Not only do you get to see a hockey game when you go to a Lightning game - there's a great pre-party happening in Thunder Alley in the hour or two before the game starts to get fans pumped up. They have activities for young kids like face painting, tattoos, and a bounce house plus music, food and drinks, and the pro shop is open. We even saw Thunderbug out and about for photo opportunities! Once the doors open, you walk inside the stadium and immediately notice how well it's taken care of. It looks brand new and well maintained. Finally, you make your way over to a balcony and you see the ice rink itself - oh yeah, and the biggest, most mind blowing 'score board' hanging over the center ice! Seriously, it's a gigantic screen that's probably bigger than my college dorm room was. Oh, and don't forget to look over and see the equally impressive pipe organ.
At the top of each period (and especially at the opening of the game), they play neat intro videos on the mega score board plus the organist plays some neat tunes while the area around the organ lights up for a mini light show. And watch out - is that THUNDER coming out of the ceiling? Yup, two tesla coils hanging upside down that shoot out electric bolts! Seriously, where else could you get a full show before the game even starts?!
There are a variety of places to eat and drink, including an Outback Steakhouse that gives you your food to go, a Little Caesar's Pizza, and one of my favorites - a Dippin' Dots cart! You're in for a treat here.