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    Benchmark International Arena

    Formerly Amalie Arena · 19,092 for hockey · Lightning home ice

    The former Amalie Arena on Channelside Drive: home of the Tampa Bay Lightning since 1996 and downtown Tampa's main concert arena.

    By the Good Seats editorial teamUpdated How we research
    Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, FL
    Photo: Miosotis Jade, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Upcoming events at Benchmark International Arena

    Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.

    Tampa's Downtown Arena, Formerly Amalie Arena

    Benchmark International Arena is the indoor arena at 401 Channelside Drive in downtown Tampa, and it is the same building most fans still call Amalie Arena. The name changed when a multiyear naming-rights deal with Benchmark International, a Tampa-based mergers and acquisitions firm, was announced and took effect on August 13, 2025. Older tickets, maps and rideshare apps may still show the Amalie name.

    The arena is home to the Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL and is Tampa's main stop for arena concerts, family shows, wrestling and UFC events. It seats 19,092 for hockey, about 20,500 for basketball and up to 21,500 for concerts. Hillsborough County owns the building, and Tampa Bay Entertainment Properties, part of Vinik Sports Group, operates it.

    Three Levels and How the Sections Run

    The bowl has three seating levels: the 100 level (the lower bowl, sections 101 through 130, wrapping the rink), the 200 level (a smaller middle ring with club seating and suites) and the 300 level (the upper bowl). RateYourSeats places the player benches in front of sections 101, 102 and 130, with the penalty boxes on the opposite side, so those sections and the ones across from them form the center-ice sideline.

    Lower-level sections run deep. RateYourSeats lists rows A through X in section 112, plus a WC row. When you face the ice or stage, lower seat numbers are on your right, which helps when you are trying to land on an aisle.

    • Rows A and B, 100 level: glass-level club seats with food and drink included for Lightning games.
    • 200 level club: TickPick places a buffet club in the 200-level ring behind the goal where the visitors shoot twice.
    • Premium areas: as of the 2025–26 season, the arena guide lists the Benchmark International Club Level, the Ashley VIP Lounge and the Executive Suite; names and perks can change after a rebrand.

    Best Seats for Lightning Games and Concerts

    Lightning hockey

    Center ice on the 100 level, roughly rows 10 and up, is the best all-around view: high enough to see over the glass and the standing players at the benches, close enough to follow the puck. TickPick puts it bluntly: unless you are in the first two rows, you usually do better above row 10. Glass seats are about the experience, not the view of the far end.

    Pick your end with care. TickPick says the Lightning shoot twice (in the first and third periods) at the net in front of sections 108 and 109, and RateYourSeats also places the home team's double-shooting end at the 112 end of the rink. The visitors shoot twice toward sections 123 and 124, and TickPick notes that end usually sells for less.

    End-stage concerts

    For a show with the stage at one end, the floor and the lower sections angled toward the stage are the premium tier. RateYourSeats calls the end sections near the stage a popular alternative to the floor, since you sit higher and see over the crowd. Lower sections facing the stage straight on give the best value for seeing the full production.

    Seats to avoid

    • Rows C through about 9 on the 100 level for hockey: close, but the glass and boards interrupt the view of the far end.
    • Upper corners of the 300 level: the farthest seats from both the ice and a concert stage.
    • Side sections nearest the stage at concerts: you may see the side of the set and miss the video screens.

    Parking, the Free Streetcar and Getting In

    The arena's parking guide lists more than a dozen garages and lots within about half a mile. The closest are the Teal Lot and the Pam Iorio Parking Garage, each about 0.1 mile away. The Tampa Convention Center, Whiting and Channelside garages sit about 0.3 mile out, and Fort Brooke Garage and the Florida Aquarium lot about 0.4 mile. The arena recommends booking event parking in advance through its parking partner, JustPark. Rates vary by event.

    The TECO Line Streetcar is free and stops at the arena, and the venue suggests parking at Fort Brooke, Channelside or the Florida Aquarium and riding the streetcar in. It is the easiest way to skip the garage lines after a game. An accessible drop-off area is in the circle off Channelside Drive.

