Prior to the opening of the Ice Palace , the Lightning spent one season at the Expo Hall , and then moved to the Florida Suncoast Dome , which was nicknamed the `` Thunderdome '' , in St. Petersburg , Florida in 1993 .
Prior to the opening of the Ice Palace , the Lightning moved to the Florida Suncoast Dome , which was nicknamed the `` Thunderdome , '' in St. Petersburg , Florida , joining the Tampa Bay Storm , in 1994 .