TAMPA GOES BOOM! - TICKETING STAR AWARDS - VenuesNow
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FEBRUARY
TICKETING STAR AWARDS
2021 VOLUME 20 | NUMBER 2 VENUE SNOW.COM
TAMPA
WITH THE SUPER BOWL, WINNING SPORTS AND HOT MUSIC, THIS PLACE IS BLOWING UP
GOES BOOM!
WINNING
TIME
F E B RUA RY 20 2 1
22
C O U RT E SY TA M PA S P O RTS AU T H O R I T Y
PRO SPORTS BOOM IN THE TAMPA AREA IS
LIFTING SPIRITS AND SETTING THE BAR HIGH BY D O N M U R E T
T
he Tampa-St. Petersburg region Bay Lightning won their second Stanley Tampa Bay Buccaneers were one win away from
stands among Florida’s idyllic destina- Cup title in 16 years, competing in a bubble reaching Super Bowl LV in their hometown under
tions, known for its sparkling beaches, format at Edmonton’s Rogers Place after the ageless quarterback Tom Brady.
gorgeous sunsets and signature tourist pandemic put the 2019-20 season on ice for Even the Tampa Bay Rowdies, a member of
attractions. Sports development for the five months. the USL Championship soccer league owned
most part has grown in tandem with In St. Pete, the Tampa Bay Rays reached the by the Rays, advanced to the title game before
the market’s big league teams over the past 25 2020 World Series after playing a shortened 60- USL officials canceled the Oct. 31 match due
years. game regular season. They lost to the Los Angeles to COVID-19 cases on the Rowdies team. To-
On both fronts, it’s proved to be a winning Dodgers in six games at neutral site Globe Life ward the end of the 2020 season, the Rowdies
combination of late. In September, the Tampa Field in Arlington, Texas. At presstime, the played a few matches with limited fans at Al
C O U RT E SY TA M PA S P O RTS AU T H O R I T Y
PIRATE BEAUTY: Raymond James Stadium, where the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers have provided some light during
a dark year, will host Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7.
F E B RUA RY 20 2 1 23
Lang Stadium.
PROVIDING SOME
GOOD NEWS
Across the region, the four
teams lifted spirits through the
doom and gloom of the lengthy
pandemic.
“All the teams in the market
had tremendous success,” said
Bill Walsh, the Rays’ vice presi-
dent of strategy and development. MIND THE CHANDELIER: The Toronto Raptors, in town for the NBA season to eliminate the need to cross
“It was wonderful to watch the the border during the pandemic, have practice courts in a hotel ballroom across from Amalie Arena.
Lightning’s run and we almost got
there ourselves. In many ways, it care workers with complimentary For the Lightning, it helped that Edition, the first residential/hotel
picked us up as a community.” tickets to the game. The NFL de- team President Steve Griggs was project, opened a sales office in
To keep up with emerging termined that number in working among the first 15 employees November, with 37 condominiums
trends tied to the fan experience, with the authority and local health hired by Maple Leaf Sports & starting at $2 million, according to
both Raymond James Stadium, officials, Hart said. Entertainment back in 1994. The a story in the Tampa Bay Times.
where the Bucs play, and Amalie In Hillsborough County, where Canada native retains strong All told, the district is projected
Arena, home of the Lightning Tampa is situated, local leaders connections with the ownership to take up 9 million square feet by
and a leading concert venue, have pushed for the stadium, arena and of the Raptors and Leafs. the time the project is completed
gone through $100 million-plus Steinbrenner Field, the New York “The setup for them was per- in 2027. It is designed to strength-
renovations over the past decade. Yankees’ spring training facility, fect,” Griggs said. en Tampa Bay’s emergence
Most recently, both buildings, to receive millions of dollars in Toronto played a few home as a sports and entertainment
as well as Tropicana Field, the CARES Act funding to help pay for games at Amalie Arena with bulkhead with bars, restaurants,
Rays’ stadium, have gone through touchless technology, improved crowds limited to 4,000 before office space, residential and three
extensive COVID upgrades, driv- air flow and other protective mea- officials hit the pause button on hotels, including the JW Marriott.
en in part by the region’s effort sures against coronavirus. fans attending games due to new “It took a bold vision and the
to keep tourism dollars flowing “Our county officials took the spikes in COVID cases in January. right resources, plus a commit-
despite the restrictions across the position that they wanted us to The switch came just a few days ment from the city and county
country that have made it difficult keep people employed,” Hart before the Lightning’s first regu- and Jeff to continue to do great
to generate revenue. said. “We had several thousand lar-season home game. things in this community,” Griggs
Florida, a state marked by few- people working at every NFL Together, the Lightning, public said. “It was already sitting here
er restrictions than most of the game, trying to do as many events officials and the team’s three and just needed someone to con-
country, does not have a mandate as we possibly can, safely. We’re health care partners made that nect all the key pillars.”
requiring face coverings in public. happy that our health department difficult decision, recognizing Griggs has seen downtown
Gov. Ron DeSantis allowed ven- has indicated there have not been there will be additional losses in Tampa evolve after the Lightning
ues to reopen at full capacity, de- any high contacts coming out of event-related revenue. They hope hired him in 2010, five months af-
spite the state recording some of our venues.” to reopen the arena with fans for ter Vinik acquired the team. The
the highest rates of coronavirus. NBA and NHL games by March, old Channelside Mall near the
In the Tampa Bay region, A NEW TEAM IN TOWN team executives said. arena had fallen on hard times,
venues and public officials were In downtown Tampa, Amalie and coming out of the recession,
prudent as they started to reopen Arena added a second tenant DOWNTOWN the venue had fallen behind on
for business in the fall, going with during the pandemic. The Toron- DEVELOPMENT fan amenities.
