports the Lightning have "sold 3,000 new season tickets" in wake of their run to the Stanley Cup Final, putting the total at 13,500 for the upcoming season. The Lightning "had 11,500 season ticket members last season." Single-game tickets for '15-16 "go on sale" Friday (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 9/2).
GIVE THEM A HAND: THE HOCKEY NEWS' Ken Campbell wrote of the Islanders doing away with their ice girls, "It’s good news for the NHL, which has one fewer team marginalizing women and objectifying them. It’s good news for humanity, which sees a sports team take a step forward in gender equality." Campbell: "We can only hope the Islanders have the courage to stick with their decision, unlike the Philadelphia Flyers last season." The Islanders are "doing the right thing here," and if they "play the way a lot of people think they’re capable of playing, perhaps nobody will notice" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com 9/1).
PLEASE BE SEATED: In Dallas, Kevin Sherrington noted the Rangers completed a sweep of the Orioles on Sunday with a 6-0 win, but there "were only 22,256" fans at Globe Life Park. Only the Phillies "have had a bigger drop in fans per game than the Rangers." Attendance figures are "generally a reflection of a team’s performance the previous season, impacting season-ticket sales." Sherrington: "Please, don’t take this as a scold because you decided to stay home this summer. It just seems like a lot of you don’t believe the Rangers’ chances are for real. You should look a little closer" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/31).
HAVE SOME FRIENDS OVER: The MLB Cardinals announced that they are teaming up with the Blues to help the NHL team kick off its season, holding the inaugural Blues Theme Night at Busch Stadium on Sept. 21. Fans who purchase a special Blues Night Theme Ticket will receive a limited-edition, Blues-themed Cardinals hat. Blues and Cardinals alumni will be part of a pregame pep rally, while Blues players will be introduced on-field, and Cardinals players will wear a Blues-themed jersey/sweater during batting practice (Cardinals).
