6-min walk
hotel
The Tampa EDITION
Marriott EDITION luxury in Water Street Tampa — 172 rooms, 7 F&B venues, rooftop bar. Closest 5-star option to Benchmark International Arena.
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arena
Benchmark International Arena
Tampa, FL · Capacity: 19,092
About Benchmark International Arena
Home of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Channelside District of downtown Tampa. Renamed from Amalie Arena in August 2025. Hosted Stanley Cup runs in 2020 and 2021.
- Capacity: 19,092
- Address: 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602
Where Fans Stay, Eat & Drink near Benchmark International Arena
All Tampa hotspots →Hotels, bars, restaurants and things to do near Benchmark International Arena in Tampa — every pick web-researched and source-cited, closest to the arena first.
Where to Stay
6-min walk
12-min walk
hotel
The Westin Tampa Waterside
Full-service Westin on Harbour Island, across the channel from Benchmark International Arena. Walk over the bridge to games.
Fan Stay
AC Hotel Tampa Airport
A modern hotel on the Boy Scout Boulevard corridor about 0.9 miles from the stadium — a short walk or rideshare, on a strip lined with restaurants and game-day parking.
Fan Stay
Country Inn & Suites Tampa RJ Stadium
A mid-priced hotel about 0.8 miles from Raymond James Stadium with a walkable route — fans pick it to walk to the game and skip stadium parking and post-game traffic.
Fan Stay
Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel
An upscale full-service Marriott in the Westshore district about 1.2 miles from Raymond James Stadium, attached to International Plaza — a base minutes from the stadium.
Fan Stay
Epicurean Hotel
Food-and-wine-themed boutique hotel in South Tampa connected to Bern's Steak House, featuring a rooftop lounge, culinary theater, and chef-driven restaurant. A sophisticated home base for foodies visiting Tampa for Bucs games at Raymond James Stadium or Lightning games at Amalie Arena.
Bars & Pubs
8-min walk
Hattricks
Downtown Tampa sports bar since 1997 — widely cited as the top spot for Lightning pre + post game. Daily happy hour built around Lightning/Bucs/Rays.
Brick House Tavern & Tap
A laid-back tavern on Dale Mabry with plenty of TVs, repeatedly named one of Tampa’s best game-day bars — a relaxed, fan-friendly Sunday pre-game spot.
MacDinton’s Irish Pub
A lively Irish pub in South Tampa’s SoHo district that’s become a game-day staple — a high-energy bar scene a short rideshare from the stadium.
Miller’s Ale House – Tampa Airport
A large sports bar with wall-to-wall TVs only about 0.8 miles from Raymond James Stadium — one of the closest game-day bars, with game-day parking.
American Social
Massive waterfront sports bar on Harbour Island with outdoor games, craft beers, and a prime view of the Tampa Riverwalk. A go-to pregame spot for Lightning and Buccaneers fans with its proximity to both Amalie Arena and Raymond James Stadium.
Channelside Bay Plaza Entertainment District
The Channelside district surrounding Amalie Arena transforms into a sea of blue and white on Lightning game nights, with waterfront bars and restaurants packed to capacity. Spots like Splitsville and the nearby Ybor City corridor offer pre- and postgame experiences unique to Tampa's sports culture. The proximity to the arena means fans can time their departure perfectly without missing a faceoff.
Restaurants
12-min walk
restaurant
American Social Tampa
15,000 sq ft waterfront sports bar on Harbour Island across the Garrison Channel from the arena. 4 full-service bars, raw bar, skyline views.
15-min walk
restaurant
Eddie & Sam's N.Y. Pizza
Downtown Tampa New York-style pizzeria using shipped-in New York water for its dough. Steady Lightning pre-game stop.
Fan Eats
La Teresita
A historic counter-style Cuban restaurant in West Tampa since 1972, about a mile from Raymond James Stadium — a classic fast, affordable refueling stop before or after a game.
Fan Eats
Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux
A Louisiana-themed sports restaurant in the Midtown Tampa development with a large patio — one of the closer sit-down spots to the stadium, built around watching football.
Fan Eats
Armature Works
Armature Works in the Heights District is Tampa Bay's finest food hall — a restored 1910 streetcar building on the Hillsborough River with 10+ food vendors, rooftop bars, and sweeping water views that sports fans use as their game-day launching pad. Lightning, Rays, and Buccaneers fans make the riverside terrace their pre-match gathering point, and the mix of Cuban, Korean BBQ, and artisan pizza vendors fuels everyone from the suite-holder to the $20-bleacher-seat enthusiast. The Armature Works rooftop at sunset before a Lightning game is one of Tampa's finest sports fan moments.
Fan Eats
Bern's Steak House
Tampa's legendary steakhouse since 1956, home to one of the world's largest wine collections and a famous upstairs dessert room. A postgame power-dining destination for Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Lightning players and visiting sports stars.
Things to Do
Attraction
Amalie Arena
Amalie Arena on Tampa's Channelside waterfront is the thunderous home of the Tampa Bay Lightning, one of the NHL's most successful franchises of the modern era. The arena's location allows fans to walk from waterfront restaurants and bars directly to the gates for puck drop. Stanley Cup banners hanging from the rafters remind every visitor they're in championship territory.
Attraction
Amalie Arena Tour
Home of the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning, Amalie Arena is one of the loudest buildings in the NHL and a top-tier concert venue. Guided tours reveal the ice-making process, player dressing rooms, and the Stanley Cup Championship banners hanging from the rafters. Lightning fans are famously passionate, and the arena's downtown location makes it easy to explore Tampa before and after events.
Things to Do
Tampa Riverwalk Fan Promenade
Tampa's 2.6-mile Riverwalk along the Hillsborough River connects Amalie Arena to the Glazer Children's Museum and the Tampa Museum of Art, creating a spectacular waterfront promenade that sports fans use for pregame walks and postgame strolls. Water taxis run along the river on Lightning game nights, allowing fans to travel between the Channelside entertainment district and upriver bars without stepping in a car. The Riverwalk is Tampa at its most beautiful and accessible.
Attraction
George M. Steinbrenner Field
Steinbrenner Field is the Spring Training home of the New York Yankees and year-round home of the Tampa Tarpons, offering fans an intimate view of baseball's most storied franchise in a relaxed Florida setting. Seats are close to the action and sightlines are perfect throughout the intimate park. Yankees fans make the pilgrimage to Tampa every February and March to watch their heroes prepare for the season.
Attraction
Raymond James Stadium — Pirate Ship Gameday
The 103-foot replica pirate ship moored in the north end zone of Raymond James Stadium is the NFL's most theatrical pregame fixture, firing its cannons after every Buccaneers touchdown to the delight of the home crowd. The surrounding Bucco Bruce sculptures and trophy displays from the Buccaneers' two Super Bowl championships make this one of the NFL's richest pregame shrine experiences. Stadium tours offer access to the ship deck and a look at the most unique signature feature in professional football.
Attraction
Raymond James Stadium & Pirate Ship
Home of the Buccaneers featuring a 103-foot pirate ship that fires cannons after every Tampa Bay touchdown — one of the NFL's most unique stadium experiences.
Plan Your Trip to Benchmark International Arena
Benchmark International Arena in Tampa is tracked across 0 events and seats 19,092 fans. Here's how fans build a trip around it:
- Anchor Event: Use the event cards below to select your next anchor date.
- Post-Event Path: Continue into Tampa and Tampa hotspots for food, bars, and stay options.
Frequently Asked Questions About Benchmark International Arena
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Benchmark International Arena has a capacity of 19,092 people.
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