partial attendance in the range of to Raptors, Canada’s NBA team, Lightning owner Jeff Vinik “It was just the arena with 40
22% to 23% for NFL games, which decided to play a good portion of sees the long-term play, revolv- acres of barren parking,” he said.
amounted to about 16,000 fans their 2021 home games in Tampa ing around a hot team and the “We had the convention center,
attending Buccaneers contests. as part of a mini-bubble format Water Street District, the $3.5 the history center, aquarium and
Raymond James Stadium to cut down on potential spread billion mixed-use development the port where the cruise ships
served as the model for all area of the virus from travel between next to the arena arena. He’s come in. The bones were there; it
venues post-pandemic. two countries. spearheading the 40-acre district was just a matter of building ev-
“From start to end, masks are They set up temporary resi- with Strategic Property Partners, erything in between and turning
required,” said Eric Hart, president dency at the new JW Marriott whose investors include Micro- it into a (true) district.”
and CEO of the Tampa Sports Water Street Tampa, a 500-room soft co-founder Bill Gates. Sparkman Wharf, the initial
Authority, governing body of Ray- lodge that opened in December Nine buildings are now under piece of development, replaced
mond James Stadium. “The biggest across the street from the arena. construction. The first of three the old mall and opened in No-
challenge that buildings have faced The Raptors converted a large phases, encompassing three vember 2018. It’s designed as a
C O U RT E SY T E A M
is fighting the whole mask issue. ballroom into two practice courts. residential complexes, should casual pop-up-style environment
We’ve done pretty well.” Other hotel spaces were made into be completed by early 2022. The with local chefs running street
The 65,890-seat stadium, site of a locker room, weight and condi- vision is to have 3,000 to 4,000 food destinations in shipping con-
Super Bowl LV, will have atten- tioning area and coaches’ offices. people living in the district, tainers, plus a craft beer garden,
dance capped at 22,000, which The Raptors considered three Griggs said. office lofts and lawn space to ac-
includes 7,500 vaccinated health cities before selecting Tampa. The Residences at the Tampa commodate live music and fitness
24 F E B RUA RY 20 2 1
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LIGHTING ROUND: A rendering shows Phase 1 of the Water Street District,
a downtown development area next to the arena district and led by Light-
ning owner Jeff Vinik with Strategic Property Partners.
events. Sparkman Wharf’s retail venue. All told, 1.8 million people either market. St. Petersburg Mayor dise sales for the Rays for what was
and office space is just starting to annually attend events at the Rick Kriseman has dismissed the otherwise a “pretty devastating”
open, project officials said. 25-year-old arena, including con- idea, stating the Rays must adhere year financially for the organiza-
Over the past 20 years, mixed- certs and family shows. to the lease terms before consider- tion without fans attending games,
use projects tied to sports venues ing a move elsewhere. he said.
have been a defining trend across LAB FOR INNOVATIONS Over the past few years, the Rays The Rays, in conjunction with
North America. In Tampa, the Across the bay, there’s a much have used The Trop, where average Rank & Rally, Levy’s merchandise
point of difference is the district different dynamic going on with paid attendance has declined over group, reopened the team store at
sits right on the city’s waterfront, the Rays in terms of the facility the past decade from 23,000 to Tropicana Field in August. During
providing an authentic coastal equation. 14,700 in 2019, as a laboratory for the postseason, there were long C O U RT E SY ST R AT EG I C P RO P E RT Y PA RT N E R
vibe unlike its landlocked coun- They’ve been trying for the innovation and experimentation. lines of fans standing 6 feet apart
terparts, Griggs said. better part of 15 years to build a Two years ago, prior to the pandem- outside the doors waiting to buy
“There’s a real sense of health new ballpark to replace 31-year- ic, they were among the first teams the latest gear, Walsh said.
and wellness because we are on old Tropicana Field, which stands in big league sports to go complete- “There was a lot of hunger in the
the water,” he said. “It’s different as Major League Baseball’s only ly cashless in-venue. community to just interact with the
than up north. There’s a real focus indoor facility with a fixed roof. “Once you train fans and they club and the brand,” he said.
on brand ethos and turning Water The Rays’ lease at the city- get used to being in a cash-free The retail demand led to the
Street into a district and we’re a owned stadium runs through environment, there are a lot of Rays launching a new concept
part of it.” the 2027 season and they remain interesting things you can do called “Rays and Rowdies on the
Amalie Arena, after going committed to pursuing a proposal with mobile ordering and digital Road.”
through extensive renovations, to split home games at new open- wallets and fan rewards and The focus is on fan engagement,
has driven most of the develop- air ballparks in St. Petersburg and loyalty and all of that,” Walsh said. tied to a new website and a brand-
ment, due in part to the Light- Montreal, Walsh said. “We’re going to be moving in that ed merchandise trailer set up over
ning’s success on the ice. The The team announced the concept space this season.” lunch hour in downtown Tampa
team has sold out 250 consecutive in June 2019 and there has been no Advancing to the World Series and the new pier in St. Petersburg,
games at the 20,500-capacity movement to build new stadiums in provided a nice bump in merchan- among other sites. Player appear-
26 F E B RUA RY 20 2 1
ances, plus Raymond, the Rays’
furry blue mascot, are part of the RAYMOND
ON THE
retail caravan.
ROAD:
“We started off with tents, do- Raymond,
ing it as quickly as we could, and the Tampa
then got the trailer toward the Rays mascot,
end of the postseason,” Walsh is part of
said. “We did about a half-dozen a new fan
events in December and into engagement
New Year’s Eve. We’ll ramp back campaign
up as we get into February and built around
a traveling
the start of the season.”
merchandise
Overall, sports executives trailer.
forecast continued growth for
Tampa-St. Petersburg as an
entertainment destination.
