Sports Tourism Around Tampa (STAT)
October 2018 Edition
By Jason Aughey
Welcome to STAT, a monthly publication that offers readers an inside look at what’s going on in the youth and amateur sports market here in Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay has become synonymous with hosting some of the biggest sporting events in the country at a high level. From Super Bowls to NCAA Championships to the College Football Playoff National Championship and NHL All-Star Weekend, Tampa Bay’s resume of major events continues to grow.
What a lot of people might not know is that Tampa Bay is also one of the top places in the country for hosting youth and amateur sporting events. From traditional sports, such as soccer, volleyball, football, baseball, basketball, hockey and softball to non-traditional sports, such as gymnastics, skateboarding, cheer and dance competitions, as well as equestrian events, the Tampa Bay Sports Commission prides itself on attracting and hosting an eclectic mix of events that create both social and economic impact throughout the community, all year long.
It all starts with the places to play and stay…
This December, Tampa Bay will add a major asset to its facility portfolio when the new 15 field, fully lit SportsPlex of Tampa Bay comes online. Managed by the Tampa Sports Authority, this Hillsborough County “tournament-only” multipurpose venue will be a gamechanger for the Tampa Bay region. The facility features many notable “firsts” for a County sports complex, including high-tech LED lighting, wireless internet access throughout the venue and a robotic field striper that uses GPS to automatically line fields. Leaders from throughout the community will be on site Thursday, November 1st, for an official press conference, where a number of exciting events recently awarded to Tampa Bay will be announced!
Two of our top assets, the Tampa Convention Center and Amalie Arena keep getting better. At the Tampa Convention Center they are currently in the midst of a $30 million three year Capital Improvement Plan, which will result in a better customer experience, increased efficiency and a variety of new offerings, including several new restaurant concepts and hospitality options. As for Amalie Arena, it was announced earlier this year that a new wave of renovations were approved, which will make one of the busiest and best buildings in North America that much better. Details can be found here.
Thanks to an influx of major renovations and new additions in the marketplace, Tampa Bay’s hotel portfolio continues to be another bright spot. It seems as though every hotel in downtown Tampa has recently completed or is currently in the midst of a major multi-million dollar renovation. And earlier this summer, ground was broken on the new four star JW Marriott and an announcement was made that Tampa would be welcoming The Edition, Tampa’s first five star property (JW opening in fall of 2020 and The Edition is scheduled for 2021). The Westshore district, as well as both east and north Tampa have also seen significant investments in hotel infrastructure. For a full listing of hotels in the market, check out Visit Tampa Bay.
Noteworthy News…
Over the past few months, Tampa Bay has attended two of the sports tourism industry’s top shows, Connect Sports and the TEAMS Conference. Combined, the Tampa Bay Sports Commission has conducted more than 100 individual one-on-one appointments with prospective event organizers.
Tampa United Volleyball Academy has signed an extension to keep its Gasparilla Kickoff girls volleyball tournament in Tampa through 2025. This past year’s event drew 342 teams and over 10,000 people to the Tampa Convention Center over President’s Day weekend. The Gasparilla Kickoff is the first of three girls volleyball tournaments at the Convention Center, with the Molten Florida Pre-Qualifier taking place in March and Tampa United Slam being hosted in April.
Too Hot For Ice Roller Hockey Series (TORHS) recently signed a three year extension to keep their National Championship at the Florida Hospital Centre Ice facility in Pasco County, an event that drew 200 teams from throughout the U.S. to Tampa Bay this past summer.
Speaking of summer…
Tampa Bay is coming off the heels of hosting two record-setting events with the 2019 AAU Gymnastics National Championships (June) and the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance Gay Softball World Series (September).
The 2018 AAU Gymnastics National Championships featured over 1,800 athletes from 25 different states who competed at the Tampa Convention Center from June 28-July 1. Last hosted in Tampa Bay in 2007, competing clubs reveled in a completely different experience eleven years later and offered overwhelmingly positive feedback on Tampa Bay. Kudos to the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department for their hard work in coordinating and executing a first-class national championship. Check out the feedback received in this video.
The 2018 North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance (NAGAAA) Gay Softball World Series brought in over 4,500 adult athletes from throughout the U.S. The NAGAAA Gay Softball World Series is the largest annual, LGBT single-sport, week-long athletic competition in the world. From an opening ceremonies at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park to games at a variety of softball complexes throughout Tampa Bay and a closing event at the Cuban Club, Tampa Bay earned high marks for its ability to deliver an unforgettable experience for all visitors. A big thank you to Chris Balton and the NAGAAA team, as well as Ron Frank and the Gasparilla Softball Classic local organizing committee for their dedication throughout the hosting efforts. Shout out to our Multimedia Specialist, Michael Farrant for his great work putting together this recap video.
Amateur Event Spotlight
Congratulations to Eric Sims and the Tampa Bay United Soccer Club for successfully staging another Columbus Day Classic earlier this month (over 250 youth soccer teams competing throughout Tampa Bay).
The American Poolplayers Association returns to Tampa Bay November 7-11, when the nation’s top amateur poolplayers compete in the 2018 U.S. Amateur Pool Championship.
Skatepark of Tampa celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Tampa AM from November 8-11, an event that has become the international proving ground for premier amateur skateboarders from around the world.
In visiting with the Tony Arena, Director of the United Youth Football National Championships, they are projecting a record 200+ youth football teams and 140+ cheerleading squads for this year’s National Football and Cheerleading Championships in December. The football national championship is being hosted in Plant City, while the cheerleading national championship will take place at the Florida State Fairgrounds.
Recently caught up with Susan Harmeling, Executive Director of the Gasparilla Distance Classic and Tampa Bay Sports Commission Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, as they get ready for their 42nd Gasparilla Distance Classic this February. Last year’s event drew over 33,000 participants. Comparatively, event registration is up 17% year-over-year, as of October.
Important Dates
October 1: Tony Diaz, our Sales and Events Manager celebrated his 8th year at the Tampa Bay Sports Commission.
October 27: 2019 NCAA Women’s Final Four tickets officially on-sale. For everything Women’s Final Four, be sure to log on to https://www.wfftampabay.com/ and follow the Executive Director of our Women’s Final Four Local Organizing Committee, Claire Lessinger.
November 1: The International Senior Softball Association (ISSA) celebrates its 25th anniversary. Tampa Bay is the home of the ISSA World Tournament of Champions, an event that has drawn more than 150 teams from throughout the world to our community.
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