Shared Values Unite Tampa Bay Lightning, Benchmark International On Arena Rights Deal

At left, Steve Griggs, chief executive officer and vice chairman of the Vinik Sports Group, and Steven Keane, chairman of Benchmark Internation, during a naming rights event at the home of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Courtesy: Tampa Bay Lightning

Though Benchmark International has 14 offices around the globe, the stakes were planted in Tampa in 2010. In the 15 years since the mergers and acquisitions firm set up shop in the city’s Westshore business district, it has since devoted much time to community support, including assisting the neediest.

It is such a value system that appealed greatly to the Vinik Sports Group, which manages the Tampa Bay Lightning and the downtown Tampa venue within which the NHL club plays. The 29-year-old building, which was known as Amalie Arena since 2014, was rebranded Benchmark International Arena during a media event Wednesday.

Visual branding that will become more apparent as the days tick toward the Lightning’s October 9 home opener will merely serve as a welcome mat leading to a relationship among entities that have community investment at the core of their respective corporate blueprints.

“They’re aligning with our values and our mission to deliver world-class experiences, drive real economic impact for this community as well as giving back to this community,” said Steve Griggs, vice chairman and CFO of the Vinik Sports Group, noting Amalie will continue to be a corporate partner. “That’s the most important piece when I look at this entire partnership and what I am most proud of.”

The deal between Benchmark and VSG, terms of which were not disclosed, includes $3 million in contributions that will benefit Tampa Bay area non-profits in addressing health, education and hunger.

“What it really boiled down to, is we wanted to move forward with this partnership because there is a true alignment of culture,” said Tyrus O’Neill, Benchmark’s CEO. “The Vinik Sports Group really thinks about investing in the community and giving back and making an impact in the local Tampa Bay community. All of those things really resonated with who we are and what our brand is and what we want to do in the future.”

Global company, larger stage

The 14 Benchmark offices are scattered across 10 countries. O’Neill noted the firm employs 450 individuals who are dedicated to making deals in North America, Europe and Africa. He also described the firm as going about its business in a “very quiet way.” The deal with VSG and the Lightning provides a level of visibility that will change that.

“Before today, Benchmark International publicly would not have been a household name,” said O’Neill, a University of Tampa grad. “(The naming rights deal) aligns us with the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are one of the most respected teams, if not the most respected team, in the NHL. This is putting us on a different national scale, which is going to help our clients, is going to help our market, is going to help all of our key stakeholders.”

The Benchmark name will be on a venue that serves as the centerpiece surrounded by a downtown Water Street development that has been built up and built out since the pandemic. The energy surrounding the arena is unmistakable, which is something that can only help allow the company rise above its hushed tones and stand out, at least to some degree. Not that the average patron strolling through the venue’s doors is going to be in need of Benchmark’s services, or even know what the firm offers, but more importantly may become educated on its impact outside those doors. Of course, it will take time to build such a desired level of momentum.

“At the end of the day, this is something that is a long-term investment for us and not about what we are doing today, but what’s going to be in the future for both us and VSG,” said O’Neill.

Busy summer for Lightning

The naming rights deal caps an active summer for the Tampa Bay Lightning on several fronts. In May, the team announced it partnered with Scripps Sports to broadcast games over the air and free to fans effective the 2025-26 season. Games will also be available via cable and satellite as well as streamed through a Lightning app.

Scripps Sports, a division of the publicly traded E.W. Scripps media behemoth (NASDAQ: SSP), will carry the Lightning on WXPX-TV. The network, known as The Spot – Tampa Bay 66, began carrying news and entertainment programming July 1. The Lightning were the fourth NHL team that Scripps struck a deal with, joining the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights and Utah Mammoth.

Those attending Lightning games are treated to something more than a game without being a disruption to enjoying the game. The team’s event production crew at Benchmark International Arena was recognized for having the NHL’s best game presentation during the 2024-25 season. The team was honored during the league’s Stanley Awards event in Seattle in late July. It was the organization’s first such award after having been finalists in 2022 and 2024.

Add it all up, and it has been quite a summer for the Bolts. Of course, partnering with Benchmark is, well, a benchmark of sorts and one that hopefully resonates throughout Tampa as desired as the years hum along.

“It’s long-term commitment to excellence and service,” said Griggs. “It’s a promise to our fans, partners and employees that we are just getting started.”