Amalie Arena – Dining

Given its status as the largest arena in the western half of Florida, the Amalie Arena in Tampa is loaded with a wide range of dining options. Any new visitors to the Amalie Arena will be surprised if they’re expecting slapdash servings of middling quality; the dining selection at the arena is exceptional, fresh, and anything but boring.

While the majority of the concessions located throughout the Amalie Arena are smaller operations, attendees are welcome to dine at the arena’s own Firestick Grill, an expansive, upscale buffet with a rotating selection that’s changed depending on the occasion. Open during select events, the Firestick Grill’s attached eatery, the Interact Bistro @ Firestick Grill, has bottomless beer and wine in addition to customizable foods geared toward the millennial crowd.

 

Concessions

With dozens of eclectic eateries sprinkled throughout the venue, the main concessions offered at the Amalie Arena are sure to please any attendee’s taste buds. These eateries occupy the first and third levels of the arena and feature franchise favorites like Outback Steakhouse, Papa John’s Pizza, and Tim Hortons.  In addition to these household names, there are a number of Floridian chains present as well, such as the RumFish Grill and Holy Hog BBQ.

No sports venue is complete without snacks, and the Amalie Arena is chock-full of treats to satisfy your sweet tooth during a game. While you’re there you can enjoy stuffed pockets of fried dough from Mr. Empanada or ice cream from Dippin’ Dots and Carvel.

The amount of eateries in the Amalie Arena is evenly matched by the number of places to buy a drink. The Amalie Arena has six bars to choose from on the first and third levels, one of which, Between the Pipes, gets its name from being adjacent to the arena’s massive pipe organ.

So, whether you’re a flavor-seeking foodie or just looking for something small to munch on while watching the game, the concessions in the heart of the Amalie Arena are a quick way to grab what you need so you don’t miss a thing.

 

Firestick Grill

While the first and third floors of the Amalie Arena have concessions that fill the arena’s amphitheater, 9,000 square feet of the arena’s second level are devoted to an upscale buffet, the Firestick Grill. Like the other concessions, the menu at Firestick changes to suit the tastes of attendees for each respective event. The fare stocked at the buffet is fresh, with shrimp caught in the local waters and herbs and veggies sourced from the arena’s own on-site hydroponic garden.

Since ritzier foods don’t draw in every type of crowd, the Interact Bistro @ Firestick Grill offers smaller, customizable plates that appeal more to millennial event-goers. The bistro’s buffet is international in scope, serving everything from sushi to shish kebabs with an emphasis on interactivity. Even the donuts at the bistro are interactive; attendees are encouraged to take donuts off a rack and inject their own choice of filling. To top it all off, wine and beer servings are unlimited. When it’s time to head to the game you can grab up a to-go bag of their gourmet popcorn on your way out.