Divide the fans, conquer the ratings.
That appears to be the NHL's approach to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final in Tampa Bay, at least.
As the Lightning visit the Pittsburgh Penguins to fight for the right to play for the Stanley Cup, fans will not be allowed to gather for a viewing party outside Amalie Arena.
On tomorrow's #PITvsTBL Game 7: pic.twitter.com/gsHKbgtV4A
— #GoBolts (@TBLightning) May 25, 2016
The Lightning, as well as several other teams around the league, have held many viewing parties over the course of the playoffs, but the league is choosing Thursday to clamp down, as per its policy.
Response from NHL on TBL watch party: "NHL has a longstanding policy on watch parties, one per round per team." Seems like TBL violated that
— Evan Axelbank Fox13 (@EvanAxelbank) May 26, 2016
NHL says they remind all playoff teams every year that they're allowed one watch party per round. Memo was sent this year on April 12
— Evan Axelbank Fox13 (@EvanAxelbank) May 26, 2016
The impetus behind the decision would seem to be lighting up as many screens as possible in an attempt to boost ratings.
Owner Jeff Vink will host a "rally with opportunities to view Game 7" at a nearby parking lot, which he owns, which should help to boost his ratings with the Lightning fanbase.
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