“What we’re creating here
with our district and the whole
region itself is attractive,”
Griggs said. “We have another
C O U RT E SY T E A M
crack at the College Football
Playoff, WrestleMania 37, Frozen
Four and Women’s Final Four.
Our building alone is booked
(most years) for an NCAA
event.”
F E B RUA RY 20 2 1 27
UP’
BLOWN
COURTYARD
CONCERTS:
Jannus Live is a
2,000-capac-
ity club in St.
‘IT’S
Petersburg.
TAMPA’S DIVERSE MARKET IS ENJOYING A MUSIC BOOM
BY E R I C R E N N E R B ROW N
T
ampa Bay’s sports pa Bay market is characterized ‘Guess what! We’re not coming the stadium’s single-night gross
market, which includes the by its diversity. While Miami is to Florida!’” explains Douglas, record with an August 2018 show
NHL’s 2020 Stanley Cup known for Latin, hip-hop, and who’s been booking shows from that raked in $7.2 million.
winner, the MLB’s 2020 EDM, and Jacksonville has more punk to reggae to jazz at Jannus In recent years, Amalie Arena,
American League pennant in common with the country since the mid-’80s. which typically holds 14,000 to
winner, a team playing for and rock inclinations of other If traveling down the Flori- 16,000 for concerts, has hosted
the NFC title, and Super Bowl LV Deep South markets, Tampa Bay da Panhandle isn’t financially talent from Elton John to Chance
in February, is just one aspect of its offers up something for everyone, worthwhile for an artist, Douglas the Rapper to Eric Church, while
booming live sector. from classic rock icons to touring says, “they dip into Jacksonville Yuengling Center, which accom-
“I can’t explain how much it’s Broadway. and then just head west or north” modates about half that, has
changed, how much it’s blown up,” “The Tampa Bay demographic to other regional markets like presented shows by artists such as
says Summer Bohnenkamp, vice is very diverse and very vast,” Atlanta and New Orleans. Lizzo and Old Dominion.
president of programming and says Steve Minick, director of Still, north-south Interstate While the market’s Live Na-
marketing at the Straz Center for entertainment at the Seminole 75 and east-west Interstate 4 run tion-operated shed, MidFlorida
the Performing Arts, situated in Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tam- through the market, making it Credit Union Amphitheatre,
downtown Tampa on the eastern pa, which sits on the city’s eastern a convenient stop for any tour stages plenty of rock and hip-hop,
bank of the Hillsborough River. edge. “You can be in an area embarking on a Florida leg. country is its forte, with recent
“It’s barely recognizable,” that’s very rural very quickly, just “What attracts tours to come box-office highlights dominated
Bohnenkamp says. “Downtown outside of the Tampa Bay metro, through here is that we are right by the likes of Luke Bryan, Sam
Tampa, it just used to go to sleep or you can be in a very urban envi- off major crossroads that get to Hunt, Jason Aldean and Dierks
at 5 o’clock. Everything was dark. ronment very quickly.” all these other destinations,” Bentley.
If you were coming to the show at Tampa Bay’s varied nature Minick says. “We’re really poised Below the market’s largest
the Straz Center, you were alone means that sometimes the indus- locationwise.” rooms, acts of all stripes can find
downtown. Now, we have a vibrant try’s conventional wisdom doesn’t (Sources agree that, for most homes among Tampa Bay’s rich
nightlife.” hold true in the market. acts at the club level or above, lo- tapestry of theaters, performing
Tampa and St. Petersburg, a half- “We’ve always felt that our cation within the market doesn’t arts centers, and clubs.
hour drive across Tampa Bay, rank market here was a very unique matter much — fans will generally Among Tampa Bay’s most
third and fifth in population among market, and I think is still is in a go from St. Petersburg to Tampa acclaimed spaces is the 2,200-ca-
Florida’s cities, and the metro lot of ways,” says Rob Douglas, or vice versa to see shows.) pacity Ruth Eckerd Hall, located
area’s population of 3.2 million director of music operations at in the coastal enclave of Clear-
— more than those of Denver, St. Jannus Live, a lauded 2,000-ca- DIVERSITY OF VENUES water, north of St. Petersburg. It
Louis, and Baltimore — is second pacity club in St. Petersburg. “You Once in the market, artists opened in 1983.
only to Miami’s within Florida. can’t take anything for granted, have plenty of options. Raymond The theater hosts a little
“The Tampa Bay market is cer- at least in the Tampa Bay market, James Stadium also hosts mar- of everything, from traveling
tainly one of the most vibrant and because something may be trend- quee music talent when it comes shows — recent highlights include
strongest markets in the state,” ing wonderfully elsewhere, but through town; Taylor Swift set eight-show runs of “The Book of
says AEG Presents senior vice when they get to us, it collapses –
president John Valentino, who or the opposite.”
has booked shows in Florida for Like other Florida markets,
“Downtown Tampa, it just
C O U RT E SY V E N U E
more than 40 years, including a geography plays a key role
three-decade stint with legendary
regional promoter Fantasma Pro-
in determining Tampa Bay’s
bookings. used to go to sleep at 5
ductions. (see story, Page 32.) “If you can’t get them four or
five dates up and down the state o’clock. Everything was dark.”
A TASTE OF EVERYTHING — or at least the money that is the
More than anything, the Tam- equivalent to that — then it’s like, — SUMMER BOHNENKAMP
28 F E B RUA RY 20 2 1
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ROLLING IN TAMPA 6
11
8
2
16
10 7
18 19 9
13 5
4 14
17
3 12 15
1
ROLLING ARENA STADIUM
IN TAMPA
CLUB AMPHITHEATER
THEATER
MAJOR VENUES IN THE AREA
Based on box-office data reported to Pollstar 2000-2019.
