City Marks Stanley Cup Win In True Tampa Style: A Boat Parade

TAMPA, FL — It began out of necessity last September when the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

Now the celebratory boat parade has become a tradition in Tampa that will be repeated once again on Monday when residents are invited to line the Hillsborough River from Davis Island north to Rick's on the River to honor the Lightning after the won the the Stanley Cup for the second straight year Wednesday at Amalie Arena.

"To be able to see the players hoist that Stanley Cup with our own eyes was nothing short of amazing," Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said. "To win the Stanley Cup is wonderful but winning the Stanley Cup at home is wonderfully sweet."

When the Lightning won the Stanley Cup against the Dallas Stars on Sept. 28, 2020, in Edmonton, Canada, the coronavirus was surging in Hillsborough County.

A traditional parade down Bayshore Boulevard celebrating the victory was out of the question.

Instead, the city organized a boat parade that would guarantee social distancing by boaters out of necessity while giving room for spectators to social distance while watching the boats travel the 5-mile distance up the Hillsborough River.

The event proved so successful, the city decided to repeat the celebratory boat parade when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the Super Bowl Feb. 7.

Although COVID-19 mandates have been rescinded by order of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, only half (48.5 percent) of Hillsborough County residents have been vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said it made sense to continue the tradition of hosting a boat parade to celebrate the Lightning's 2021 Stanley Cup win, the third win in the franchise's history.

"We have this natural resource," she said. "The river and bay are the center of Tampa Bay, and to celebrate with a boat parade makes sense. What other hockey town can have a boat parade to celebrate?"

Castor noted there are plenty of waterfront parks and venues where residents can view the parade including Davis Islands, Harbour Island, the Tampa Convention Center, the Tampa Riverwalk, Columbus Park, Tony Janus Park, USF Park, Plant Park, MacDill Park, Kiley Gardens, Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Plant Park, Water Works Park, Julian B. Lane Park and Armature Works.

"It'll give everyone a chance to get a close-up view of the Stanley Cup," Castor said.

She added that, after hosting boat parades twice before after winning championships as well as the traditional Christmas boat parade and, most recently, the Fourth of July boat parade, the city has the organizational skills in place to put together a boat parade at a moment's notice.

"The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office will assist the Tampa police in planning the event, and we'll have marine units from all over Tampa Bay to ensure this is a fun and safe celebration," she said.

Castor said Lightning team members, coaches, officials with the Vinik Sports Group, including Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik, and city and county officials will board boats at Davis Islands beginning at 10 a.m. Monday. The parade will get underway around noon.

The date, she noted, was selected so Vinik, whose son is getting married this weekend, could participate in the celebration.

"We wouldn't be having this celebration without Jeff Vinik and the Vinik family, so we're doing it on their schedules," Castor said.

In a memorable moment during the boat parade for the Super Bowl-winning Tampa Bay Bucs, quarterback Tom Brady tossed the Vince Lombardi Trophy several feet across the river to a boat carrying Bucs tight end Cameron Brate who effortlessly caught the 7-pound sterling silver trophy.

While the Lightning players can expertly handle a hockey stick, Castor doubts that any of the players can rival Brady's throwing arm.

"We'll be prepared." She said police divers will be on hand in case the Lightning attempt to repeat Brady's famous trophy toss. "If Stanley Cup takes a swim, we'll get him back in short order."

The boats will travel up the Hillsborough River to Rick's on the River, 2305 N. Willow Ave., Tampa, where they'll dock.

The team and its entourage will then board a trolley and head to the 2,880-square-foot Tampa River Center at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park to continue the celebration around 2 p.m.

The party will include food trucks, beverages, music by Vo Williams and Big Boi, and other entertainment. Additionally, the Lightning will take the stage with the Stanley Cup to thank their fans.

Joining Castor at Thursday's news conference in front of Amalie Arena were Hillsborough County Commission chairwoman Pat Kemp and Lightning CEO Steve Griggs.

"This is a historic win, but it's not the last one," Kemp said. "We are so proud of our Tampa Bay Lightning. This is such a great victory, and we're celebrating it big-time."

Griggs said it was one of the greatest moments of his life to see Vinik raise the Stanley Cup as 19,000 people at Amalie Arena cheered Wednesday night.

"Thank you to the entire community," he said. "Nothing unites people more than winning a championship."

Tampa Bay has already earned the nickname "Champa Bay" after the Lightning's first Stanley Cup victory, the Bucs' Super Bowl win and the Tampa Bay Rays clinching their third American League East championship Sept. 23 during the World Series.

Castor said Wednesday's 1-0 win against the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup playoffs cemented the city's reputation as a sports mecca.

"Businesses are coming; families want to move here to be part of Tampa Bay," she said. "It is just red-hot here."