Amalie Arena

A multi-purpose arena in downtown Tampa, home to the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning and a major venue for concerts and events.

Tampa, FL 33602

Homestalgia Archive

Community memory · 1996 · Aug 7, 2026

Verified

On October 12, 1996, the Ice Palace, as it was then known, opened its doors to an eager crowd, providing a state-of-the-art home for the Tampa Bay Lightning, the city's NHL franchise. Prior to this, the team played in the Florida Suncoast Dome (now Tropicana Field) in St. Petersburg, a facility not ideally suited for hockey. The new arena, situated in downtown Tampa, was designed to be a premier venue for professional sports and major events. The first game saw the Lightning take on the New York Rangers.

Source: Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL), franchise and arena history; NHL, 1996–97 regular-season game records; Tampa Bay Rays (MLB), Tropicana Field history

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Stand at the curb

Walk around it

Facing the house

From above

See it from the sky

A cinematic orbit of the actual roofline, lot and street — rendered from Google's aerial imagery of this exact address.

Satellite view of 401 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL, 33602

Cinematic coverage is unavailable here. Satellite view shown instead.

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