MAP# VENUE CITY TYPE CAPACITY AVG. GROSS AVG. TICKETS TICKET
PER SHOW PER SHOW AVG. PRICE
23 21 1 Amalie Arena Tampa Arena 20,000 $427,036 7,536 $56.66
25 22 20 2 Brass Mug Tampa Club 650 $2,279 192 $11.87
3 David A. Straz Jr. Center for Tampa Theater 2,610 $110,205 1,846 $59.70
24 the Performing Arts
4 Cuban Club Tampa Club 6,300 $96,447 2,863 $33.68
5 Dallas Bull Tampa Club 2,165 $14,853 1,187 $12.52
6 George M. Steinbrenner Field Tampa Stadium 10,000 $1,034,686 14,929 $69.31
7 MidFlorida Credit Union Tampa Amphitheater 20,000 $477,539 11,761 $40.60
Amphitheatre
8 New World Brewery Tampa Club 250 $1,052 102 $10.31
9 Raymond James Stadium Tampa Stadium 65,422 $4,335,573 46,049 $94.15
10 Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa Theater 1,500 $68,760 1,534 $44.82
11 Skipper’s Smokehouse Tampa Club 700 $9,323 526 $17.72
12 Tampa Theatre Tampa Theater 1,238 $34,949 1,010 $34.60
13 The Attic Tampa Club 175 $3,467 105 $32.89 R A N I E R L E S N I E WS K I /S H U T T E RSTO C K .C O M
14 Orpheum Tampa Club 720 $8,577 459 $18.67
15 The Ritz Ybor Tampa Club 1,786 $22,722 947 $24.00
16 Yuengling Center Tampa Arena 10,500 $160,398 4,079 $39.32
17 Capitol Theatre Clearwater Club 800 $26,976 491 $54.91
18 Coachman Park Clearwater Amphitheater 13,500 $181,163 4,530 $39.99
19 Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater Theater 2,180 $72,432 1,444 $50.16
20 Al Lang Stadium St. Petersburg Stadium 12,000 $273,997 4,888 $56.06
21 Jannus Live St. Petersburg Club 2,000 $27,923 1,240 $22.52
22 Local 662 St. Petersburg Club 250 $3,392 245 $13.86
23 State Theatre St. Petersburg Club 705 $8,576 481 $17.82
24 Mahaffey Theater St. Petersburg Theater 2,031 $78,176 1,415 $55.25
25 Tropicana Field St. Petersburg Stadium 50,000 $169,973 2,713 $62.66
30 F E B RUA RY 20 2 1WILD NIGHTS: A four-night stand by Van Morrison (left) in 1997 “was a catalyst in changing the way
people perceive Ruth Eckerd Hall,” says the venue’s Bobby Rossi.
Las Vegas-style pool parties,
Mormon” and “Kinky Boots” — to MIRACLE where top-tier DJs like Tiësto,
esteemed musicians. MAN: Smokey Alesso, and Snoop Dogg (as DJ
“We’ll go from Jane’s Addiction Robinson Snoopadelic) have played to audi-
to Tony Bennett, and that’s the plays the ences of 3,000. Minick describes
direction that really has worked Hard Rock it as “a home run in the market.”
really, really well for us in this Event Center.
community,” says Ruth Eckerd THE FUTURE IS HERE
Hall director of entertainment It’s a far cry from the outré club
Bobby Rossi, who joined the hall scene that Tampa Bay was known
in 1996. “Audiences, we learned, for in the ‘80s, when Douglas and
will come. They really didn’t care Rossi both worked with Valentino
what you did the night before or at Fantasma.
what you did the night after.” Back then, Douglas would
P H OTO C R E D I T H E R E T K
In the ’90s, Rossi identified regularly slap local favorites on as
that many arena-level rock acts support to the national tours that
were transitioning to more inti- passed through Jannus, and he’d
mate, multinight runs at theaters readily create unusual pairings
and performing arts centers, and – one late ‘80s Jannus co-headlin-
made that a core part of Ruth ter’s Coachman Park, and has Weeknd, J. Cole). ing show consisted of The Neville
Eckerd’s business. also brought music to baseball “The folks who are coming to Brothers and Was (Not Was)
A four-night Van Morrison games at Tropicana Field, the St. our venues have become signifi- – when two artists found them-
run in 1997 “was a catalyst in Petersburg home of the Tampa cantly younger,” says Bohnen- selves in the market.
changing the way people perceive Bay Rays, and Innisbrook Resort, kamp, adding that Straz has made Today, the local music scene
Ruth Eckerd Hall,” and in January which hosts the PGA Tour’s Val- an effort so people don’t “see it so has diminished in clout, though
2017, the musician returned to spar Championship. Ruth Eckerd much as a formal kind of venue, clubs like Jannus, 400-cap Crow-
Ruth Eckerd for three nights, set- Hall Presents is even putting on which was certainly a reputation bar, and 1,500-cap Ritz Ybor still
ting the venue’s box-office record an invite-only Dan + Shay show we had in our first 10 or 15 years.” offer smaller-ball alternatives to
with $1.5 million grossed. for 500 special guests the after- East of downtown, the Semi- the market’s higher-profile arenas
noon of Super Bowl LV. nole Hard Rock seems poised to and theaters.
