Tampa Bay Lightning fans have a refreshed bill of food and beverage options to choose from at Tampa’s Amalie Arena. And we’re not just talking about Capital Tacos.
Turns out, in addition to the Tex-Mex taco shop’s first concession stand, Amalie is expected to introduce new and updated menu items at its premium seating areas and 12 other concession stands, including vegetarian alternatives — just in time for the Lightning season opener on Saturday, Oct. 6.
“As we get ready to drop the puck on the upcoming Lightning season, we are pleased to present these new menu offerings to our guests, spread throughout AMALIE Arena,” said CEO Steve Griggs in a statement. “Presenting a premium guest experience to our fans is one of the pillars of our business and we understand how important it is for those fans to have great food and beverage options at our games and events. These new additions help us better address everyone’s food preferences.”
Amalie food service provider Delaware North has overhauled the offerings at the Firestick Grill restaurant, Lexus Lounge, Chase Club and more exclusive spaces like the Heritage Insurance Loft — and there are too many dishes to name. Southwest chicken egg rolls, Ybor-inspired tapas, peppercorn-crusted flank steak, acai and poke bowls, freshly shucked oysters, grilled lobster tail, and liquid nitrogen ice cream provide a taste of what to expect.
As for the concession stands, additions include the Impossible Burger (Ford’s Garage), buffalo chicken dip (Four Green Fields), barbecue dog (Holy Hog Barbecue), chicken pot pie bites (Irish 31), gelato cookie sandwich (Mise en Place), steak sandwich (Outback Steakhouse), smoked fish dip (Rum Fish Grill) and Korean boneless wings (WingHouse).
Seasonal drinks are featured all over Amalie throughout the year, too.
Head chef Brent Lewis and his culinary team put an emphasis on sourcing local shrimp and other seafood from the Florida coastline, plus using the arena’s hydroponic garden with more than 3,000 growing spaces. Equivalent to a one-acre farm and the largest of its kind in the National Hockey League, the garden grows various veggies and herbs for the on-site kitchens.
Self-service kiosk stands also aim to improve the guest experience at Amalie. The touchscreen stations offer a speedy checkout process to decrease wait times, and they’re newly located at Bay Club Sliders, Capital Tacos, Ford’s Garage and Papa John’s Pizza.