    The Channelside District has restaurants and bars within walking distance, so plan to eat nearby and arrive early on weekend nights and for playoff games.

    Bag Policy, Doors and Arena Rules

    As of the 2025–26 season, the arena prohibits bags larger than 12 by 12 by 12 inches. For hockey games, any bag larger than 4 by 6 by 1.5 inches must go through an X-ray scanner before entry, so a small clutch gets you in fastest. Check the venue's current policy before you go.

    • Tickets: mobile tickets through Ticketmaster.
    • Doors: 60 minutes before puck drop for Lightning games and 90 minutes for premium ticket holders; typically 60 to 90 minutes before showtime for other events.
    • Re-entry: not permitted during games or events.
    • Not allowed: bottles, cans or containers, weapons, recording devices and large banners or signs. Smoking and vaping are prohibited inside.
    • Families and cyclists: strollers are permitted, and bike valet operates at Ford Thunder Alley on Lightning nights.

    Every order is backed by a 100% guarantee. For event times and the full arena guide, see the arena's A–Z guide.

    Hockey Season and the Rest of the Calendar

    The Lightning play 41 regular-season home games from early October to mid-April, with preseason games in late September and playoffs from April into June. Games against the Florida Panthers, weekend dates and visits from Original Six teams with large traveling fan bases draw the most demand; weeknight games against once-a-season Western Conference visitors are usually the easiest seats to find.

    Outside hockey, the arena is a regular stop for arena concert tours and family shows. It has hosted the NHL All-Star Game in 1999 and 2018, the Frozen Four in 2012, 2016 and 2023, and the NCAA Women's Final Four in 2008, 2015, 2019 and 2025. WWE has brought several premium events to the building, including Backlash in 2026, and UFC has staged cards there in 2016, 2019 and 2024.

    Ice Palace to Benchmark: Five Names in Three Decades

    The arena opened on October 20, 1996, as the Ice Palace, designed by Ellerbe Becket. It became the St. Pete Times Forum in 2002, the Tampa Bay Times Forum in 2012 and Amalie Arena in 2014, before the 2025 switch to Benchmark International Arena. The Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League played there from 1997 to 2017, and the Toronto Raptors used it as a temporary home in 2020–21.

    A renovation completed before the 2012 Republican National Convention added a large center-hung video board, a digital theater organ and changes to the suite layout. The building has hosted Stanley Cup Final games in 2004, 2015, 2021 and 2022, and the Lightning clinched the Cup on home ice in 2004 and 2021. For more background, see the arena's Wikipedia entry.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is Benchmark International Arena the same as Amalie Arena?

    Yes. The Tampa arena was called Amalie Arena from 2014 until August 13, 2025, when the Benchmark International naming deal took effect. The building, address and home team are unchanged.

    What is the capacity of Benchmark International Arena?

    It seats 19,092 for hockey, about 20,500 for basketball and up to 21,500 for concerts, according to Wikipedia.

    Where do the Lightning shoot twice?

    TickPick places the Lightning's double-shooting net in front of sections 108 and 109, and the visitors shoot twice toward sections 123 and 124. Confirm on game night, since teams choose ends before each game.

    What is the bag policy at Benchmark International Arena?

    As of the 2025–26 season, bags larger than 12 by 12 by 12 inches are prohibited, and at hockey games any bag larger than 4 by 6 by 1.5 inches goes through an X-ray scanner. Check the arena's current policy before you go.

    Where should I park for a Lightning game?

    The Teal Lot and the Pam Iorio Parking Garage are the closest, about 0.1 mile away. Parking farther out at Fort Brooke, Channelside or the Florida Aquarium lot and riding the free TECO Line Streetcar avoids the postgame backup.

    Can you leave and re-enter the arena?

    No. The arena does not permit guests to exit and re-enter during hockey games or other events.

    Sources