BENCHMARK INTERNATIONAL ARENA PARKING

It’s no secret that it gets hot in Tampa, but the Tampa Bay Lightning chill out at their home base at Benchmark International Arena, formerly known as the “Ice Palace”. As Bolts games are often crowded, it is hard to find a parking place unless you book Benchmark International Arena parking in advance with BestParking, including on-site parking. What was then known as the Ice Palace was built specifically for the Tampa Bay Lightning, with the city providing $86 million and the team paying $53 million for its construction. Opening in 1996, the venue’s naming rights were sold to a local newspaper, becoming the St. Pete Times Forum. When the paper’s name changed in 2012, it became the Tampa Bay Times Forum before changing again in 2014 when the naming rights were bought by Amalie Oil Company. In addition to Bolts games, Benchmark International Arena hosts men’s and women’s NCAA basketball games, including the women’s Final Four for 2008, 2015 and 2019. In addition to sports, the former Tampa Bay Times Forum features concerts, rodeos, figure skating and more. The venue was most recently renovated in 2011-12, including a new scoreboard, a rebuilt entrance, new climate controls and an outdoor deck. It can be difficult to find a spot for an event at such a popular venue, making it imperative to book Benchmark International Arena parking beforehand with BestParking, featuring on-site parking.