Tampa Bay Lightning
Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
- Capacity
- 19,092
- Roof
- Indoor
- Surface
- Ice
- Opened
- 1996
- Tickets
- $40+
- Parking
- $15+
- Beer
- $12+
- Food
- $7+
- Est. total
- $74+
Against the other 31 NHL arenas, Benchmark International Arena is the 18th cheapest game day: joint 18th for tickets, joint 17th for parking and joint 20th for food and drink, compared on market ticket medians and published lot and menu prices in US dollars. See the full ranking.
Prices are estimates. See our methodology.
What to Expect
Benchmark International Arena sits on the waterfront in Tampa's Channel District, steps from the Tampa Riverwalk and the cruise ship terminal. The Lightning have become one of the NHL's elite franchises with back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021, and the arena atmosphere reflects that success. The Channel District and Water Street Tampa developments have transformed the area around the arena into a walkable entertainment zone. The free TECO Streetcar connects the arena to Ybor City's historic nightlife district. Tampa's year-round warm weather means even January hockey games have a tropical pregame vibe.
View Seating GuideTips & Fan Reports
Game Day
Doors open only 60 minutes before puck drop unless you hold Benchmark International Club Level, Ashley VIP Lounge or Executive Suite tickets.
The Pam Iorio Garage and the Teal Lot are both a three-minute walk, but the arena runs no parking itself.
For a Lightning game the X-ray threshold drops to 4 by 6 by 1.5 inches, far below the general 12-inch limit, so only a bag under that size skips the scanner.
Parking & Directions
Teal Lot and Pam Iorio Garage are each 0.1 mile, about three minutes, from the arena.
Park at Fort Brooke Garage, Channelside Garage or Florida Aquarium Lot for a free TECO ride to the arena.
The arena publishes no driving route; set your app to 401 Channelside Drive.
Food & Drinks
Find the Party Deck on the 300 level and go out there after the game. It is always a good time. So many good bars within walking distance from Amalie too - try Hattricks right across the street.
The Cuban sandwich at Benchmark International Arena is good, but the real deal is in Ybor City. Take the streetcar before the game.
Cigar City Jai Alai IPA is one of the best craft beers in Florida. Fresh on tap at the arena.
Seating
Anywhere in the 300s row A-H will give you a great time. There is really no bad seat in Amalie unless you are in the last row up top and even then it is not that bad.
The Ashley VIP Lounge carries its own private entrance to the arena.
There are two club levels here, not one: the Benchmark International Club Level with The Mark, and the Tampa Bay Club Level with the Heritage Insurance and RSM Lofts.
General
Take a day trip down to Siesta Key in Sarasota if you have time - about a 45 minute drive and the best beach in the area. Tampa has amazing food and nightlife around the arena too.
Know Before You Go
- Bag policy
Bags larger than 12 x 12 x 12 inches are prohibited, and bags larger than 4 x 6 x 1.5 inches at hockey games must go through X-ray screening.
Medical and parenting bags larger than the general limit are permitted but receive additional screening; all entry points may use additional search techniques.
- Gate opening
General doors normally open 60 minutes before puck drop for Lightning games.
Benchmark International Club Level, Ashley VIP Lounge, and Executive Suite guests may enter 90 minutes before puck drop; times can change without notice.
- Venue payments
All arena-managed retail and concession locations use cashless payment.
The ReliaQuest Ticket Office accepts Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
Benchmark International Arena ticket and payment information
- Re-entry
Guests who exit Benchmark International Arena during a hockey game cannot re-enter.
Guides for Benchmark International Arena
- Game Day Guide
7 steps from arrival to puck drop, and 21 venue rules checked against official sources. 3 bars, patios and plazas to fill the hours before doors, and what to bring.
- Parking & Directions
2 lots and garages with distances and entry routes, from $15. Or leave the car: the cheapest way in is TECO Line Streetcar, free.
- Food & Drinks
13 concession stands and 13 items researched from the venue's own menus, cheapest food $7 and drink $5.
- Seating Guide
9 seating areas at Benchmark International Arena, with the level names printed on the ticket.
- Cost Calculator
Build a total for your own party using Benchmark International Arena's stored figures.
How We Checked This Page
Every section below names the source it was read from and the day it was read. Where we could not reach a published figure, the page says so rather than presenting an estimate as a checked fact.
- Venue facts
Wikipedia / Official Venue Page
- Venue policies
Current Benchmark International Arena guide, accessibility, ticketing, parking, and Tampa Bay Lightning dietary pages reviewed for Lightning policies.
Not yet checked against a published source
These figures are estimates. Most venues no longer publish the numbers behind them (concession and ticket pricing moved to dynamic marketplaces), so we hold them as estimates rather than dating them as verified.
- Ticket prices: Secondary market averages (SeatGeek/StubHub)
- Parking prices: Never checked against a published rate: the venue's parking page, read 2026-09-05, publishes none. Parking is paid on arrival at most lots or through JustPark, with no figure. The 2026-07-27 figures were compiled from third-party listings (was: "Benchmark International Arena 2026: event parking $12-$20 with VIP options to $35; JustPark is the official partner").
- Food prices: Team Marketing Report FCI + venue research
- Drink prices: Team Marketing Report FCI + venue research