Was just reading the article from Bizjournals on the American Basketball Association putting a team in Tampa with the S.E.P owning the team while owning 9 other teams in the Southeast. I decided to do some interest on the group and found their website, http://www.sep-global.com/. On the bottom of the page, there is a brief discussin on them joining up with Beck Group in building a multi-purpose arena in the Tampa Heights area. I've been trying to clink on the "read more" to read more, but its only bringing me back to the top.

Is this something old news or is this the first time its being brought up? I can't remember any news of any arena coming to the Heights area.

It looks like UC Tampa has also uncovered this too. It'll be interesting to see what comes from this. Heights could definately be the next Channelside with the Riverwalk, USF building, future residential buildings and a hotel, and now this.

I'm not so interested in the basketball team - these ABA teams seem to come and go every year. A 7,500-seat arena would be interesting, though.

I'm not so interested in the basketball team - these ABA teams seem to come and go every year. A 7,500-seat arena would be interesting, though.

Right, agreed here. How multipurpose will it be too?

Right, agreed here. How multipurpose will it be too?
From what I saw; they want to have the basketball team, concerts, and other events in the arena. It won't be anything BIG, but it sure will bring something to the area.

Personally I was thinking about hockey -- collegiate or junior. The only places to pay around Tampa Bay -- besides the Forum --- don't have much in the way of seating for spectators.

[b]Proposed Basketball Arena Renders in Heights![b]

I can't believe this is coming to a reality faster than I expected. If everything plays out and if this area can get enough fan support, which it will not without any news release on the new team, I can see a new stadium being constructed by Late 2011 or Early 2012. I also like the idea of the trolley connecting to the new arena, but this plan will likely allow for another trolley stop in the Heights area.

http://www.sep-global.com/images/arena/001.jpg

http://www.sep-global.com/images/arena/002.jpg

Decent SketchUp model at least. I like the looks of the building and the location is a plus. I've never understood why more people aren interested in basketball in the Bay area.

who is behind this?

Sports Equity Partners are the only people I can find connected to the project. No architect or architect firm was ever listed on the website from what I saw. I'll see what I can do to retrieve some more info.