Ownership change turns Lightning into a franchise on the rise

As the NHL continues to control the Phoenix Coyotes and the Atlanta Thrashers seem headed for a move to Winnipeg, the Tampa Bay Lightning seem to be an example of what happens when new ownership makes a difference for a franchise.

Since Jeff Vinik bought the Lightning on March 3, 2010, the franchise has gone from being one of the NHL's worst teams to a team that was two wins away from reaching the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday.

The team's average attendance regular-season rose from roughly 15,500 in 2009-10 to 17,268 this season. Meanwhile, their season-ticket renewal rate is more than 90% and they are closing in on 4,000 new season-ticket purchases.

Some of those new season-ticket holders are former ticket buyers who have come back because they like what the team is going.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/columnist/allen/2011-05-25-nhl-lightning-ownership_N.htm