Will Hurricane Milton affect Tampa Bay Lightning schedule? Looking at Bolts' home game schedule in opening month

The Tampa Bay Lightning are set to open the 2024-25 season on Oct. 11 against the Carolina Hurricanes on the road. Interestingly enough, it’s a hurricane that could disrupt the Bolts’ home opener on Oct. 12.

Hurricane Milton is currently in the Gulf of Mexico on a collision course with the state of Florida. As the BBC noted, Hurricane Milton could have “potentially catastrophic” consequences. Florida governor Ron DeSantis has already issued a state of emergency, while U.S. President Joe Biden has pledged support for the state.

With that in mind, could Hurricane Milton impact the Tampa Bay Lightning’s schedule? There’s a high chance that it could. In particular, the destruction that the hurricane could leave behind might make it nearly impossible for fans and teams to travel to Florida.

If that’s the case, the Tampa Bay Lightning may need to reschedule games. However, there’s a razor-thin margin within the NHL schedule, making it extremely challenging to reschedule.

Moreover, if the hurricane damages Amalie Arena in any significant way, the Lightning may need to consider playing their home games at alternate sites.

Such a situation would not be uncommon. In 2005, the NFL’s New Orleans Saints were forced to play their home games at alternate stadiums amid the effects of Hurricane Katrina on Mercedes Benz Superdome.

But the big question would be, what alternate sites could the Bolts use to play their home games? That question is not an easy one to answer.

Alternate sites where the Tampa Bay Lightning could play home games

Perhaps the most immediate solution could be for the Lightning to become roommates with the Florida Panthers. The Panthers play at Amerant Bank Arena, which doesn’t figure to be in Hurricane Milton’s path of destruction.

However, scheduling conflicts could make it quite difficult for both teams to play at the same venue. While Amerant Bank Arena could suffice for a handful of games, it won't be a long-term solution.

Alternatively, the league will need to look into sites around the Florida area. For example, the former Atlanta Thrashers played out of State Farm Arena. Given Atlanta’s relative proximity to Southern Florida, State Farm Arena could be an interesting choice.

However, it seems the likeliest scenario would be for the Bolts to play on the road until their arena is fit for use. Unfortunately, such a situation would most likely disrupt all teams involved. Still, it’s a force majeur situation that no one could really envision.

Ultimately, everyone is praying for the best. The last thing anyone wants to see is a major natural disaster causing untold destruction. But if the worst comes to fruition, the Tampa Bay Lightning could face a long road trip to start the season.