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The History of Hattricks

Not your average sports bar

From the beginning, Hattricks was meant to be a fan favorite. We opened in downtown Tampa back in 1997, intent on providing the ultimate place for sports fans to catch the game, enjoy a meal and get refreshed.

Years later, we’re serving all our old friends plus a new generation of fans. It’s great seeing all the friendly faces from in and out of town, and we hope to provide you with the most comfortable place to watch your favorite team win.

Our friendly staff will make you feel at home as you settle down to catch all the action on our HDTVs. Enter as a customer and leave as a friend!

Tampa Bay Sports Timeline

September 1976
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers join the NFL

Along with the Seattle Seahawks, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were an expansion team. They started their NFL career with a record-setting, 26-game losing streak.

October 1992
The Tampa Bay Lightning joins the NHL

Phil and Tony Esposito created this NHL expansion team, originally playing in the Florida State Fairgrounds’ Expo Hall. In the preseason, goaltender Manon Rhéaume became the first woman to play in an NHL game. Eventually, the Lightning moved to the Thunderdome (now Tropicana Field).

October 1996
The Lightning move to downtown Tampa

The Channelside District of downtown Tampa welcomed The Lightning to move into their current home. Now called Amalie Arena after current sponsor, Amalie Oil Company, this venue was originally known by the evocative name, “The Ice Palace.”

January 1997
Hattricks opens its doors

In a thriving downtown, Hattricks immediately became a local favorite for anyone looking for a cold beer, tasty bite and a great game on TV. To this day, we’re still serving up major-league fun!

September 1997
USF plays their first football game

The University of South Florida Bulls played their first football game at Houlihan Stadium (previously known as Tampa Stadium, but often called The Big Sombrero by locals). The Bulls beat Kentucky Wesleyan, 80–3.

March 1995
The Tampa Bay area gets a pro baseball team

An ownership group led by Vince Naimoli got MLB approval for an expansion team. The team announced themselves as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (named after the aquatic creature, the giant devil ray or Mobula mobular) to an elated, baseball-hungry sports community.

March 1998
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays play their first game

The Devil Rays played the Detroit Tigers at Tropicana Field (formerly named the Thunderdome) in front of an opening day crowd of 45,369 baseball fans. Future hall-of-famer Wade Boggs hit the team’s first-ever home run.

September 1998
The Bucs play their first game at Raymond James Stadium

The “new sombrero” opened to much fanfare, with vastly improved facilities and views. Unfortunately, the Bucs would ultimately play a disappointing 8–8 season.

February 2003
The Bucs win Super Bowl XXXVII

Coach John Gruden led a ferocious lineup to win the Bucs’ first Super Bowl ring, stomping his former team (the Oakland Raiders) 48–21. Tampa sports fans celebrated for days!

August 2004
The Lightning win their first Stanley Cup final

In their first-ever appearance in the final, only 12 years into the team’s history, the Tampa Bay Lightning brought home their first Stanley Cup. It took 7 full games to defeat the Calgary Flames.

October 2008
The Rays make the World Series

The Rays’ first World Series was bittersweet. They were ultimately defeated 4–1 by the Philadelphia Phillies, but local fans celebrated the Rays’ triumphant American League playoff victory, and their amazing regular season, with a huge rally at Straub Park in St. Petersburg.

September 2020
The Lightning win their second Stanley Cup Final

In their first Stanley Cup Final win since 2004, the Lightning defeated the Dallas Stars in game 6. If possible, Tampa sports fans reacted with even more jubilation the SECOND time around.

October 2020
The Rays return to the World Series

American League champions again, the Tampa Bay Rays faced the Los Angeles Dodgers during 6 games at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX. Due to the pandemic, this was the first World series to be played at a neutral site. Unfortunately, the Dodgers prevailed.

February 2021
The Bucs win their second Super Bowl

In his first season away from the New England Patriots, MVP Tom Brady defeated Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs here at Raymond James Stadium, 31–9. Bruce Arians was the coach.

July 2021
The Lightning win their third Stanley Cup Final

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the regular season was both shortened and delayed. The Lightning eventually won their third Stanley Cup Final, defeating the Montreal Canadiens at home in game 5. It was a highlight of the year and fan reaction was predictably ecstatic.