Release - Vinik Sports Group, Benchmark International Invite Tampa Bay to "Open House Weekend" At Benchmark International Arena
VINIK SPORTS GROUP, BENCHMARK INTERNATIONAL INVITE TAMPA BAY TO
“OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND” AT BENCHMARK INTERNATIONAL ARENA
Free Celebration Includes Maren Morris Concert, Lightning Watch Party, Arena Food Tasting, Public Skate and Family Movie Night
TAMPA BAY – Vinik Sports Group, in partnership with Benchmark International, is thrilled to welcome the Tampa Bay community to Benchmark International Arena for a three-day, weekend-long “Open House” celebration, Friday, Oct. 17 through Sunday, Oct. 19. The arena, home to the Tampa Bay Lightning and a hub for world-class entertainment, will host free events designed to connect with the community and showcase the arena’s many offerings.
“Benchmark International Arena belongs to Tampa Bay,” said Steve Griggs, CEO of Vinik Sports Group. “This Open House is about inviting everyone across the Bay Area to experience what makes this building and our community so special.”
The weekend will feature something for everyone. Festivities begin Friday night with a Lightning Watch Party as the Bolts take on the Detroit Red Wings at 6:00 p.m. Fans can gather in the arena to cheer on the Bolts on Lightning Vision. Guests can also enjoy OVG’s (Oak View Group) Taste of Tampa, a culinary showcase highlighting arena food partners and local flavors from OVG’s in-house culinary team.
Saturday evening, Grammy Award-winning artist Maren Morris brings her powerhouse vocals to the arena for a free concert at 7:00 p.m. as the headliner of the Open House Weekend.
On Sunday morning, families can lace up their skates for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to skate on the same ice as the Lightning, beginning at 9:00 a.m. The weekend concludes that afternoon with a community movie screening of Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out at 4:30 p.m.
With family-friendly pricing on food and beverages and open access to the arena, the Open House highlights Vinik Sports Group and Benchmark International’s dedication to making events accessible and enjoyable for the entire Tampa Bay community.
Events Schedule
- Friday, Oct. 17 at 6:00 p.m. – Tampa Bay Lightning Watch Party + Taste of Tampa
- Saturday, Oct. 18 at 7:00 p.m. – Maren Morris Concert
- Sunday, Oct. 19 at 9:00 a.m. – Public Skate
- Sunday, Oct. 19 at 4:30 p.m. – Inside Out Movie Screening
Free tickets for each event are available now at gofevo.com/group/openhouseweekend. Advanced parking passes can be reserved through ParkWhiz.com. For full details, visit benchmarkintlarena.com/openhouse or call 813.301.2500.
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About Vinik Sports Group
Vinik Sports Group (VSG) is an entity established by Jeff Vinik to manage the three-time Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning (2004, 2020, 2021) of the National Hockey League and hold the leasehold rights to Benchmark International Arena, the 19,092-seat downtown Tampa home in which the team plays its games. The venue opened in 1996 and became Benchmark International Arena in 2025 when Benchmark International partnered with Vinik and the Lightning. Since 2010, Vinik has led a complete brand and business transformation of the Lightning and the arena, featuring a mostly private renovation of the publicly owned facility. Doug Ostrover and Marc Lipschultz joined the expanded ownership group of Vinik Sports Group in 2024, alongside Arctos, which initially joined in 2021. In addition to owning the Lightning and managing Benchmark International Arena, Vinik Sports Group, through TBSE, manages the Yuengling Center on the campus at the University of South Florida.
About Benchmark International
Benchmark International is a global M&A firm that provides business owners and operators with creative, value maximizing solutions for growing and exiting their businesses. Benchmark International has handled over $12.5 billion in transaction value across various industries from its offices across the world. With decades of M&A experience, Benchmark International’s transaction teams have assisted business owners with achieving their objectives and ensuring the continued growth of their businesses. The firm has also been named the Investment Banking Firm of the Year by The M&A Advisor and the Global M&A Network, as well as the #1 Sell-side Privately Owned M&A Advisor in the World by PitchBook’s and Refinitiv’s Global League Tables.
– BenchmarkIntlArena.com –