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St. Pete Times Forum renovations adding new spark to Tampa Bay Lightning games (St. Petersburg Times)

**By Susan Thurston, Times Staff Writer**

Thursday, October 13, 2011

How would you spend $40 million? If you're Jeff Vinik, owner of the Tampa Bay
Lightning, it means cup holders in every seat, a digital pipe organ and indoor
lightning bolts. • Those are a few of the improvements awaiting fans as the
Lightning hosts its home opener Monday at the St. Pete Times Forum. • Vinik
vowed to make the 15-year-old arena one of the nation's best and dug deep in
his own pockets to make it happen without any burden on the taxpayer. Upgrades
focus on creating a strong sense of place and improving the fan experience,
especially in the top deck. Yes, we're thinking Rays fans are jealous. •
Construction crews have been on site 16 hours a day for four months trying to
finish the job. Most of the work -- but not all -- should be finished by
opening night. The main entrance and new restaurant will follow about mid
November. • CEO Tod Leiweke offers this disclaimer: If the lightning coils,
which obviously need extensive testing, aren't working perfectly by Monday,
they'll wait until they are. After all, there ...

St. Petersburg Times