Lightning fans help NBC to record TV viewership

[UCFKnight85]

Numbers are out and Game 1 was the most watched Game 1 in 18 years, and Game 2 was the most watched in Stanley Cup history. Ever.

And before moron Chicago fans chime in, insisting this is only because the Hawks are in the finals, I'll remind you that these ratings beat all of the past recent Finals games that the Hawks were in.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/lightning-help-ignite-record-stanley-cup-ratings/2233005

 

[KnighttimeJoe]

The NHL personally needs to thank all of the bandwagon fans in Tampa for this one. I am sure they were sweating bullets once the Rangers got bounced.

 

[UCFKnight85]

Consider too that last year featured the NY and LA markets in the Finals and the year before featured Chicago and Boston, "supposedly" the best thing ever since it had 2 of the super awesome Original 6 in the Cup.

This series is outdrawing both.

 

[KnighttimeJoe]

Consider too that last year featured the NY and LA markets in the Finals and the year before featured Chicago and Boston, "supposedly" the best thing ever since it had 2 of the super awesome Original 6 in the Cup.

This series is outdrawing both.

Further proof that the NHL clearly rigged the NY/TB series.

 

[cnsaguy]

Just read an OS article that showed game 3 numbers. Women's soccer out viewed NHL in Orlando. No wonder I hate this city.

 

[KnighttimeJoe]

Just read an OS article that showed game 3 numbers. Women's soccer out viewed NHL in Orlando. No wonder I hate this city.

The Gators' softball team outdrew the first game of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals.

 

[UCFWayne]

That is impressive! Go Bolts!

 

[UCFKnight85]

I just read that the top 5 markets for the NHL Game 2 were Chicago, Tampa, Milwaukee, Buffalo, and........Ft Myers!

Southwest Florida coming through.

 

[UCFWayne]

Just read an OS article that showed game 3 numbers. Women's soccer out viewed NHL in Orlando. No wonder I hate this city.

Link?

 

[KnighttimeJoe]

Link?

Here is a link to what I was talking about: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...haeger-mike-bianchi-0607-20150606-column.html

 

[UCFKnight85]

Here is a link to what I was talking about: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/spor...haeger-mike-bianchi-0607-20150606-column.html

This was nothing more than Bianchi once again sucking off the Gators and pandering to the legion of idiot UF fans that live in Orlando. The ratings piece only proves how many goddamn Gator fans live in the city.

Plus, it's not like people in Orlando would necessarily care about a TB team. The Magic don't draw for shit in Tampa and basketball in general is a weak draw here.

 

[KnighttimeJoe]

This was nothing more than Bianchi once again sucking off the Gators and pandering to the legion of idiot UF fans that live in Orlando. The ratings piece only proves how many goddamn Gator fans live in the city.

Plus, it's not like people in Orlando would necessarily care about a TB team. The Magic don't draw for shit in Tampa and basketball in general is a weak draw here.

Bianchi stoking the egos of the Gator faithful? Surely you jest.

I think the only Tampa team Orlandoans care for even mildly would be the Bucs. Most people I know around here go to Rays and Lightning games to root for their team (read: the opposing team).

 

[Game_Day_Sports]

Take hockey people out of the mix and yes, very few make the trip to Lightning games. By hockey people, I mean folks who play or whose kids play and are not your normal every day fan.

Now there was a rumor that could change all that. As the story goes, the Solar Bears are trying to make the leap to the AHL and lock down the Lightning Farm club affiliation. There were supposedly 3 things that needed to happen.
1) Attendance - Not an issue as the Solar Bears are in the Top 3 in the ECHL since they came back.

2) Ownership - this is more of a behind the scenes thing, but some of the personnel moves that they have made indicate steps are being taken in this direction.

3) Practice / Community facility - This is what supposedly caused them to build their own facility in Winter Garden.

Now the Lightning have a deal through 2016/17 with Syracuse Crunch but the thinking is that either the AHL awards the Solar Bears an expansion starting in 2017/18 or they purchase a team and relocate it to Orlando by that time.

Supposedly, the Lightning like the idea because it puts their pool of reserves just 90 minutes from the arena plus it gives them a bigger impact in the Orlando area which drives numbers for them.

While the source is very low in the Solar Bears organization, the mere concept does actually make good sense.

 

[1ofTheseKnights]

Solar Bears Lightning farm Afrikaans would be the shit

 

[UCFWayne]

GDS, that is definitely a great idea for both teams. Hope they can make it happen.

 

[Poolside Knight]

I saw that Bianchi headline, Orlando is too big to have writers like him write bush league articles like that. The Orlando sports culture is minor league which sucks but also can be good for UCF if the Power 5 invite ever comes

 

[crambone]

Go Bolts!!!

 

[UCFKnight85]

Vasy in net tonight.

Let's go kid!!

 

[Sir Galahad]

There are more Lightning fans in Orlando than Magic fans in Tampa. But hey, maybe that is because one team has good ownership and one does not.