Photo by Alexis Boucher

Dear Tampa Bay Times Forum Attendees,

Congratulations! You’ve shown great taste in coming out to the home games so far this season. Hockey is pretty much the greatest game in the world and is best experienced live. The speed, skill, and violent poetry of the NHL is sure to amaze you. Now that those first few games are under our belts, I wanted to have a little talk to make your (and my) experience the best it can be.

Some of these have been touched on before, but they bear repeating here. Like the NHL rules following the lockout there have been some changes.  We’re all a little rusty and etiquette is always important.

1) Don’t do the Wave. Especially when our team is down on the scoreboard. Scratch that. Don’t do the Wave EVER.

2) Don’t boo the home team. It’s just rude. And I will yell at you if you do.

3) Don’t bail on the team if they haven’t given up on the ice.(I will make an exception for those with small children or who need extra time leaving the building. The rest of you got the stink eye from me).

4) Don’t believe the lyric of that Hockey Paradise. It’s The Stanley Cup or The Cup or even Lord Stanley’s Cup. Never, ever “The Stanley”.

5)  If you don’t know something or are fuzzy on the rules, just ask. I’m more than happy to help you out and answer questions.

6) Don’t tuck your jersey into your pants. Gigantic fashion faux pas.

7) Please don’t get up when the puck is in play. Sometimes it can’t be avoided but you getting up makes everyone else in the row stand up and obstruct the view.

While we’re at it, don’t lean forward in your seat the whole time. Our seats are super comfy now, even in the terrace level. Lean back, enjoy, and keep your head from blocking half of the ice.

8) Constantly yelling “Hit him!”  “Fight! Fight!” and “Take off your skate and cut his throat with it!” isn’t funny. In fact, the last one is pretty distasteful.

And finally…

9) 8) Most importantly, have fun. Enjoy yourself and be respectful of the people sitting around you. Seriously, guys. The Flyers fans near me last night were better behaved than a lot of the Bolts fans. We’re better than that.

See you at the arena!

Love from Section 321,

Me