Tampa Bay Lightning May Offer Free Beer
 

TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Lightning (news) is hoping to tap into larger crowds by offering unlimited free beer to season ticket holders.

But the sudsy sale may not reach its goal if safe-driving advocates have their way.

Police and several area chapters of Mothers Against Drunk Driving say the hockey team's offer is irresponsible.

"Why attach alcohol to a season-ticket plan? It's almost encouraging people to drink more than they should because it is free," said Sgt. Chris Velar, who runs the Police Department's drunken driving squad.

During the first Eastern Conference playoff game between the Lightning and the Philadelphia Flyers (news) Saturday, the St. Pete Times Forum's main scoreboard advertised the offer. Those who paid $100 toward 2004-05 season tickets were eligible for unlimited free beer during the game.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...lightning_beer

Thats a good idea. If the Braves ever do that I might consider season tickets. lol

That's just asking for trouble.

I know it would be if the Leafs did that. But then again, the Leafs don't need to offer free beer to get people to buy their tickets.

Now if the Blue Jays did that...

Maybe the Lightening management should consider moving the team to somewhere where people are actually interested in hockey. Maybe somewhere where it snows???

Well some of the Canadian teams struggle with attendance and money and hockey is popular there. Location shouldn't mean anything.

Ok, here's the deal with that. It's in the "talking" stage right now and what they have been saying is that - they will not serve liqour/alcohol to those that they (St. Pete Times employees) feel are intoxicated. They go through training and do not sell to people that are intoxicated. I don't think it's going to happen, the tickets aren't that expensive as it is.

No location shouldn't matter. It's more of a pet peeve I have.

Do you think baseball and basketball should leave Canada since its not popular there?

Yes. But I don't like baseball or basket ball. In fact we should get rid of the children's football league too.

The struggle with money due to the exchange rate, attendance is a different story. The 3 struggling Canadian teams are Calgary, Ottawa and Edmonton, in 2002/03 Calgary sold out 94.8% of their home games, Ottawa sold out 92.5% of theirs (the lowest of any Canadian team) while Edmonton sold out 98.7% of theirs.
(According to "Sports Business News" )

As for the beer thing, they don't serve beyond the second intermission anywhere in the NHL, and if somebody can afford season tickets they can probably afford to get hosed at the games. There probably won't be a season next year anyways due to the contract disputes.

I'd also like to point out that no professional sports team (hockey, baseball, basketball, football) gets a tax break from the province or the national government....