It’s been 17 years since Lightning fans bid sayonara to the team’s first owner, the Kokusai Green, Ltd. Company.

Then they endured a year of Art “Are you a stud or a dud” Williams, before Palace Sports and Entertainment turned the hockey team into a winner.

When owner Bill Davidson died, the team was sold to the horror show that was movie producer Oren Koules and Len Barrie.

Finally the Lightning has an owner who invests in fans, the community and the hockey team.

Opening Amalie Arena’s doors to fans for a game six watch party is an example of a continuing effort Jeff Vinik.

“We talked about this night weeks and weeks and weeks ago, that if we got to this point and the fan support has continued to push us in this direction,” Eric Blankenship, vice president of marketing for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Lightning opens its doors to fans, after the skies opened over last week’s Curtis Hixon watch party.

Just another in a continuing effort under Jeff Vinik’s ownership to improve the fan experience.

“People come into town and they realize that they’re treated very very well, customer service is through the roof here,” long time Lightning broadcaster Rick Peckham said.

Since Vinik bought this team five years ago, there’s been no shortage of investment in team and product.

“We eliminated around 600 seats in the upper level. Seats that we could absolutely be selling because we had 20 something sell outs this year. To put in an organ, the reason for that was to improve the fan experience and that’s exactly what we’ve done with that party deck up there,” Blankenship said.

Vinik invested $65 million to upgrade the arena, actually blowing out some sold out lower level suites.

“Just to open up the concourses, so that when you’re walking around the concourse you can still see, feel and hear the action going on, on the ice,” Blankenship.

Improving the fan experience isn’t enough for the organization.

At every home game Vinik and the Lightning invests $50,000 to a community hero for charity.

In April, during game 7 of the Red Wings series, the Lightning honored News Channel 8’s Gayle Sierens.

According to Eric Blankenship, the Bolts are prepared to handle a full house tonight, up to 20 thousand fans, who can walk into Amalie Arena and watch game 6 on the biggest TV in Tampa Bay.

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