Editing Tampa Bay Lightning (section)

==Team colors and mascot==
Since 2010, the Lightning colors have been blue, black and white. Their logo has been a stylized lightning bolt. This is the origin of one nickname for the team—the "Bolts".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Burns |first1=Bryan |title=How Phil Esposito named the Tampa Bay Lightning |url=https://www.nhl.com/lightning/news/how-phil-esposito-named-the-tampa-bay-lightning/c-293511432 |website=NHL.com |access-date=March 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319191026/https://www.nhl.com/lightning/news/how-phil-esposito-named-the-tampa-bay-lightning/c-293511432 |archive-date=March 19, 2019 |date=November 30, 2017}}</ref>

===Logo and jerseys===
{{multiple image
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| image1 = TBL Logo-Old.svg
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| footer = The primary (left) and alternate logos (right) used by the team from 1992 to 2007. The team was named the Lightning in reference to the Tampa Bay Area being the "lightning capital of North America".
| image2 = TampaBayLightningAlternate.svg
| width2 = 110
}}
The original Lightning jerseys featured simple stripes on the sleeves and tail, and contrasting shoulders—black shoulders over a white jersey, and white shoulders over the black—with the alternate logo (a lightning bolt over the outline of the state of Florida). The underarm gussets included a feature referred to as "victory stripes"—a group of thin stripes, alternating in the team's colors (black-silver-blue on white, or white-blue-silver on black). For the 1996–97 season, the Lightning added a third jersey, primarily blue with a [[Dye-sublimation printer|sublimated]] wave and rain design on the front and back, lightning bolts down the sleeves, a silver-gray shoulder yoke, and black gussets. The third jersey was retired after the 1998–99 season.

In their first two seasons, the Lightning used a stylized block font for player names, with gaps in the upper loops of letters such as A, B, D, and R. The numbers were standard block numbers with [[drop shadow]]s. The fonts were vertical in 1992–93, and italicized in 1993–94. The following season, the name font changed to a block font, vertically arched, while the number font changed to a painted style resembling the letters "Tampa Bay" in the logo. This style was also used on the blue alternate in 1998–99, replacing an "electrified" number font used from 1996 to 1998. In 2001–02, the old fonts were replaced with traditional block letters and numbers, which have been used ever since. They also darkened their shades of blue that season from a royal blue to a speed (Indy) blue.

As with all NHL teams for the 2007–08 season, the Lightning debuted in new Reebok "Rbk Edge" jerseys. Also, like several other NHL teams, the Lightning updated their team logo.

The Lightning unveiled their new logo on August 25, 2007. The logo was similar to the inaugural one, but with a more modern look. The new logo also kept the same theme as the previous one, but with the words "Tampa Bay" across the top now appearing with tall capital initials, and the word "Lightning" no longer appearing on the bottom of the logo.

[[File:Tampa Bay Lightning.svg|thumb|150px|In 2007 the Lightning adopted a new primary logo, which was used until 2011.]] 
The Edge jerseys use the same template adopted by the [[Ottawa Senators]] and [[Pittsburgh Penguins]]. Unlike those teams, the Lightning's elbow panels remain the base color of the jersey, and an additional blue panel is added near the cuff of the sleeve. The Edge uniforms retain the underarm gusset "victory stripes" of their predecessors.

The Lightning then debuted a new "alternate" or "third" jersey in the 2008–09 season. The jersey features a dominant "electric blue" color, with black and silver accents at the end of the sleeves. The logo is removed, and in its place emblazoned across the front of the jersey descending to the lower left of the jersey is the word "BOLTS" (utilizing a layout similar to that of the Ottawa Senators' third jersey). The numbers are featured on the back and sleeves only, using white lettering.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lightning.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=394050|title=Lightning Unveil Third Jerseys vs. Devils|access-date=March 10, 2025|website=NHL.com|date=November 23, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227211443/http://lightning.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=394050|archive-date=December 27, 2008}}</ref>

