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Follow our live updates from Lightning’s outdoor Stadium Series game

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Follow our live updates from Lightning’s outdoor Stadium Series game

Outdoor hockey in Tampa?

After years of lobbying, more than a decade of on-ice success and the emergence of an innovative idea to protect the ice from Florida’s heat and humidity, what started as unthinkable became possible and tonight will turn into reality.

The Lightning will host the Boston Bruins in the latest edition of the NHL’s Stadium Series at 7 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium.

Whether you have a ticket to the game and the pregame fan festival or not, you’ll want to follow our live updates throughout this historic day for Tampa Bay.

Pregame warmup

Lightning and Bruins players loosened up for the game by playing … soccer.

A man in demand

It wasn’t only the players’ attention fans were trying to catch before the game.

Stadium Series scenes

View a gallery of photos, from the NHL Pre Game fan festival to the arrival of the Lightning and Bruins at Raymond James Stadium to tonight’s Stadium Series game, all in one place.

Bolts get assist from Bucs

Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield, left, and tackle Tristan Wirfs, wearing Lightning sweaters, lead the team into Raymond James Stadium.

It might have been too simple of a solution to expect the Lightning to arrive at Raymond James Stadium dressed as pirates, especially given how deeply the NHL leaned into a pirate theme during Gasparilla weekend.

But when the Lightning pulled into the stadium aboard Jolley Trolleys, it was Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield and offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs who were the first off the streetcars, wearing Bolts gear and serving as hype men.

Read the full story here.

One hot ticket

Crews get the rink ready in the hours before the game.

If you were hoping tickets on the secondary market would get cheaper closer to game time, you may be out of luck.

With the weather absolutely perfect at mid-afternoon, upper-deck tickets were going for $400 or more approaching 5 p.m. on StubHub.

On Saturday night, those seats were closer to $300.

Lower-bowl seats were in the $500 range.

Testing the ice

Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, wearing a creamsicle Bucs uniform, walks onto the field after arriving at Raymond James Stadium.

Nikita Kucherov, who told Times Lightning writer Ed Encina on Saturday that the condition of the ice was subpar after Saturday’s practice, will be happy to know the league seemed to take the criticism to heart.

NHL workers are testing the ice by sliding a puck back and forth every couple of feet across the neutral zone.

Tarps come off

Returning the favor

Given that it is Gasparilla weekend, pirate costumes would have been obvious for the Lightning’s arrival at Raymond James Stadium. But captain Victor Hedman said the team opted instead for throwback Bucs uniforms as a way of thanking the team for letting them use their stadium for their first outdoor game in Tampa.

Jersey swap

Captain Victor Hedman and the Lightning players, wearing throwback Bucs creamsicle uniforms, step out of a Jolley Trolley after arriving at Raymond James Stadium.

The Lightning arrived for the game aboard Jolley Trolleys. As they exited the streetcars, they were led by Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield and tackle Tristan Wirfs. Except, in a twist, Mayfield and Wirfs wore Lightning sweaters while the Lightning players were decked out from head to toe — or helmets to shoes — in throwback Bucs creamsicle uniforms. Victor Hedman’s jersey even included a patch with the letter “C,” identifying him as the team’s captain.

Lightning players, from left, Dominic James, Erik Cernak and Nikita Kucherov can be seen inside of a Jolley Trolley dressed in creamsicle Bucs uniforms.Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, wearing a Bucs creamsicle uniform, exits a Jolley Trolley after the team arrives at Raymond James Stadium.Lightning center Brayden Point (21) and defenseman J.J. Moser (90) greet fans after arriving at Raymond James Stadium.Lightning center Yanni Gourde (37) and left wing Nick Paul (20) job toward Raymond James Stadium after arriving on a Jolley Trolley.Lightning players arrive at Raymond James Stadium.Lightning players are greeted by fans as they arrive at Raymond James Stadium wearing throwback Bucs creamsicle uniforms.Lightning players dressed in throwback Bucs uniforms photo on the field for a team photo after arriving at Raymond James Stadium.Right wing Nikita Kucherov, left, and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy pose for photos after the Lightning's arrival at Raymond James Stadium.Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield, left, and tackle Tristan Wirfs escort Lightning players at Raymond James Stadium.Bucs tackle Tristan Wirfs and quarterback Baker Mayfield, wearing Lightning sweaters, talk with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after accompanying the Lightning to the stadium.

The Bruins are coming!

The Bruins arrived at Raymond James Stadium dressed as patriots.

Boston Bruins players arrive at Raymond James Stadium dressed in American Revolutionary War regalia.Boston Bruins players arrive at Raymond James Stadium.Boston Bruins players David Pastrnak,left, and Fraser Minten arrive at Raymond James Stadium.

