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Benchmark International Arena set for a Tampa Bay Lightning game

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 18th 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 Guide
Benchmark International Arena set for a Tampa Bay Lightning game

Tips & Fan Reports

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.

PartyDeckTB

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.

Amalie300sFan

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.

SiestaKeyTrip

The Ashley VIP Lounge carries its own private entrance to the arena.

VYT Research

For a Lightning game the X-ray threshold drops to 4 by 6 by 1.5 inches, far below the general 12-inch limit — travel with a clutch to skip the scanner.

VYT Research

The arena publishes no driving route; set your app to 401 Channelside Drive.

VYT Research

The Blue Line Club is sections 102, 103, 114 and 115 — lower level between the blue lines, which is the best position in the building for reading hockey.

VYT Research

The TECO Streetcar is free and serves the Fort Brooke and Channelside garages.

VYT Research

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.

VYT Research

Every lot has a published walking distance and time — from three minutes at the Teal Lot to nine from the Florida Aquarium Lot.

VYT Research

Know Before You Go

Essential details checked against official venue information.

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.

Applies to: Tampa Bay Lightning games

  • Medical and parenting bags larger than the general limit are permitted but receive additional screening; all entry points may use additional search techniques.

Benchmark International Arena bag policy

Gate opening

General doors normally open 60 minutes before puck drop for Lightning games.

Applies to: Tampa Bay 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.

Benchmark International Arena door-times guide

Venue payments

All arena-managed retail and concession locations use cashless payment.

Applies to: Tampa Bay Lightning games

  • 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.

Applies to: Tampa Bay Lightning games

Benchmark International Arena re-entry policy

All Benchmark International Arena policies

Guides for Benchmark International Arena

  • Game Day Guide

    7 steps from arrival to puck drop, and 21 venue rules checked against official sources.

  • Parking Guide

    2 lots and garages with distances and entry routes, from $15.

  • Pregame Guide

    3 bars, patios and plazas near Benchmark International Arena to fill the hours before doors.

  • 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.

  • Getting There

    Driving routes plus every car-free way in — the cheapest is TECO Line Streetcar, free.

  • 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

View source

Venue policies

Current Benchmark International Arena guide, accessibility, ticketing, parking, and Tampa Bay Lightning dietary pages reviewed for Lightning policies.

View source

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

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Jerseys, hats, and licensed Tampa Bay Lightning gear, delivered before game day.

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