It was reported on January 23, 2011, that the Lightning had filed paperwork with the NHL to change their logo and colors, beginning with the 2011–12 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/lightning/content/tampa-bay-lightnings-new-uniforms-sound-if-they-will-include-simple-classic-design |title=Tampa Bay Lightning's new uniforms sound as if they will include a simple, classic design |author=Damian Cristodero |date=January 23, 2011 |work=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |access-date=January 23, 2011 |archive-date=January 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128072751/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/lightning/content/tampa-bay-lightnings-new-uniforms-sound-if-they-will-include-simple-classic-design |url-status=dead}}</ref> The new logo, as well as the new home and away jerseys, were unveiled by the team at a press conference at the St. Pete Times Forum on January 31, 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lightning.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=551150 |title=Lightning Unveil New Logo, Jersey Systems Along with Vision and Brand Aspiration |date=January 31, 2011 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=January 31, 2011}}</ref> The Lightning began to integrate the new logo onto center ice, and even distributed free T-shirts with the simplified logo on February 4, 2011, while still using the old Lightning logo and uniforms.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/lightning/content/couple-tampa-bay-lightning-records-could-fall-tonight-times-forum-against-capitals |title=A couple of Tampa Bay Lightning records could fall tonight at Times Forum against the Capitals |date=February 4, 2011 |work=[[St. Petersburg Times]] |access-date=June 24, 2012 |archive-date=September 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913034751/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/lightning/content/couple-tampa-bay-lightning-records-could-fall-tonight-times-forum-against-capitals |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The current uniforms are made in a traditional hockey sweater design. Initially, the colors that were to be used were simply blue and white, but by popular demand, black was later added as a trim color on the numbers. The victory stripes were also eliminated. Despite the introduction of the new uniforms, the previous third jersey was retained, with the new simplified logo replacing the old logo in the shoulders prior to the 2012–13 season.

For the 2014–15 season, the Lightning announced that a new black third sweater will replace the existing "BOLTS" sweaters. The new sweaters were unveiled on September 27, 2014. It retained the "BOLTS" wordmark, while adding white accents in a similar manner as the [[Los Angeles Kings]]' sweaters. The secondary roundel logo also replaced the primary logo on the sleeves, while the metro name was enscripted on the collar.

The Lightning made some minor tweaks to their current uniform set following the NHL's move to [[Adidas]] as its uniform provider in the 2017–18 season. The most notable change is the removal of the "TAMPA BAY" wordmark on the white away sweaters.

A third sweater was not used during all of 2017–18 and much of the 2018–19 season. On February 7, 2019, the Lightning unveiled a new black uniform, lacking any blue and white elements and featuring sublimated black and grey patterns on the sleeves, socks and back numbers.

For the 2020–21 season, the Lightning released a "Reverse Retro" uniform, using the design they wore from 2001 to 2007. Unlike the originals, blue served as the base color while black was relegated to trim color. Their 2022–23 "Reverse Retro" uniform used the design of the third jersey from 1996 to 1999, but with a white base.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lightning's Reverse Retro jersey a blast from the past |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/lightning/2022/10/20/lightning-reverse-retro-jersey-revealed-when-wear-how-to-purchase-nhl/ |access-date=October 21, 2022 |website=Tampa Bay Times}}</ref>

For the [[2022 NHL Stadium Series]], the Lightning unveiled a white uniform with a stylized blue stripe shaped like a thunderbolt at the bottom. An updated rendition of the "BOLTS" wordmark was stitched in front, and numbers featured pointed accents.

In the 2023–24 season, the Lightning unveiled a new black alternate uniform, putting the roundel logo as the main crest and bringing back the "victory stripes" on the sleeves. The white numbers with black trim and blue drop shadows were heavily inspired by the team's first uniforms.

===In-game personalities===
Greg Wolf has been the Lightning's in-game host since the 2006–07 season.

Retired [[United States Air Force]] Technical Sergeant Sonya Bryson-Kirksey sings the [[O Canada|Canadian]] and [[The Star-Spangled Banner|American]] national anthems at most home games. She started singing the US national anthem for the team in 2013, and the Canadian anthem in 2020 and is accompanied by organist, Krystof Srebrakowski.

===ThunderBug===
The Lightning mascot is a [[firefly|lightning bug]] named ThunderBug, who performs at games and makes appearances in the community.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/lightning/fans/thunderbug|title=ThunderBug|website=Tampa Bay Lightning|access-date=March 10, 2025}}</ref>

===Lightning Girls===
Until the 2019–20 season,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/lightning/news/tampa-bay-lightning-announce-new-brand-ambassador-team-the-bolts-blue-crew |title=Lightning announce new brand ambassador team, the Bolts Blue Crew |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=August 23, 2019 |website=TampaBayLightning.com |publisher=Tampa Bay Lightning |access-date=January 20, 2020}}</ref> an official dance team known as the Lightning Girls performed at all home games and community events. The Tampa Bay Lightning Girls were a group of dancers who performed in the stands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lightning.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=50533|title=Tampa Bay Lightning Girls – Lightning Girls|date=May 29, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529192808/http://lightning.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=50533|archive-date=May 29, 2013}}</ref>