Lightning, Raptors to play without fans
January 10, 2021 - Tampa Bay Lightning fans will have to wait until at least Feb. 5 to see the defending Stanley Cup champions on home ice. The team announced on Saturday that it will play the first few weeks of the 2021 season without fans in attendance because of the recent spike in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in Hillsborough County and west-central Florida. The team had previously announced that about 3,800 fans would be allowed to attend home games at Amalie Arena. The decision to exclude fans also applies to the Toronto Raptors NBA team, which has temporarily relocated to Tampa. The Lightning open their season with a Jan. 13 home game against the Chicago Blackhawks.