The holiday season just got a lot merrier for full-time employees of the Tampa Bay Lighting.
Sports Business Journal (SBJ) reports that the lighting owner Jeff Vinik announced that the organization's 300-plus employees will all receive bonuses of between $50,000 and $66,000.
The payday comes after Vinik sold most of his equity in a deal that valued the NHL team at $1.8 billion.
Vinik made the announcement in a memo that SBJ reports read in part, “In recognition of the hard work and dedication that has made VSG a world-class+ organization, I am pleased to announce that all full-time staff will receive a bonus. On behalf of the Vinik Family.. Thank you for the role you have played in making Vinik Sports Group and the Tampa Bay Lightning an organization we can all be proud of.
Vinik will remain in control of the organization for three years before transferring control to Blue Owl Capital co-heads Doug Ostrover and Marc Lipschultz, who reportedly bought 50% of the team.
In 2010, Vinik bought the Lightning for $93 million. Since then, the team has become a powerhouse on the ice, winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021. SBJ rates the Lightning as one of the top 10 revenue generators in the league and says Vinik's vision has also revitalized the center around the Tampa area.
A sports business executive with lots of money in his pockets and a track record of success? Hey Jeff, any interest in buying the New York Jets?