Tampa Bay Storm Review Sport Hospitality Ticket

Sportz Guru again made a visit to the USA, Florida. This time to watch the Tampa Bay Storm for an all American Arena Football Game. Were our high hopes met with the Lexus Lounge hospitality package? Check it out here. Tampa Bay Storm Review Sport Hospitality Ticket.

Overall: 8,6
Atmosphere & Entertainment: 9,0
F&B: 8,0
Seating & Facilities: 8,5
Price: 9,0

Sport: American Football
League: Arena Football

Country: USA
State: Florida
City: Tampa

The doors to the 670,000-square-foot Tampa Bay Times Forum (originally called the Ice Palace) first opened on October 12, 1996 with its first event, the Royal Hanneford Circus.

The Circus was followed shortly thereafter by the first Tampa Bay Lightning game (ice hockey, capacity 19,204) played on October 20, 1996. The game resulted in the Lightning’s 5-2 win over the New York Rangers.

The arena, also home to the Arena Football League’s Tampa Bay Storm (capacity 19,500), has hosted numerous high-profile events including the 1999 NHL All-Star Game, the 2007 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament, the 2008 NCAA Women’s Final Four, the 2009 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament, the 2012 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four and more. The Tampa Bay Times Forum is scheduled to host the 2012 Republican National Convention in August.

In 2002, the building was renamed from the Ice Palace to the St. Pete Times Forum as part of a new partnership with the St. Petersburg Times.

During the summer of 2011, the publicly-owned Tampa Bay Times Forum underwent a $40 million transformation that was privately funded by Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment owner and chairman, Jeff Vinik.

On December 31, 2011 the St. Petersburg Times changed its name to the Tampa Bay Times, and the arena was unveiled as the Tampa Bay Times Forum to follow suit.

Hospitality Package: Lexus Lounge

• Unlimited upscale dining and beverage options in the Lexus Lounge
• All-inclusive beer, wine, mixed drinks and soda (before, during and after the game)
• Pitch-level view of warm-ups and game action
• Private upscale restrooms
• Concierges to assist you with your game night entertainment needs
• Channelside Club access during all Tampa Bay Storm home games
• Platinum Valet Service

One would expect that the hospitality entrance for the Lexus Lounge their ‘’ultimate VIP treatment’’ would be a little bit more centrally located instead of being located in one of the corners of the Tampa Bay Times Forum. On the other hand, this is easily explainable, as the Lexus Lounge is located that close to the pitch at pitch level view, right next to the players dressing rooms that you can see them walk out of these rooms to enter the pitch (and hence the location of the hospitality entrance for that reason).

Entrance before a Tampa Bay Storm game to the Lexus Lounge is approximately one hour, so be sure to be at the hospitality entrance at that specific time as people are queued up there!

Included in the package is unlimited wines (red and white), beers, soft drinks and coffee/tea. What is great, as mentioned before, is that you can get your drinks also during the game via the allocated VIP area that brings you back to the Lexus Lounge.

The diner facilities in the Lounge are quite ordinary nothing special, offering the typical American sport snacks like burgers, fries, hot dogs and corn on the cob. There is not that much to eat for vegetarians, which could be improved in the near future we think.

This is probably one of the most extraordinary lounges Sportz Guru has ever visited before due to its location in the stadium. The lounge is located right next to the pitch at the same level and also right next to the players dressing rooms! In fact the players come out of the dressing rooms in the same area where you will enter the pitch to go to your allocated seats. You can easily walk with them to the pitch and have them cheering and shouting to prepare for the game! Now, here comes the best part: The Lounge also comes with complimentary drinks during the game, this means that you can walk from your allocated seats to the dedicated VIP area behind the baseline to the Lexus Lounge. to get your drinks during the game. This is really great as you are right next to the spectacle the players give you! The Lounge itself comes with ample opportunity, to sit, relax, drink (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and eat (complimentary buffet style with live cooking). What makes it spectacular is its location and the pitch-side facilities offered!

One of the best seating experiences we have ever encountered due to the fact that the padded seating arrangements are located right next to the pitch where you can easily touch the players when they (almost) fly over the boarding! When going for the Lexus Lounge you are offered seating arrangement A or B (in essence meaning row 1 or 2 for the Lexus Lounge dedicated seating area). As the location of the Lexus Lounge seating area is already superb (right in the middle of the ‘’half-way line’’ at pitch level), we feel that there is not that much difference between row 1 and 2, although row 1 is right behind the boarding. Tampa Bay Storm Review Sport Hospitality Ticket.

Please pay a visit to sports bar Hooters on Channelside before the game, really entertaining and a great warm-up before entering the Lexus Lounge. Before the game the national anthem is performed live, make sure not to miss this. After the game, the players and cheerleaders gather around the pitch where there is ample opportunity for almost an hour to get your favorite autographs and/or pictures taken.

The following hotels are nearest to the stadium:
1. Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina
2. The Westin Tampa Harbour Island
3. Hilton Tampa Downtown

Do you want to go to Tampa Bay Storm and enjoy this hospitality package? We can help you book this great package. Just send us an email with your request. We have also made it easy for you to book your hotel. Just click on the banner below and search direct for the city or hotel name you want to stay.

Booking.com

As making a reservation can be quite tricky in terms of planning. We can make it easy for you. Please email us your contact details, the country or club you want to go en when you would like to go. We will make a proposal for you.

Check out www.facebook.com/sportzguru for the complete photo album and www.youtube.com/sportzgurus for more video’s.

Disclaimer: This is not a paid review and we haven’t been asked to write this. All views and words are our own and have not been influenced by anyone else.