What’s behind the map

From Stanley Cup Point to Kucherov Cove, here’s the story behind the logo and field design for Tampa’s Stadium Series game.

The long wait

In the hours before the game, fans of the Lightning and Bruins passed the time at the NHL Pre Game fan festival in parking lots 5 and 7 south of Raymond James Stadium. Lines for some of the key attractions, including the Stanley Cup and the Human Claw, were as long as two hours.

Brian Schief, 40, of Tampa, takes a wrist shot to win prizes at the NHL Pre Game fan festival.Fans wait in line to see the Stanley Cup.Christina Shepherd, 38, left, and Lisa McIntyre, 59, of Dallas, Texas, pose with the Stanley Cup.Fans enjoy the pregame festivities outside of Raymond James Stadium.

A great day for hockey

A Stadium Series flag waves in the wind at Raymond James Stadium.A view of the rink as crew members get it ready for the Stadium Series game.Crew members prepare the rink before the start of the Stadium Series game.Today's Stadium Series game is the 44th outdoor game for the NHL.A view of the rink for the Lightning’s Stadium Series game.

Historic day in Tampa Bay

Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov, front, defenseman Victor Hedman, middle, and defenseman Ryan McDonagh, back, head to the ice inside the climate-controlled tent for practice Saturday in preparation for today's game.

The Lightning will host Tampa’s first-ever outdoor hockey game and the first played in a football stadium in the state of Florida tonight at Raymond James Stadium in a matchup of the NHL’s two hottest teams.

Puck drop for the Stadium Series game between the Lightning, who have won 16 of their past 18 games, and Boston Bruins, who have gone 12-2-1 over their past 15, is scheduled for just after 7 p.m.

Country music star and three-time Grammy Award winner Tim McGraw will perform during the first intermission, aboard a makeshift barge in front of three Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla floats, part of the Gasparilla-themed treasure map field layout surrounding the rink.

The festivities will start long before the game, with the NHL Pre Game fan fest getting underway at 1 p.m. in parking lots 5 and 7 south of the stadium.

At the festival, fans with a ticket to the game can take a photo with the Stanley Cup, be on their own Stadium Series hockey card, and participate in various skills and shooting competitions. Fanatics will have a merchandise trailer on site, and platinum-selling country duo LOCASH will perform.

The event was years in the making and the product of constant lobbying to the league office from Lightning owner Jeff Vinik, who will not be able to attend after sustaining a major leg fracture during a snowmobiling accident in Norway.

It was made possible by the installation of a climate-controlled tent over top of the ice to protect it from heat and humidity. Ironically, unusually cold weather caused rink builders to begin removing the tent on Saturday, earlier than originally planned.

Switching things up

Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin, and All-Star third baseman Junior Caminero and pitchers Ryan Pepiot and Ian Seymour of the Rays took in the scene Saturday at Raymond James Stadium, shooting pucks and throwing footballs at targets inside a net with their non-dominant hands, and watching the Lightning practice on the ice under the climate-controlled tent for the first time before tonight’s game.

Making over RayJay

It took 12 days to complete and was years in the planning, but you can watch Raymond James Stadium’s transformation from football stadium to hockey rink in 30 seconds below.

Today’s schedule

Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman (77) leads his team from the tunnel and onto the field before practice Saturday.

12:30 p.m.: Raymond James Stadium parking lots open

1-6:30: NHL PreGame fan festival, Lots 5 and 7 on south side of stadium

3:30: Bruins team arrivals, near Lot D at southwest corner of stadium

4: Lightning team arrivals, near Lot D at southwest corner of stadium

4: LOCASH performance at NHL PreGame

5: Raymond James Stadium gates open

6:30: ESPN TV broadcast begins

Just after 7: Estimated puck drop

First intermission: Tim McGraw performance on the field

Know before you go

Anyone who has ever been to a sporting event or concert at RayJay knows to arrive early.

Do you know the bag policy at the stadium? Where to buy merch? Best spot to watch the Lightning and Bruins enter the field?

We’ve got you covered here.

Catch up

  • For Lightning players, returning outside rekindles childhood memories
  • Images from the Lightning’s first practice at Raymond James Stadium
  • The reviews are in on the Stadium Series ice, and not all are raves
  • Stadium Series game in Tampa shows NHL’s progress-over-profit mindset
  • Snowmobile accident will keep Jeff Vinik from attending Stadium Series
  • A perfect storm in Tampa: After Gasparilla comes the Stadium Series. These fans are doing it all
  • Did the Lightning hit the weather jackpot for Sunday’s outdoor game?
  • Button up and grab your eye black. Hockey’s a different game outside
  • How the NHL arrived at tent idea for Lightning’s Stadium Series game
  • Stadium Series presentation will be unlike any other NHL outdoor game

• • •

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