Report: The Lightning are attempting to squeeze out Blackhawks fans.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are causing quite a stir among hockey fans. In an attempt to create a home-ice advantage for the Stanley Cup Finals, the Lightning are denying any fan, who is not a resident of the state of Florida, access to tickets for Games 1-2 as well as a possible Games 5-7. Yesterday, single-game tickets went on sale on Ticketmaster, a message informed potential buyers that they must be a Florida resident to complete their purchase. The credit card used to buy the tickets proves residency. The Lightning aren't the first team in sports to attempt to control who buys their tickets, as the Blackhawks and their fans are very familiar with the tactic. For the first round of this year's Stanley Cup playoffs, the Nashville Predators put the same ticket buying restrictions in place to prevent Blackhawks die-hards from infiltrating Bridgestone Arena. It didn't work that well. Due to the secondary ticket market with sites such as StubHub, there were plenty of red sweaters spotted in the crowd in the Music City. So you can't really blame the Lightning for doing what other teams have done in the past. However, the Lightning are taking their ban a step further. Ticketmaster's message further informs potential ticket buyers of premium seats for games in Tampa will not be allowed to wear Blackhawks clothing. "Chase Club and Lexus Lounge ticket holders: Please note that for all 2015 NHL Playoff Games at Amalie Arena only Tampa Bay Lightning team apparel (or neutral) will be permitted in these club and adjoining seating areas. Fans wearing visiting team apparel will be asked to remove them while in these areas." The Lightning aren't backing off their policy, which they are actually enforcing. They have had security remove spectators in opposing teams sweaters from their seats in these playoffs "We've done everything we can to preserve a hometown environment, and we're relatively happy with what we've done so far," Bill Wickett, executive vice president of communications for the Lightning, told the Tampa Bay Times. Although limiting ticket sales to out of state fans is not fundamentally wrong, taking a fan out of his seat because of what he is wearing is literally unconstitutional. People pay good money for their seats and have to jump through an extra hoop just to get one because of the ticket ban. If you go through all of that trouble to watch a game, you should be allowed to wear what you want once seated without fear of physical removal and expulsion. This is an issue the NHL must address, because this is a black eye for the Tampa Bay Lightning organization and the NHL as a whole. The owners of the Lightning should be downright ashamed of themselves.