As a student journalist that aspires to one day work in sports, I’ve spent most of my time these past few years watching various sporting events from the press box. But it was not long ago that I was sitting in the stands of the Tampa Bay Times Forum taking in a hockey game purely as a fan.
Naturally, this was not a cheap activity as a high school/college student. I would review the schedule prior to the start of each respective season and carefully plan out which games I would attend based around my school schedule and my finances. Going to a random game on a whim was simply not an option for me, as is the case for most students.
However, the Tampa Bay Lightning has become one of the few professional sports organizations that is consistently trying to make things more affordable for fans. For students, this aim is achieved through a partnership with Subway to create the Student Rush program.
The Lightning invited me to take a behind-the-scenes look into the Student Rush program as well as experience the process first-hand last Thursday, when the team was set to take on the Detroit Red Wings. I knew this would be one of the better games to attend in terms of evaluating the program, as divisional match-ups always draw a good crowd.
I shadowed Abby Grant, a fellow USF student who is currently a resident in the Lightning’s marketing department, as she has played a large part in coordinating the student rush program this season. Considering I had never participated in student rush despite being in the program’s target audience, the first questions I asked Grant were rather straight-forward:
Why should students take advantage of Student Rush? What makes a hockey game, and the Tampa Bay Lightning, a marquee attraction for college students in the area?
“Students should take advantage of this program for the fan experience,” Grant said. “Personally, coming into this organization, hockey wasn’t necessarily the sport that I was most familiar with. So attending a hockey game was a totally different experience for me, and I can say that a Lightning game is unlike any other in professional sports. The students that take advantage of this program are unbelievable; they are true hockey fans.”
With this positive feedback about those that are already taking advantage of the program, I was interested in getting feedback directly from students.
Grant and I headed out to the plaza in front of the Forum about an hour before the students were allowed to get their tickets, and a considerable line was already beginning to form. While standing in line, students fill out a voucher that asks for their names as well as the school they attend; the first 100 of these students receive a coupon for a free Subway breakfast sandwich.
College kids and free food? It’s clear the Lightning knows its audience.
As 7:15 p.m. drew closer, the line began to double and triple in size. I then took the opportunity to approach some students, curious to hear what they liked about the program as well as what keeps them coming back.
“I think this is a great opportunity for students to be able to fill the seats and bring a younger spirit and vibe to the games,” said Sarah Kieny, a student at the University of Florida, “I know that the lower-level seats are a bit more expensive, so this is an opportunity for us that we might not have otherwise.”
Katina Bitsicas, a student at the University of South Florida, also echoed Kieny’s sentiment about affordability. Bitsicas notes that the student rush program has allowed her to attend more games than she would otherwise.
“It’s really great, because I come from up North and we don’t have anything like this. The Lightning make it a lot more affordable, and so we end up going to a lot more games.”
After standing in line, the process of actually obtaining a ticket was extremely easy and organized. The students approach a representative within the box office, give them their vouchers as well as show a valid student ID, and for $20 they get the best seats available at that time. It is, as they say, as simple as that.
Now, it’s hard to say anything is a “catch” when you’re paying just $20 for the best seats available at an NHL game. But it is important to note that if you come with a group, you will be given the best seats available based on the number of people in your group. This, of course, is to ensure that you sit with the people you came with. However, you could always ditch your friends and go grab that 100-level seat. They’ll (probably) understand.
So, a quick recap: $20 and a valid student ID gets you in seats you probably wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise. There are some limitations if you come in a larger group, and you’ll have to stand in line for an hour if you want the absolute best seat available at 7:15 p.m.
All things considered, this is a great opportunity for those who are still in school. There were 270 students that took advantage of Student Rush during last Thursday’s game, and each one of them was able to enjoy an exciting game featuring two NHL playoff contenders without breaking the bank. This opportunity is a rarity in professional sports; if you’re a student in the Tampa Bay area, you should definitely be taking advantage of it.
Student rush tickets are available for all Lightning home games during the 2013-14 season. More information can be found at lightning.nhl.com.
