The Vinik Sports Group, a Tampa-based sports and entertainment management company, has become a sponsor of the Tampa Bay Soccer Hall of Fame.
VSG is the parent entity that operates the Tampa Bay Lightning, the three-time Stanley Cup champion National Hockey League franchise, and manages Benchmark International Arena, a top venue for sporting events, concerts and family events in downtown Tampa.
“The Tampa Bay Soccer Hall of Fame is important because it honors and validates the pioneers, players, coaches, and community builders who have shaped local soccer into what it is today, while also inspiring future players and leaders,’’ said Elizabeth Frazier, VSG’s Executive Vice President of Community Development and Social Impact who also serves as Executive Director of the Lightning Foundation.
The TBSHOF, which began in 2025, is dedicated to honoring Tampa Bay’s soccer history while promoting and highlighting the game. The TBSHOF will induct its second Hall of Fame class on Thursday, Aug. 13 during a dinner at Tampa’s Higgins Hall on the campus of St. Lawrence Catholic Church. Last year’s inaugural induction dinner was sold out and set in motion the TBSHOF’s mission of honoring the sport’s Tampa Bay legacy.
That’s a mission fully endorsed by VSG.
“It is important for VSG to support local initiatives and community events, as it demonstrates that we at VSG are invested in the well-being of the Tampa Bay community in which we work, live, and play,’’ Frazier said. “Local nonprofits are often the closest to the issues on the ground — such as housing, workforce development, education, and public health. By sponsoring them, VSG can contribute directly to ensuring that Tampa Bay remains a healthy, vibrant community.’’
