Benchmark International Arena Food & Drinks
Tampa Bay Lightning · Tampa, FL
Know Before You Go
Essential details checked against official venue information.
- 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
- Outside food and drink
Outside food and beverages are prohibited except when needed for medical purposes.
Applies to: Tampa Bay Lightning games
- Guests may bring an empty water bottle to fill at an arena drinking station; contact the arena at 813-301-6500 about medical or religious dietary needs.
- Dietary options
The Lightning's official dietary guide lists gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan items by concession and arena level.
Applies to: Tampa Bay Lightning games
- Examples include a Beyond Beef Burger at Bayshore near Sections 109 and 301 and gluten-free pizza-crust options near Sections 115, 208, and 326.
- Alcohol sales cutoff
Alcohol service ends ten minutes into the third period at Lightning games.
Applies to: Tampa Bay Lightning games
- Purchases are limited to two drinks per person per transaction and require an accepted, unexpired physical ID.
- Cheapest food
- $7
- Cheapest drink
- $5
- Menu items
- 13
Benchmark International Arena serves Tampa's Cuban and seafood heritage alongside standard arena fare. The Cuban sandwich, pressed bread, roast pork, ham, Swiss, pickles, and mustard, is the signature item and Tampa claims it as their invention (sorry, Miami). Cigar City Brewing, one of Florida's most celebrated craft breweries, is on tap throughout the arena. Grouper sandwiches and tropical drinks reflect the Gulf Coast vibe. Sparkman Wharf next door offers waterfront restaurant-quality dining as a pregame alternative.
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.
Frozen cocktails are everywhere. Embrace the tropical vibe at a hockey game in Florida.
Cigar City Jai Alai IPA is one of the best craft beers in Florida. Fresh on tap at the arena.
The Cuban sandwich at Benchmark International Arena is good, but the real deal is in Ybor City. Take the streetcar before the game.
Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City is a Tampa institution. Make a reservation for pregame. It fills on game nights.
Sparkman Wharf is right next to the arena with better food than concessions. Eat there and walk in.
Grouper is the Gulf Coast fish, the sandwich is a Tampa staple and worth trying at the arena.
On-Site Selections
Everything sold inside the arena, listed under the stand that sells it.
Prices are researched typical rates for the 2026-27 NHL Season.
Bay Club Sliders
Section 210Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Not published
Bowl'd Over
Section 323Seafood Poke Bowl
Not published
Bull Market
Section 311Bulgogi Sandwich
Not published
Carvery
Section 327Carved Steak Sandwich
Not published
Checkers
Section 112Big Buford Burger
Not published
Cigar City Brewing Taproom
Ford Thunder AlleyBacon Smash Burger
Not published
Fry Box
Section 306Brisket Poutine
Not published
Knead Italia
Section 208Penne Alla Vodka
Not published
Loli's Tacos
Section 320Carne Asada Tacos
Not published
Moschella's Italian Eatery
Section 108Tiramisu
Not published
Portside Grill
Section 218Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich
Not published
The Melt-Away
Section 310Four Cheese Ham & Cheese Sandwich
Not published
The Press
Section 112Cuban Sandwich
$14
Typical game-day prices, shown where we have one.
Tampa Bay Lightning Drinkware
Tumblers, koozies, and Tampa Bay Lightning glassware for the pregame and the ride home.
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Stadium Neighborhood
Hampton Chocolate Factory
$$Dessert Shop 4.7 (2,295)
615 Channelside Dr Ste. 118, Tampa, FL 33602, USA
Oxford Exchange
$$$American Restaurant 4.6 (6,860)
420 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33606, USA
Yard House
$$American Restaurant 4.6 (1,689)
450 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602, USA
American Social - Bar & Kitchen
$$American Restaurant 4.3 (5,418)
601 S Harbour Island Blvd #107, Tampa, FL 33602, USA
Boulon Brasserie and Bakery
$$French Restaurant 4.3 (1,475)
1001 Water St, Tampa, FL 33602, USA
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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.
- Concession menu
Benchmark International Arena's current official dining directory.
- Nearby restaurants
Google Places API (New) Nearby Search
- Value menu
Checked for 2026: no value menu at Benchmark International Arena; the $2m programme refresh is technology and service rather than value pricing
- 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.
- Food prices — Team Marketing Report FCI + venue research
- Drink prices — Team Marketing Report FCI + venue research