Five local advertisements we wouldn’t mind seeing in 2022
The hoopla surrounding the NHL placing advertisements on jerseys is the primary buzz amongst fans as the offseason is winding down just ahead of training camp. When the league announced its newest endeavor in monetary advancement, fans were torn- mainly upset about the change but torn nonetheless.
The Lightning have changed their jersey look a handful of times since their inaugural 1992-93 season. However, the lightning bolt has remained a constant- other than the jersey that physically spelled out “bolts” -and while the team has three championships to its name; nearly 100 years for an Original Six team isn’t comparable to the Bolts 29, even if there have been no changes.
The bolt has become iconic in its own right, and regardless of where you stand on the advertisements, it is a process already underway and will start in 2022. That being said, what local, Florida-based businesses would make the most sense to place their logo upon the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightnings jerseys?
Bloomin’ Brands consists of Outback Steakhouse, Bonefish Grill, Carrabba’s Italian Restaurant, and Flemings Steakhouse. This presents itself as an easy opportunity as their headquarters are in Tampa, and there is already an Outback Steakhouse on the Promenade Level inside of AMALIE Arena. If we use the NBA as the catalyst on what to expect with companies paying for advertising, seeing the multi-colored “B” is something that you may see in the future. Although it could be possible, should Bloomin’ Brands offer up enough to entice the Lightning to put their logo on the front of their jerseys, that they opt to put just a singular restaurant from their chains, assuming that would wind up being the Australian branded, Outback.
Nothing can spark more bloomin’ onion sales than looking down at your jersey and seeing that logo.
Tampa’s most famous brewing company. Founded in 2007 in the heart of Tampa, Cigar City Brewing brought a blend of Tampa’s culture, cuisine, and history to market with their first sale in 2009- a 465 gallon batch of their famous Maduro Brown Ale. Much like Bloomin’ Brands, Cigar City already has a presence at the arena, or nearby in this case. The Cigar City Brewing Taproom is located in Thunder Alley, across from the arena’s entrance. It features the full array of their brews on draft and in cans. The Lightning holds their annual BrewFest (tickets are on sale now), making the possibility of a brewery very likely to lead the way for potential advertisements; the odds of a company like Coors or Anheuser Busch finding their logo upon the Lightning’s jerseys is probably more realistic, but it’s fun to dream.
Busch Gardens could be a unique partner for the Lightning, not only for the logo being placed on their jerseys but also other merchandising avenues. Busch Gardens is still a familiar name for those who do not travel to Tampa frequently or have never been. We know how active general manager Julien BriseBois is with the community in the greater Tampa Bay area, and Busch Gardens is heavily involved. For powerful local brands collaborating, this could be a match made in Heaven. Imagine a Howl-O-Scream night at AMALIE Arena with some cross-promotion- the possibilities are endless.
Not to mention, they have their own Stanley, the newest member of the giraffe family, who was born July 7, 2021. That date may sound familiar because it was the same night the Lightning closed out game 5 against the Montreal Canadiens.
https://twitter.com/buschgardens/status/1415068242247397377?s=21
Remember the NBA comparison? This company fits right in line with that. Companies like Ultimate Software advertise on the Miami Heat’s jerseys, for example, you may have heard of them, but most likely not. Mosaic relocated its entire company to Tampa in 2018.
Mosaic is a Fortune 500 company with over 100 years of phosphate mining history in the U.S. It is the world’s largest combined producer of potash and phosphates, two vital plant nutrients.
The company employs 3,000 Floridians, mostly in Hillsborough County, as the Sunshine State holds its biggest presence. Mosaic is heavily involved with the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation and generates a lot of revenue for the State.
It doesn’t really get more Florida than Publix. The biggest grocery chain in the Southeast, whose home is just North in Lakeland. Home of the world-famous (not kidding, Google it) Publix subs; or Pub-Sub if you’re a local. This pairing would make perfect sense. Publix has advertisements with their “P” logo is spread around Raymond James Stadium, where the Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers play, and it’s the official grocery store of the Bucs. It’s a prime market for Publix to secure its imprint with Tampa sports fans. The Buccaneers even have their own sub at the Publix deli; now, what would the Lightning’s sub have on it?
AMALIE Arena, where winning is a pleasure.