Bay area hotels, super enough?

Tampa will host the '09 Super Bowl. It doesn't meet NFL hotel needs.

St Petersburg Times
By AARON SHAROCKMAN and MICHAEL VAN SICKLER
Published June 6, 2005

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TAMPA - When the Super Bowl first came to Tampa in 1984, hotel rooms were so scarce that thousands of local residents offered to lease their homes to make up the difference.

Tampa has since become one of the National Football League's favorite hosts, and two weeks ago won its fourth Super Bowl, the 2009 game.

Still, rooms remain hard to find. And heading into NFL spring meetings in Washington, many people discounted Tampa because of the hospitality handicap.

But members of the Tampa Bay Super Bowl Host Committee, which included Mayor Pam Iorio and chairman Dick Beard, persuaded the NFL not to worry: Tampa Bay had the necessary number of rooms, they said.

"Where we lack in inventory, we make up ground in variety," said Norwood Smith, the vice president of sales for the Tampa Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau. "A room in Tampa Bay can overlook a golf course, a beach, or the downtown."

That Tampa beat out Houston, Miami and Atlanta was a neat sleight of hand. An examination of Tampa's bid reveals the city doesn't meet the hotel standards the NFL says it requires of hosts.

"It's a smaller city, and people have to stay in Orlando and these other places, and they don't have the facilities," Houston Texans owner Bob McNair told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . "The stadium is fine, and the weather is fine, but that's it."

So why did Tampa get the Super Bowl again?

"I have no explanation."

For the NFL, memories are still fresh of January's Super Bowl in Jacksonville, where thousands of fans crammed into five cruise ships docked along the St. Johns River because of the lack of downtown hotels. Thousands more ventured north of the Georgia line or stayed as far away as Orlando.

"It's my hometown, and they did as good as they could do with what they had," said William Talbert, the president and CEO of the Miami Visitors & Convention Bureau. "But the Super Bowl won't go back to Jacksonville."

According to an NFL document that was sent to all of the cities seeking to host the 2009 game, there had to be 19,000 hotel rooms in full-service hotels located within an hour's drive of the football stadium in "peak traffic." These rooms were for NFL-related groups to use.

Tampa Bay's task force provided the NFL with a list of 19,000 rooms. Karen Brand, vice president of marketing for the Tampa Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau, said that list quelled concerns about the area's hotel inventory.

Yet it hardly satisfied the league's requirements.

Only about 12,000 of the hotel rooms were in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. The rest, 7,368, came from a dozen Orlando and Kissimmee hotels. According to the American Automobile Association, they're at least 75 minutes away from Raymond James Stadium, exceeding the NFL limit by 15 minutes. Normal rush hours add up to 25 minutes to the 75-minute trip, said Joan Myers, a department manager with AAA.

For an event like the Super Bowl, it would take even longer. "Travel time could easily be doubled," Myers said.

The NFL called for another 24,675 "quality" hotel rooms within an hour's drive of the stadium for the general public. So the NFL required Tampa to provide a total of 43,000 quality hotel rooms within an hour of the stadium.

But Pinellas and Hillsborough counties have only 39,111 hotel rooms in all, according to industry tracker Smith Travel Research, and that includes hotels like Econo Lodges and Red Roof Inns that don't provide full service, such as a restaurant.

Brand said Smith Travel Research doesn't count all hotels. The task force estimated there were 50,000 hotel rooms in the two counties.

"Super Bowl people are looking for a concentration of high quality hotels," said Peter Keim, a vice president at the PKF Hospitality Group in Atlanta. "Your high rollers and corporate spenders aren't going to stay in Hampton Inns or Holiday Inn Expresses. They want to go to the Hyatts, the Ritz-Carltons, places like that. That's what Tampa needs if it wants to avoid sending all of its guests to Sarasota and Orlando and wherever else."

Houston, by comparison, has 46,450 hotel rooms just in the city, including a city-built 1,200-room Hilton hurting for business. Since Miami last hosted the Super Bowl in 1999, more than 50 hotels have opened in Miami-Dade County, which has a total of 50,000 hotel rooms, Talbert said.

Atlanta has 92,000 hotel rooms, according to the Ernst & Young Hospitality Advisory Group, capped with a half-dozen "super tankers" - hotels of 1,000 rooms or more within walking distance of the football stadium.

"Each community has different positives," said Michael Kelly, who has served as executive director for Super Bowl task forces in Tampa, Miami and Jacksonville. "One of Tampa's struggles to overcome has always been: Are there enough rooms?"

The opening of the 250-room Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in March 2004, the 717-room Marriott Waterside in Channelside in 2000; the construction of a new Embassy Suites across from the Tampa Convention Center; and two Westins, a Hyatt and a Hilton in the pipeline in the bay area have industry insiders buzzing about a small hotel-construction boom in Tampa.

But while much was made of Iorio's pledge that 7,000 new downtown hotel rooms will be built by 2009, the NFL didn't consider that in making its decision, Karen Brand said.

League officials don't count hotel rooms that are planned or haven't been built yet, Brand said. They consider only the ones that have already been constructed.

When it comes to picking Super Bowl sites, hotels appear to be just one of many factors that can clinch it for a city.

Tampa's host committee agreed at the last minute to pick up more than $700,000 in costs for NFL parties. The weather, entertainment options and the local team owner's relationship to the other owners also play a role. And the Glazers are well regarded by the league.

"The league makes a political decision based on the owner they have a relationship with," Talbert said. "If you build a new stadium, like Detroit and Houston did, you're going to get a Super Bowl."

Another key factor is the timing.

