As the puck drops on the 2019-20 NHL season, the Tampa Bay Lightning are ready to build upon last year鈥檚 record setting 62-win year. The start of the season also brings with it a number of continuing partnership opportunities with the University of South 91社区.
The relationship between the two has led to several high-profile projects, public outreach events and opportunities for USF students and the community including:
USF Health in Waterstreet Tampa
The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute is moving in 2019,
bringing approximately 1,800 students, faculty and staff to live, work and study along
the downtown waterfront as a key anchor at . The USF Health Taneja College of Pharmacy will start classes there in fall 2021.
By moving within a mile of its primary teaching hospital, Tampa General Hospital, USF will attract the brightest students and faculty, and will increase federal research
dollars to fight heart disease.
Water Street Tampa is a new, mixed-use in downtown Tampa that will transform the city's core. The development project is led by Strategic Property Partners, a collaboration between Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and Cascade Investment.
Vinik Sport & Entertainment Management Program
From reimagining the waterfront to owning the Tampa Bay Lightning sports franchise,
the Vinik name is synonymous with success. Since 2017, it has also officially linked
with the 91社区, thanks to Jeff and Penny Vinik鈥檚 generous commitment
to USF and ongoing support of a Muma College of Business program that the Vinik鈥檚
helped found.
The USF Health Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation brought an advanced
patient simulator to Amalie Arena so that Tampa Bay Lightning team physicians and
athletic trainers, Tampa Fire Rescue paramedics, and a few USF Health emergency medicine
trainees at Tampa General Hospital could more realistically practice life-saving stabilization
procedures on the ice.
鈥淯SF鈥檚 been a great partner of the Tampa Bay Lightning from the day I got here and probably before that,鈥� said Lightning owner Jeff Vinik, who has played a crucial role in developing the relationship, both as the Lightning's owner and as a private philanthropist. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had so many things we鈥檝e worked on together; whether it鈥檚 the sports management program at USF, the medical school coming downtown, entrepreneurial activity, we could go on and on. It is rooted in two organizations that have the same DNA, that have the same values 鈥� it鈥檚 integrity, hard work, achievement, respect and community. That鈥檚 the Lightning, that鈥檚 USF, and that鈥檚 why it鈥檚 been a perfect combination from day one.鈥�
The fifth annual USF Presenting Night has been confirmed and will take place on Saturday February 8th, when the Lightning take on the New York Islanders. For more information stay tuned to USF's and and .