NOT JUST A THEATER “My mantra has been, ‘We’re become a formidable player in the Jannus, a courtyard in the cen-
Ruth Eckerd’s influence promoters first, and we have ven- market post-pandemic. Among ter of a city block, holds particular
extends well beyond the walls of ues,’” Rossi says. “We try to be the buzziest aspects of the proper- cachet regionally, and has hosted
the hall itself under the umbrella wherever we can. We’ll do a show ty’s recent $750 million expansion just about every major act on its
of Ruth Eckerd Hall Presents, on the head of a pin if we can.” project was the Hard Rock Event way up – or down, Douglas jokes –
which ranked No. 81 on Pollstar’s Across the bay, Bohnenkamp Center, a 1,500-capacity space over its three-and-a-half decades
year-end worldwide promoters oversees Straz’s six perfor- that opened with a Keith Urban in operation.
list in 2019. The company books mance spaces, which include the concert on Oct. 4, 2019, and Jannus and small venues
Clearwater’s 700-cap Bilheimer 2,600-capacity Morsani Hall subsequently hosted legends such like it will play a key role as the
Capitol Theatre, a historic facility and the 1,000-capacity Ferguson as Smokey Robinson and George Tampa Bay music market looks
that turns 100 in March; like Hall. Clinton before the pandemic to rebound from the pandemic
Ruth Eckerd Hall, the Capitol Like Ruth Eckerd, touring forced its temporary closure. – and navigate the “disconnect
has found success booking re- Broadway and stand-up comedy “We’re looking to give [fans] a between federal, state, county,
C O U RT E SY V E N U E S
duced-capacity shows during the are reliable bookings at Straz, one-of-a-kind show that they’re not and municipal regulations ... that
pandemic. which opened in 1987. But over able to see anywhere else,” Minick are thwarting our ability to carry
For the last decade-plus, Ruth the last decade, the venue has di- says. “Our worst seat in our place is on,” according to Douglas.
Eckerd Hall on the Road has versified, booking edgier comedy the best seat in an arena.” “We’re taking the risk on,” he
staged gigs at traditional concert (Iliza Shlesinger), family pro- Also included in the renova- says, “because the larger compa-
spaces such as Amalie Arena, gramming (“Paw Patrol Live!”), tion: A new 20,000-square-foot nies just aren’t quite back in the
Tampa Theatre, and Clearwa- and hip young acts (Bon Iver, The outdoor pool area modeled after ballgame yet.”
F E B RUA RY 20 2 1 31FROM SMOKED
AEG PRESENTS’ VALENTINO: MULLET TO GREEK
Tampa Big for All Kinds of Music SPONGE DIVERS
BY E R I C R E N N E R B ROW N FLORIDA MAN:
John Valenti-
The Outlaws’ Henry
Paul on Tampa/St.
I
no has been a
promoter in the
f you’ve seen a show in Florida over James Stadium. The market for more Pete’s Many Charms
the last four decades, there’s a reason- stadium is a great play than 40 years.
able chance John Valentino had a hand for a lot of our larger
BY A N DY G E N S L E R
T
in it. shows. Amalie Arena
From 1979 to 2008, Valentino worked and Yuengling Center
alongside Jon Stoll at Fantasma Produc- are great venues that he Outlaws’ founder and
tions, helping to make Florida’s music mar- we frequent often. prime mover, Henry Paul, may
ket the powerhouse it is today. After Stoll’s Both are viable arenas, be one of the biggest rock stars to
untimely death in 2008, Valentino joined midsize and full size. We do a lot of shows hail from Tampa. Though he no
AEG Live, now AEG Presents, as senior at Ruth Eckerd Hall, between them and longer lives there, he still visits
vice president of its Southeast region, where their smaller theater, the 700-cap, seated every year, partakes in its culinary
he has continued to shape Florida’s varied Capitol Theatre; Ruth Eckerd, Straz and delights and actively roots for its sports
markets for the last decade. even Mahaffey to the south in St. Peters- teams — which are having a banner year.
Today, Valentino and his small team burg, all great theaters. We do a lot of shows Here, the 71-year-old recalls building his
ensure AEG has a presence at venues in the at (2,000-capacity) Jannus Live, and that’s music career there as well as the region’s
Tampa Bay metro area from Clearwater’s one of the most unique and fun experiences hidden gems including smoked mullet, the
700-capacity Capitol Theatre all the way up for going to a show of any place I’ve been, historical Columbia Restaurant and, of
to Raymond James Stadium. just because it’s an open outdoor courtyard course, Greek sponge divers.
The veteran promoter connected with area. It’s been there for decades and it’s
VenuesNow to discuss the market’s idiosyn- in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg. You grew up in Tampa. What’s the
crasies, carrying on Fantasma’s spirit and We’re well over 100 shows a year in that overarching thing people should
an impressive string of bookings his team market. know about Tampa?
pulled off at Amalie Arena. Mine is culinary because the Span-
How does your work with AEG today ish personality of that city is incredible.
How have you seen the market evolve in carry on Fantasma’s legacy and what Cuban sandwiches, deviled crabs, black
recent years? you learned there? beans and rice, chicken and yellow rice.
I’ve been in Florida my entire career. We were able to take the independent The Columbia Restaurant is the crown
The Tampa Bay market is certainly one of spirit of what we had at Fantasma with Jon jewel of that culture and that’s a very
the most vibrant and strongest markets Stoll and bring it to the next level and further important part of Tampa.
in the state. There are some great venues develop it with the resources and support of
and it’s a great market for most all kinds of a company like AEG Presents. It sounds very diverse.
music. Oh, very much. The cigar industry was
What particularly big successes have there and the influx of Cuban workers,
What differentiates it from other Florida you had in the Tampa market? immigrants was huge. And Italians, and
markets like your Miamis or your Jack- Just a couple of years ago — and it was all the other familiar suspects. It has a very
sonvilles? really by happenstance, and not by design pronounced Latin personality.
Florida is very diverse from market to — our touring division had Roger Waters
market. Miami is the strongest by far for on sale. Then, I worked with my office What clubs did you play coming up?
