Sports

Founder Phil Esposito to be Inducted into Lightning Hall of Fame

Published

4 years ago

February 15, 2023

Philip Esposito. Photo via Wikidata.org

TAMPA BAY, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – The Tampa Bay Lightning today announced that franchise founder Phil Esposito has been elected to the inaugural Lightning Hall of Fame, joining Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis, both of whom are automatic inductees as the organization’s only two players to have their jersey numbers retired. The induction is the centerpiece of Lightning Alumni Weekend, which will take place in Tampa from March 16-18. More than 30 alumni spanning all 30 years of Bolts hockey will be on hand to celebrate.

Esposito, along with a team including executive Henry Paul, founded the Lightning franchise, which began play in 1992 at Expo Hall at the Florida State Fairgrounds. He served as the team’s general manager for its first seven seasons. Esposito joined the Bolts radio team as a color commentator during the 1999-00 season, a position which he still holds today, calling games alongside play-by-play announcer Dave Mishkin. In 2011, Esposito was honored by the organization with a bronze statue, which is located just in front of the grand entry on Ford Thunder Alley at AMALIE Arena.

The induction will include a series of events which will get kicked off on Thursday, March 16 with the Reunion Classic, benefiting the Lightning Alumni Association. It will take place at Topgolf Tampa with registration beginning at 4:30 p.m. Fans can compete alongside their favorite Bolts alumni for a good cause. Private corporate bays with five tickets, priority alumni selection and more are available starting at $1,500. Bays and individual tickets priced as $200 are on sale now at reunionclassic.givesmart.com.

Esposito will be joined by Lecavalier and St. Louis when the Lightning’s inaugural Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony takes center stage on Friday, March 17 at 7:30 p.m. on the covered ice at AMALIE Arena. Esposito will be joined by Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis, who are automatically included in the Hall of Fame as part of their jersey retirement. General admission tickets for the induction ceremony will be available via Ticketmaster (https://am.ticketmaster.com/bolts/hof) for $30, $20 for Season Ticket Members. Fans will be seated on the west side of the promenade level to view the induction stage. Select concession stands will be open. Guests will be able to enter the arena via Gates A and B off Ford Thunder Alley.

Alumni weekend will conclude on Saturday night when the Lightning take on the Montreal Canadiens, along with head coach St. Louis. Before the game there will be a special Hall of Fame ceremonial puck drop along with the unveiling of the permanent artwork honoring Esposito inside AMALIE Arena. Attending alumni will walk the blue carpet at 5 p.m. before the game, while select former Lightning players will be available for autographs during the game. They will also be featured on Bally Sports Sun, Lightning Radio on 102.5 The Bone and in arena on LightningVision.

Tickets to the game are available at www.Ticketmaster.com.

Alumni expected to attend (subject to change based on event):

Andreychuk, Dave		Konopka, Zenon
Bishop, Ben		Kontos, Chris
Boyle, Brian		Kubina, Pavel
Boyle, Dan		Lecavalier, Vincent*
Bradley, Brian		Lukowich, Brad
Callahan, Ryan		Malone, Ryan
Ciccone, Enrico		Modin, Fredrik
Creighton, Adam		Prospal, Vaclav
Crisp, Terry		Puppa, Daren
Cullen, John		Purcell, Teddy
Cullimore, Jassen		Roloson, Dwayne
Dingman, Chris		Roy, Andre
Esposito, Phil		St. Louis, Martin*
Fedotenko, Ruslan		Sydor, Darryl
Garon, Mathieu		Taylor, Tim
Garrison, Jason		Ysebaert, Paul
Hall, Adam		Zamuner, Rob*
Jablonski, Pat

*Not attending Reunion Classic

Related Topics:NHL Sports Tampa Bay Lightning

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Central Florida News

USF Comes Up Short at UTSA as Late Touchdown Seals 31-24 Loss

Published

7 days ago

October 9, 2026

NISEY LOU S.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — USF running back D.J. Crowther (5) crosses the goal line on a 15-yard touchdown run to open the scoring against UTSA Thursday night at the Alamodome. Photo by Stephen Galvin / University of South Florida Athletics.

South Florida held an early advantage and reclaimed the lead late, but UTSA’s second-half execution proved to be the difference Thursday night at the Alamodome.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (FNN SPORTS) — South Florida gave itself a chance to steal a road win Thursday night, but UTSA answered when it mattered most, defeating the Bulls 31-24 at the Alamodome.

USF struck first behind D.J. Crowther, who broke through for a 15-yard touchdown run to give the Bulls an early advantage. Quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. helped keep South Florida’s offense moving throughout the night as the Bulls continued to respond whenever UTSA threatened to take control.

USF stayed within reach from start to finish, but the second half belonged to a UTSA offense that consistently found a way to finish drives.

