Lightning to host fan watch parties during Panthers series

Lightning to host fan watch parties during Panthers series

Playoff watch parties will return to Amalie Arena shortly after the Lightning open the postseason Sunday against the Florida Panthers in Sunrise.

While fans will not be able to gather inside or outside the arena in downtown Tampa for Game 1 —the NBA’s Raptors have a home game that evening — they’ll be welcome to attend socially distanced watch parties starting with Tuesday’s Game 2.

Like last season, the Lightning will allow fans to gather on Thunder Alley and in the Cigar City Taproom for watch parties during home games. Tickets are available at the Lightning’s website for $5, in pods of one to eight people.

The Pepsi Porch Experience is new for fans this year and available for $40 per person. It includes porch seating for watch parties, a buffet-style meal and unlimited non-alcoholic beverages.

For those interested in returning to the Cigar City Taproom-style party, tickets are available online for $40, as well. These fans are guaranteed indoor seating, a buffet-style meal and unlimited non-alcoholic beverages.

Attendance will be capped at 463 for the plaza, 60 for the Pepsi Porch and 96 for the Cigar City Taproom, just over 600 altogether.

For road games, fans can purchase tickets for $10 apiece to watch games inside Amalie in socially distanced pods ranging from one to six people. Attendance for away games will be the same as home games (about 7,000), and doors will open 1 hour, 15 minutes ahead of puck drop.

Contact Mari Faiello at mfaiello@tampabay.com. Follow @faiello_mari.

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