Latin music in the state. Jacksonville is and (Marshall Arts’) Barrie Marshall in The In-Crowd, and there was a club out
much more Deep South and country-based bringing Paul McCartney into the state, on Waters Avenue, a big one called the
and things like that. But all the markets and we played Tampa the very same week- FCA, the Florida Confederate Association.
are balanced and can support all styles. end. Then, Rod Stewart popped up and I It had this big building where they had
C O U RT E SY A EG P R E S E N TS
Tampa Bay and Central Florida — across worked with Artist Group (International) a band called Mike and the Hurricanes.
the Orlando-Tampa Bay corridor, in the and Dennis Arfa in bringing Rod Stewart They were really good.
heart of Florida — is a good mix of all of into Tampa. Those three shows played the
those things, with the north and south as Amalie within a four-day period (July 8-11, What does its position on the Gulf
the extremes. 2017). We wanted to make sure we didn’t Coast mean?
cannibalize ourselves. All three of those Smoked mullet, of all things, was a huge
Can you walk me through the various shows sold out. That was when I was like, local, popular item. The fish is an herbi-
venues at each tier that AEG handles in you know, this can be done. This market vore, and they’re cheap and they would
the market? is very supportive and there is a balance smoke them. They’re very oily. And you
We’ll start at the top with Raymond there. could drive around and there would be
32 F E B RUA RY 20 2 1DIVER DOWN: The
Sponge Diver Memo-
rial Statue in Tarpon
Springs just outside of
G E T T Y I M AG E S
little smokers on the side of the
road and people with spray-paint- Tampa, which is known
ed signs up, “Smoked Mullet, as the sponge capital of
the world.
25 Cents.” And Tarpon Springs,
which has the Greek sponge div-
ing community. It’s very diverse.
Wait, you just said Greek
sponge diving community?
Yeah, the Greek sponge diving
community. It still has an incredi-
bly European feeling. It looks like
a little enclave when you go down
there. The tourists love it. They
have great restaurants.
So Greek sponge diving is a
real thing?
That’s a real thing. And the
Tampa Latin cigar rolling com-
munity is a very real thing.
What about the music scene?
There was a coffeehouse in Pi- What’s in the water in Tampa?
nellas Park, halfway between St. GHOST RIDER: They’re just winning everything.
Henry Paul
Petersburg and Clearwater, called They’re spending money. The
leads The Out-
Beaux Arts, and Jim Morrison laws, among the Rays have this beautiful farm
played there. All these folk music biggest rock system and these really smart
luminaries would come through bands to come guys that can make chicken salad
and play. I would go and hang out of Tampa. out of chicken shit and every-
around with my guitar in the back body else is spending money.
and play with different people and The Lightning are spending and
eventually got the nerve to get on the Bucs are definitely spending
stage and sing two or three songs. it. The Gators — Florida State’s
It was a very important cultur- in the tank right now, but the
al destination, it was the Jack Gators are hot. The whole sports
Kerouac crowd. Kerouac actually scene down there has always
lived there and wound up dying in been — especially on the football
Tampa or St. Petersburg. front — something religious.
Ted Peters is a smoked fish the NFC title game, the Super
I know you went to NYC and restaurant in a little town be- Bowl’s there. What do you What do you think Tampa will
moved back to Tampa with a tween St. Pete and St. Pete Beach make of Tampa being Sports be like as they host the Super
band that eventually became called Pasadena. They have City USA this year? Bowl?
The Outlaws. smoked mackerel, smoked mul- Well, if you take it a step fur- We had one before that I actu-
We had a five-piece group and let, just the greatest little smoked ther, the Florida Gators (football ally went to. Back before the new
all these songs and a handful of fish house in the world. If you go team) won the Southeastern stadium was built, I went and
clubs we played in North Tampa to St. Petersburg, there’s a beach Conference (East Division) and saw Washington Redskins play
where we carved out a following. at the south end of St. Peters- played Alabama to within six the Oakland Raiders.
burg called Pass-a-Grille. Artsy points. I’m an avid sports fan. I
What’s North Tampa like? fartsy, really small, really old love the Gators. I love the Bucs. It was the saddest Super
North Tampa was out near school Florida beach commu- I love the Rays, and I love the Bowl. Redskins got destroyed
the University of South Florida nity. If you go north you get to Lightning. I’m a Tampa fan and by the Raiders.
and a geographical area unique Tarpon Springs on the Anclote lo and behold, the Lightning The town lit up. Ybor was
unto itself. There must have been Bay and that’s where the sponge have been threatening for a packed and Bern’s (Steakhouse)
15,000 kids going to the Univer- diving fleet is docked. There’s a while. They had won the (Stan- was packed. Tampa’s a swing-
sity of South Florida in the early barbecue restaurant in the black ley) Cup and now they’ve come ing-ass town. And now it’s
‘70s and they would patronize community on 40th Street called back and won it again. But the gotten to be such a big town.
these bars and come see The Big John’s Alabama Barbecue. Rays lost (manager) Joe Maddon, The town that I used to live in,
Outlaws. There were bars like The I swear to God, on my mother’s and I thought, “Oh, what a horri- it doesn’t exist anymore.
Whipping Post, The Depot, The name, it is the high tabernacle of ble thing.” But the guy that took
C O U RT E SY H E N RY PAU L
Losers, Mi Backyard. the best barbecue on the planet his place rebuilt that team into Do you still go to Tampa reg-
in the Deep South. The Columbia a contender on no money. And I ularly?
When you got bigger, where Restaurant is a fine dining desti- don’t think Tom Brady is going to I do. I fly there every year and I
did you play? nation and it is to this day out of win the Super Bowl, but … still have family down there. My
The Bayfront Center and the this world. wife and I go down occasionally.
Lakeland Civic. You never know. I drive her around and show her
So the Rays went to the World He’s done a good job bringing all the places we used to play and
What Tampa spots would you Series, the Lightning won the the Bucs back. the house I used to live in. It’ll
recommend to visitors? Stanley Cup, the Bucs are in always be home to me.
