TAMPA, Fla. — The rattling of the tempered glass lining the rink of an electric Bolts game, although exciting, may rattle the nerves of some enamored fans.
With those fans in mind, the Tampa Bay Lightning has unveiled a new sensory room at Amalie Arena to meet the sensory needs of its guests.
Announced at a ribbon-cutting event on April 9 ahead of its Neurodiversity Night game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the room will feature multiple “sensory-specific items” geared toward stimulating or calming specific senses, the team said in a news release.
Lightning’s DEI Council in partnership with the University of South Florida’s Center for Autism & Related Disabilities, or CARD, constructed the room to “enhance the game-day experience for all guests, particularly those with sensory processing needs.” Inclusivity is the supreme goal for the team.
"The addition of the sensory room reflects our ongoing commitment to providing innovative solutions to support the diverse needs of our community," Lightning executive Elizabeth Frazier said in a statement.
You will find the room in the Lexus Suites entrance lobby at Gate C the next time you attend a game.
