Benchmark International Arena sits on Channelside Drive in downtown Tampa, Florida, where it has anchored the city’s sports and entertainment scene since opening in October 1996. The venue is best known as the home rink of the Tampa Bay Lightning, the NHL franchise that has called it home for every season since the building’s debut.
Few arenas in professional sports have changed names as often as this one. Originally built as the Ice Palace, the building has since been known as the St. Pete Times Forum, the Tampa Bay Times Forum, and Amalie Arena before the global M&A advisory firm Benchmark International acquired the naming rights in August 2025, giving the arena its current identity.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL)
- Location: Tampa, Florida
- Opened: October 20, 1996
- Capacity: About 19,092 for hockey (up to 21,500 for concerts)
- Architect: Ellerbe Becket
- Notable fact: Has carried five different names, most recently becoming Benchmark International Arena in August 2025
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A Downtown Tampa Fixture
Built at a cost of roughly $139 million, the arena opened its doors in the Channelside District with a Royal Hanneford Circus performance before the Lightning took the ice for their first game there, a 5-2 win over the New York Rangers. Designed by architecture firm Ellerbe Becket, the building was configured to host hockey, basketball, arena football, and large-scale concerts, with seating capacity shifting depending on the event setup.
In addition to the Lightning, the arena was home to the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League from 1997 to 2017. It also briefly hosted the Toronto Raptors during the 2020-2021 NBA season when cross-border travel restrictions forced the team to relocate south for the year.
A Revolving Door of Names
The arena’s identity has shifted repeatedly through corporate naming-rights deals: Ice Palace from 1996 to 2002, St. Pete Times Forum from 2002 to 2012, Tampa Bay Times Forum from 2012 to 2014, and Amalie Arena from 2014 to 2025. Benchmark International, a mergers-and-acquisitions advisory firm, signed a multiyear naming-rights partnership with Vinik Sports Group that took effect on August 13, 2025, making it Benchmark International Arena.
Despite the changing signage, the building itself has remained a mainstay of Tampa sports, once ranked among the busiest arenas in the country for hosting concerts and events alongside its role as the Lightning’s home ice.
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12 x 10.5 x 6 in. — built to the common stadium clear-bag size. Check your venue's rules.
USB-charged warmers for cold night games — no disposable packets.
Keeps chili hot from the tailgate to the fourth quarter.
Benchmark International Arena FAQs
What team plays at Benchmark International Arena?
The Tampa Bay Lightning of the NHL have played there since the arena opened in 1996.
What was Benchmark International Arena previously called?
It was known as Ice Palace, St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa Bay Times Forum, and most recently Amalie Arena before taking its current name in August 2025.
How many people does Benchmark International Arena hold?
It seats about 19,092 for hockey, with capacity rising to around 21,500 for concerts.
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Photo: Miosotis Jade / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.