F E B RUA RY 20 2 1 33Henry Paul Charlie Brusco Bill Walsh Eric Hart Bill Wickett Rob Douglas
We’ve asked some of the Tampa/St. Petersburg market’s power training facility, I really enjoy
RECOMMENDED: TAMPA BAY
players their favorite spots in town. While some predictably picked George Steinbren- attending events
their own venue of interest, there are some hot takes and good
ner Field, is a great at Amalie Arena.
advice for anyone looking to do business in or enjoy the sights and
sounds of this bustling market, which has been extensively profiled place to see big They’re very profes-
in VenuesNow’s and Pollstar’s first Market Focus deep dive. leaguers up close sional. They’re very
and have a hot dog spot on, they have
and a beer. The a great operation.
1) What’s your kamp, Vice President, on Clearwater grapefruit league Amalie’s really got
favorite venue in Programming and Market- Beach. is the best bang some top-notch tal-
Tampa/St. Pete to ing, Straz Center for the — Bill Wickett, for your buck and ent there. They do a
see a live music Performing Arts Executive Vice President a Florida tradition great job delivering
performance and of Communications, Tampa dating back to on the fan experi-
why? Jannus Live – Bay Lightning 1913. ence.
the unique and — Henry Paul, The — Steve Minick,
I can’t really intimate setting Ruth Eckerd Hall Outlaws Director of Entertainment,
just call one out. among downtown and the Capitol Seminole Hard Rock Hotel &
There’s nothing like buildings, bars, and are my favorites – Raymond James Casino Tampa
seeing Elton John restaurants feels they’re my second Stadium. Have
play Amalie, and like you are watch- and third homes. been there for I’m a huge base-
then you’ve got the ing the show in an But I do have a Bucs games and a ball fan, but my love
intimacy of a place urban living room. fondness for Tampa Super Bowl! affair goes through
like Ruth Eckerd Hall — Bill Walsh, Vice Theatre in Tampa, — Charlie Brusco, the more boutique
where you could President, Strategy and because I met my Red Light Management historic spring train-
see somebody like Development, Tampa Bay wife there in the ing venues. With no
Van Morrison do Rays lobby 30 years ago. Still love Amalie offense to the major
three nights. And I was at Fantasma, Arena for a hockey league stadiums,
then to be at Jannus Capitol Theatre promoting a Cow- game. Grew up play- here is one of the
Live and have the or Ruth Eckerd Hall boy Junkies show ing hockey and the few places where
feeling of the open in Clearwater. and she came in design and layout you can get the old
floor, GA vibe there — Charlie Brusco, the lobby with an- of Amalie is perfect time spring training
– they’re all very Red Light Management other friend of mine for a game. With all baseball. I’m a
different in their who I had known the added amenities massive Yankees
own way. Raymond James from high school and promotions, fans, so Steinbren-
— John Valentino, Stadium. No feeling and that was it. one of the best in ner Field in Tampa
Senior Vice President, AEG like 50,000 plus — Bobby Rossi, Direc- game experiences obviously is very
Presents live fans in one of tor of Entertainment, Ruth in the NHL. dear to me.
the best outdoor Eckerd Hall — Eric Hart, Tampa — Bobby Rossi, Ruth
Ruth Eckerd Hall environments in Sports Authority Eckerd Hall
in Clearwater is a the world. Perfect 2) Your favorite
beautiful state of weather, great ven- place to take in My team has won 3) What’s your
the art venue that ue and awesome a sporting event two Stanley Cups favorite place to
stays in close touch fans! there and why? (calling Amalie Are- eat in the area?
with the contempo- — Eric Hart, President na home), so I’m
rary popular music and CEO, Tampa Sports Tropicana Field – not going to stray A lot of people
scene and books a Authority home to memories from that one. will tell you Bern’s
wide variety of mu- of some of the best — Bill Wickett, Tampa Steak House. If it’s
sical acts. It’s small- Amalie Arena, sports moments Bay Lightning a formal meal, it’s
er sister venue, the of course. (Else- I’ve ever experi- got to be at Bern’s.
Capitol Theatre, in where), the weather enced, including I go to concerts I’m a beach guy,
Clearwater is also a in Tampa Bay is so Game 7 of the so much that I re- so anything with
popular local music good, especially 2008 ALCS, Game ally don’t get to go sand and a sunset
HOT venue that provides from September 162 in 2011, and to sporting events (such as) Salt Rock
SPOTS the Tampa Bay area
with a beautiful
through April,
anything outdoors,
the 2019 ALDS, the
Trop rocks like no
as much as I’d like
to, but I’d have to
Grill. Great spot.
They catch all their
TO HIT destination for live
music.
no matter where
it’s at, is great.
other venue during
when it’s packed
say Amalie Arena.
— John Valentino, AEG
seafood fresh daily.
—Bill Wickett, Tampa Bay
FROM THE — Henry Paul, The One man on guitar with fans for big Presents Lightning
Outlaws on a beachfront moments.
MARKET’S balcony, in front — Bill Walsh, Tampa The Amalie There’s a great
The Independent of a bar or restau- Bay Rays Arena. little communi-
POWER Bar & Cafe. I really rant, is wonderful. — Summer Bohnen- ty called Tarpon
PLAYERS love going out there.
— Summer Bohnen-
Can’t beat that. (For
example) Frenchy’s
The Yankees
baseball spring
kamp, Straz Center for the
Performing Arts
Springs which has
a place called Rusty
34 F E B RUA RY 20 2 1FOR BOOKING ACTS INTO
HOTELS, HE APPLIES THE
John Valentino Summer Bohnenkamp Steve Minick Bobby Rossi
GOLD STANDARD
Bellies Waterfront Sports Authority — Charlie Brusco, Red Clearwater Beach’s Entertainment Travel, based in Nash-
Grill, which is the Light Management Sandpearl Resort is ville, specializes in putting bands on the
local favorite that Ted Peters the one that we we road for tours. And for Nick Gold, who
we go to. Famous Smoked 4) Your favorite love to go for our founded the company in 1985, every tour
— Bobby Rossi, Ruth Fish. It’s a little fish Tampa/St. Pete special occasions. is different.
