The Tampa Bay Lightning National Hockey League team ought to be based in Orlando because of the team's Mickey Mouse policy of restricting sale of tickets to fans rooting for opposing teams.That's small town thinking—unfit for a potential NHL champion.

“Wickett”
Wickett

The New York Times today profiled the plight of a New York City couple who recently moved to Florida (???) and wanted to watch the New York Rangers take on the Lightning last night in Amalie Arena, a far cry from "the world's most famous arena" on 33rd Street.

The Ranger fan tried to buy tickets with a credit card tied to his former New York address. The purchase was rejected because the user was identified as a non-resident of the Sunshine State.

The denial was due to the Lightning policy of freezing out credit card numbers from outside Florida. Ultimately, the fan bought tickets with his fiancé's new debit card with their Miami address. He had Bob Uecker seats, two rows from the roof.

Bill Wickett, executive VP-communications of the Lightning tried to make sense of the discriminatory ticket selling policy.

"We want to create as much of a hometown environment for the Lightning players and or season-ticket holders as we can and we've been somewhat successful at it," he told the paper.

More nonsense from the Lightning: you can't wear a jersey of an opposing team in either the Chase Club or Lexus Lounge. Only Lighting or neutral shirts are allowed. If a fan tried to get into either place last night, he or she would have been given a replacement shirt to wear, or asked to sit elsewhere. I wonder how Chase and Lexus feel about the shirt policy.

In today's 24/7 media world, the Lightning ticketing policy just doesn't make sense. A fan living in California or Estonia can keep up with their favorite team in the US. For instance, yesterday's Ranger fan grew up in Estonia rooting for the Broadway Blueshirts.

Wickett claims out-of-towners can buy Lighting tickets if "they reach out to us and we have a conversation with them." Sounds downright Orwellian.

Currently, the Lightning is a strong team. However, there will be times when the team is downright hopeless and ticket sales tank. Management will be desperate for fans wherever they live.

As a long-time fan of the New York Mets, I know what I'm talking about.