NHL lockout worries die-hard Tampa Bay Lightning fans

Sunday was tough for Bay Area sports fans.

The Buccaneers lost to the New York Giants and the Rays dropped one to the Yankees.

Perhaps worst of all, the National Hockey League and its players are in the middle of a labor dispute. That means the Tampa Bay Lightning's season may be in jeopardy.

A cancellation of games would be especially tough for the team's die-hard fans. Season ticket holders like Cindy and Jay Tregler. The exhibition season was scheduled to get underway in just 10 days.

"I'm very disappointed," Jay Tregler said after hearing the lockout began just after midnight Sunday.

LINK: More on the NHL lockout

The regular season is slated to begin on Oct. 11. 

What are the Tregler's to do?

"We plan everything around that season schedule," Cindy Tregler explained.

The players and league officials were unable to settle on a new collective bargaining agreement. They have been unable to figure out how to split $3.3 billion.

The Treglers are part of a nationwide movement of hockey fans attempting to pressure the two sides into a deal.

"We [The Lightning] were just starting to get a better fan base," Jay says. "The playoff run two years ago with the new ownership."

Hat Trick's is a new sports bar that's located just a stone's throw away from the Tampa Bay Times Forum, the Lightning's home arena.

The establishment's owner is worried business could take a hit if hockey's not played.

"We built the bar because of the hockey," says Hat Trick's John Heffernan. "It's probably 20 percent of our revenue."

How the Rays and Bucs play could help them make up for no Lightning games.

"Fortunately we have the NFL in prime time, college football and the NBA is going to be starting shortly," Heffernan adds.

Even though the lockout has begun fans can still purchase Lightning season tickets. Unfortunately, nobody was answering the phone at Lightning ticket headquarters Sunday.

A spokesman for the team said the NHL will not allow anyone to speak about the labor dispute or possible cancellation of games. So far no games have been cancelled.

The Treglers hope it doesn't come to that.

"It's so tenuous with the way the fans are down here; they're going to jump ship [if they don't play]," Jay Tregler said.

In 2004 a similar dispute wipe out the entire NHL season. The Lightning won their only Stanley Cup the previous season.