Just got back from my aforementioned last St. Pete Times Forum visit, which turned out to be a Panthers 3-2 overtime win versus the Bolts. Not a bad game, given that all the action took place in the final four minutes; I was actually pulling for a shootout, since I’d never seen an NHL version of such live.

A 5-on-3 Lightning power play during the game gave me the opportunity to see the cleverest sponsorship ploy I’d ever seen in a sporting arena. Fifth Third Bank, appropriately enough, tacked their name onto the home team’s two-man advantage, dubbing it “The Fifth Third Bank 5-on-3 Power Play”.

Yeah, it’s another example of a sports team whoring out every last inch of the game experience. But if they’re going to do it — and don’t kid yourself, they will — I appreciate the unexpected creative touch that goes with it. This was definitely one of those instances where both team and sponsor went the extra mile. I applaud the effort.

Fifth Third’s push into the Florida market should get a nice boost from this hockey exposure, as long as Tampa Bay draws extra penalties. If nothing else, it’ll pique widespread curiosity about how the bank’s goofy name came about.