He was lucky to come across them in Japan. The initial sponsors quickly changed their minds, and Esposito rushed to find new benefactors. However, after being awarded the franchise, Phil Esposito faced certain problems, including the lack of money to pay the entry fee. Five weeks later, the town officially received the right to join the League for the 1992-1993 season. A month later, the NHL sent inspectors to Tampa, who issued a verdict that the NHL would bring the ice hockey franchise to this region. Though the result wasn’t the greatest NHL game ever played, a record crowd of more than 25,000 was happy to witness it. The game took place in September 1990 at the Florida Suncoast Dome (a large indoor baseball arena). First, Esposito persuaded the NHL authorities to hold an exhibition game in Tampa, between the Los Angeles Kings and the Pittsburgh Penguins, edged Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. In 1989, the NHL announced its plans to expand to 28 teams by 2000, so Esposito instantly decided that his place of residence, Tampa’s sunny city in Florida, would be perfect for a new hockey franchise. Speaking, the franchise owes its foundation to the legendary Canadian hockey player Phil Esposito.
It fights in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the NHL.
The Tampa Bay Lightning is an ice hockey team located in Tampa, Florida.
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