Eckerd Hall shack out on the hotel? It’s a really good “From an accommodation point of view
beach that has the quiet escape. there are three main things we look at:
An El Cap best cheeseburger Le Méridien — Bobby Rossi, obviously, the band and its budget; the
cheeseburger (all in town – go figure. downtown is a cool Ruth Eckerd Hall location from the hotel to the venue; and
the way, LTMPO) is I don’t know how spot. It used to be the service at the hotel being what the
the ultimate com- that worked out. a courthouse. It’s a The Don CeSar band is looking for,” Gold said. “I’m not
fort food. But for — Rob Douglas, Jannus neat space. on St. Pete Beach – going to take an A-listed act and put them
a night out (adher- Live — Summer Bohnen- aka “The Don.” in a Holiday Inn (and) I’m not going to put
ing to pandemic kamp, Straz Center for the — Bill Walsh, Tampa a club act at the Ritz-Carlton.”
safety protocols of You have to expe- Performing Arts Bay Rays Fortunately for Gold and bands he
course), the menu rience Bern’s if you tours through Tampa-St. Pete, he’s got
at Brick and Mortar never have. Bern’s The Opal Sands 5) What do you plenty of options, but he names the
in downtown St. Steak House is in Clearwater Beach think is the most Westin Tampa Bay, the Tampa Marriott
Pete is tough to certainly the place is my personal quintessential on Water Street and the Sheraton Tampa
beat. Pop across I think that every- favorite hotel in the place in Tampa/ Riverwalk as his go-to properties.
the street to Cycle body should go to area. St. Pete everyone “Those are the main ones I go to, but
Brewing and grab at least once. — John Valentino, AEG who visits should that doesn’t mean they’re the only ones
a delicious barrel —John Valentino, AEG Presents go see? I go to. They specialize in entertainment
aged stout for Presents and even some of my small acts, relative
dessert. The JW Marriott St. Pete has really to what’s going on in the city, it’s (possi-
—Bill Walsh, Tampa I like Armature that just opened in become an amazing ble) that they could give me a rate that
Bay Rays Works. Not a tradi- downtown Tampa art destination, would work for a budgeted band. So,
tional restaurant. and it’s beautiful. and that began I’ll always try them initially to see if that
Rooster & The It’s a place where — Bill Wickett, Tampa with the opening works because then they are getting a
Till. Chef Ferrell you can get 20 Bay Lightning of the Salvador Dalí really good property for a low rate, and
Alvarez was nomi- different types of museum [in 1982]. so why not?” Gold said. “If you can get
nated for a James cuisines all under Marriott Water- St. Pete’s Salvador into a Sheraton with a really Holiday Inn
Beard award – he’s one roof. side. Have not tried Dalí museum has band, well then, they’re living large on the
pretty great. I’d say — Steve Minick, the (new) JW as of the second largest road. If the budget’s the same because it
it’s the best thing Seminole Hard Rock yet, but my favorite collection of Dalí happens to be a good time to go into that
around. place for a stayca- work in the world. hotel, then it’s a win-win.
— Summer Bohnen- The Columbia tion. I remember doing “Once I’ve looked at the band, looked
kamp, Straz Center for the Spanish Restaurant — Eric Hart, Tampa a show with Pearl at the budget, looked at where the show
Performing Arts in Ybor City, and Sports Authority Jam, touring the is, then I’m going to work through that
Bern’s Steak House first album (in 1992). series of hotels based on those three
This is a tough in South Tampa, The Don CeSar They got there and criteria,” Gold said.
one. There are so are the two crown Hotel sits on the they’re like, “We Special requests — from pet friendly
many great places jewels of fine dining Gulf Of Mexico in want to go to the hotels to 24-hour room service or an all-
to eat in Tampa. in Tampa. There are the quaint South St. Dalí museum. Who night gym — are common, and again, the
For the experience, a number of family Pete beach town can take us to the Tampa Bay area has options to satisfy all
either Sparkman style Cuban restau- of Pass-A-Grille. It Dalí museum?” We such needs.
Wharf or downtown rants led by La Tere- was a boarded up shuttled them all off Aside from new health and safety pro-
Ybor. I am a big sita in West Tampa, abandoned prop- with a runner to the tocols prompted by the pandemic, which
fan of Ulele for a and probably one of erty as recently as Dalí museum. They Gold expects to remain in place “easily
modern twist of the best barbecue the early mid-70’s. spent the afternoon through 2022” and possibly beyond, Gold
Florida favorites restaurants in the Since then it was there and they were said smokers have been getting squeezed
but still love going south in Big John’s sold to a caring de- just happy as they at all properties over the last decade at
to the Colum- Alabama Barbecue veloper, renovated, could be. the same time that more acts are seeking
bia in Ybor. Best on 40th Street. and has become — Rob Douglas, Jannus things like ready access to health clubs.
grouper nuggets —Henry Paul, The the premier hotel Live In that regard, the mild climate in Tampa
and atmosphere Outlaws destination in the offers a number of outdoor options for
is at Frenchy’s in bay area. Mons Venus. If health and recreational activities for those
Clearwater. Noth- Bern’s Steak- — Henry Paul, The you don’t know with any spare time available, he says.
ing like a sunset house or Donatello Outlaws about it you are too “I have had some tours that have request-
at Frenchy’s with Italian. Both old young and not in a ed the closest vegan restaurants,” Gold said.
some grouper and style and great food There’s so many rock and roll outfit! “I have various different food types.”
a cold beer. and service and wonderful hotels — Charlie Brusco,
— Eric Hart, Tampa wine! on the beach. Red Light Management — James Zoltak
F E B RUA RY 20 2 1 35You can also read