UTSA Finds Its Rhythm

Running back A’Marion Peterson became the difference-maker for the Roadrunners, finishing with 92 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

UTSA scored on every second-half possession, gradually shifting momentum away from a USF team that continued to battle offensively. The Roadrunners leaned heavily on their ground game while keeping the Bulls from building any sustained separation.

(more…)

Basketball

UPSHOT Announces Professional Women’s Basketball Franchise for Tampa Bay

Published

1 week ago

October 7, 2026

NISEY LOU S.

Jacksonville Waves battle at the rim against the Charlotte Crown during UPSHOT League action in Jacksonville. Photo by Nisey Spruill/FNN Sports.

New team will debut at the Yuengling Center in summer 2027 as fans help shape the franchise’s identity

TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — UPSHOT League officially announced the arrival of professional women’s basketball in Tampa Bay, with the new franchise scheduled to begin play at the Yuengling Center in summer 2027.

UPSHOT Tampa branding unveiled as the league prepares for its inaugural 2027 season in Tampa Bay. Image courtesy of UPSHOT Tampa.

Owner Morgan Busby introduced the vision behind bringing elite women’s basketball to the region, while Garland Cooper was announced as team president. UPSHOT Deputy Commissioner Taj McWilliams-Franklin also joined the launch alongside local leaders as the organization emphasized community involvement, fan experience and competitive excellence as core parts of the franchise.

FAN INVOLVEMENT: The Tampa franchise does not yet have an official team name. Fans are being invited to submit ideas and take part in helping shape the team’s identity ahead of its inaugural season. Season-ticket deposits and founding membership opportunities are also available.

UPSHOT Tampa President Garland Cooper speaks with media following the announcement of Tampa Bay’s new professional women’s basketball franchise. Photo courtesy of UPSHOT Tampa.

Community outreach began immediately with a “Shoe a Day” initiative supporting young athletes in the Tampa Bay area. During media availability, Cooper also spoke about the importance of giving young girls an opportunity to see what is possible through professional women’s sports.

Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise and Advisory Board Chair Kathleen Shanahan were among the community leaders in attendance, highlighting the potential economic and social impact of adding another professional sports organization to the region.

INAUGURAL SEASON: UPSHOT Tampa is scheduled to tip off at the Yuengling Center in summer 2027, adding professional women’s basketball to an established Tampa Bay sports market that already includes the Buccaneers, Lightning and Rays.

The team name, branding and additional franchise details are expected to be announced as the organization continues building toward its first season.

– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com

Central Florida News

Orlando Magic Announce $20 Tickets, $2–$7 Concessions for Home Games

Published

2 weeks ago

October 1, 2026

FNN SPORTS

New affordability options include ticket offers, merchandise deals and select concessions at Kia Center.

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Orlando Magic announced new affordability options Wednesday, including $20 ticket offers, select concessions priced from $2 to $7 and merchandise starting at $15, aimed at making home games more accessible to fans.

The initiative includes monthly ticket promotions, community ticket programs, designated concession value menus and retail deals at Kia Center.

“Making Magic games accessible to every fan has always been a priority for our organization, and this season we worked closely with the DeVos family to build on that commitment,” said Charlie Freeman, the Magic’s president of business operations.

$20 Ticket Offers and Community Programs

The Magic’s Monthly Steals Program will offer $20 ticket options for every home game, with offers released on the first of each month.

The team also will offer group ticket options, including complimentary tickets through the Jr. Magic and Honor Roll programs. Discounted tickets will be available to Orange County Public Schools staff and through OneBlood donations.

Fans can find more information at OrlandoMagic.com/MonthlySteals or by calling 407-89-MAGIC.

Concession Value Menu Features Items From $2 to $7

The Fan Favorites Value Menu will be available at Slam Dunk in Section 115 and Flavors of Orlando in Section 218.

Select food and beverage items will cost between $2 and $7. Options include hot dogs, pretzel bites, popcorn, nachos, cookies, chips, bottled water, soda and beer.

“From affordable ticket and concession options to retail merchandise deals, we want to make sure a Magic game remains within reach for families across our community,” Freeman said.

Merchandise Deals Start at $15

The Magic will offer an item of the game at every home game, with merchandise starting at $15.

Weekly deals at the Magic Authentics team shop at Kia Center also will feature a $15 hat or T-shirt. The team’s Eighty9 Collection, an affordable private-label merchandise line, will be available in the shop at each game.

SunRail Partnership Supports Game-Day Transportation

The Magic said they will continue working with SunRail to ensure trains operate after weeknight home games, allowing fans to ride free with a game ticket.

According to the announcement, SunRail serves 17 stations across Central Florida, including locations in DeLand and DeBary, and provides access near Kia Center.

Keeping Games Within Reach for Fans

Freeman said the affordability initiative reflects the ownership group’s commitment to maintaining access as the team grows.

“The DeVos family ownership has been clear that growth on the court should go hand-in-hand with keeping this experience affordable for the fans who support us every night,” he said.