For instance, it wasn't likely that the NFL was to pick Miami so soon after hosting the 2007 game. Also, Houston, where Janet Jackson had her wardrobe malfunction, hosted it in 2004.

So Atlanta, which hosted in 2000, was next in line, ahead of Tampa, which last hosted in 2001.

That's why many were surprised when Tampa leapfrogged over Atlanta. The ice storms that bedeviled Atlanta in 2000 appeared to have penalized that city more than Tampa's shortage of rooms.

"Listen, the NFL would not have gone to Tampa again if it didn't have the inventory and the quality inventory," said Scott Berman, a partner in the hospitality and leisure consulting practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Miami.

Visitors just need to gear up for long commutes, he said.

"I hope all the lanes of (Interstate 4) are open."

"Tampa has since become one of the National Football League's favorite hosts"

it has?

anyways it sounds good that 7000 new hotel rooms would be built in downtown ,can anyone tell me what happen with the four seasons proposal

^Kind of...

4 SBs hosted from 1984 to 2009 ain't too shabby... that's tied for the lead with MIA and NO with four hosted over that span...(SD 3, Pasadena 2, ATL 2, everyone else 1x)... Even if you look at all SB sites ever, Tampa is still the #4 most frequently used site, behind the old rotation of NO, MIA and LA/Pasadena.

I think that Tampa is still getting alot of mileage out of the SB put on in 1991, which was the 25th anniversary SB, and was played with Gulf War I going on... The Giants won the closest SB ever, over the Bills 20-19, on a missed game ending FG, remember?... In alot of minds, that is considered the best SB ever, any way you cut it.

The 35th game in 2001 was hosted well, though it was marred a bit by horrific traffic, because Gasparilla was scheduled the day before the game. There were simply too many people in town at once (some estimates had the local population swelling by 500k that weekend)...... This time, Gasparilla will be a week before the game (during the NFL's off week).

anyways it sounds good that 7000 new hotel rooms would be built in downtown ,can anyone tell me what happen with the four seasons proposal

I don't know where the mayor is getting that number from. There are only about 2200 rooms today, and only about ~1600 rooms in the pipeline for DT that we know of. That means another 4000+ rooms are expected to built in the next 3.5 years? I seriously doubt it.

With regards to the Four Seasons proposal... That was reportedly going to be a condo only project under the Four Seasons name. I don't think anyone has heard anything about its status or progress. Like a few other DT projects, it was announced and then has kind of vanished, not to be heard from again (publicly) since.

Booming hotels would be nice, but who really cares about this article? The NFL has been here before, they clearly don't care . . .

Between Pinellas and Hillsborough with a little Sarasota thrown in, it's all good.

I had friends who went to the Super Bowl in San Diego and stayed in LA, so what?

If you throw in Sarasota, Manatee, Polk and even Pasco counties, Tampa has more than enough rooms for the Super Bowl.

just like I mentioned in the other thread regarding I-4's completion. Tampa and Orlando are more intertwined than many give credit. Tampa has the benefit of thousands of extra rooms just up I-4 to pad their numbers to get that 2009 bid. I think its great; more power to them; Atlanta can kiss my a@#.

Once malfunction junction gets done and I-4 in Tampa and Polk, Atlanta won't have anything on this part of the state-- we've got a greater population, just as many pro teams, more convention space, at least as good airport facilities, way more hotels, more golf, MORE TOLL ROADS...

Oh, but they've got MARTA. we got Amtrak.

^But combined, Orlando and Tampa still can't match ATL's sprawl.

^But combined, Orlando and Tampa still can't match ATL's sprawl.

Isn't that kind of a good thing?

I wouldn't say it isnt sprawling like crazy....Polk is about on par with Pasco when it comes to planning, with Four Corners and Lakeland Metro sprawling by the day, I don't see how it won't happen.

I wouldn't say it isnt sprawling like crazy....Polk is about on par with Pasco when it comes to planning, with Four Corners and Lakeland Metro sprawling by the day, I don't see how it won't happen.


Pasco will be one of the fastest sprawling counties this year. They have a community starting in a yr that will have 14,000 homes alone. And you can add a couple from almost every builder in the state. Pasco will be double their exisiting population in 3 yrs.
Polk is not growing as fast as Pasco this yr or the next.

Who knows what kind of sprawl we will have in 2009. Thats 4 years of development at the speed we are going now. There are so many projects that will be done by then.

Isn't that kind of a good thing?


Yeah, I was being facetious... SOme ATL posters here go off about the outer sprawl, as if it's good... You knwo the type... Kids who thinks that all growth is good, and just because they live in a big city means that they are "better" than everyone else on the forum....lol... It's so pathetic.

I think its perfectly fair to include Orlando. Especially considering that by that time, I-4 construction should be wrapping up.

The Kissimmee area is only 50-60 min ride. They offer plenty of hotels. And during superbowl week is one of the slowest tourest weeks of the yr for those hotels.

I think Tampa is fine. Between Tampa, Ste Pete, Clearwater, and the Orlando Region being within an approx 80 min travel time frame, they have enough. Especially considering all these areas have plans for more hotels.

Pasco will be one of the fastest sprawling counties this year. They have a community starting in a yr that will have 14,000 homes alone. And you can add a couple from almost every builder in the state. Pasco will be double their exisiting population in 3 yrs. :eek2:

Damn !! Where did you hear that ?
That would but Pasco at about 800K in 3 yrs. They would be close to passing Pinnelas by 2010 and probably Hillsborough shortly after that.

:eek2:

Damn !! Where did you hear that ?
That would but Pasco at about 800K in 3 yrs. They would be close to passing Pinnelas by 2010 and probably Hillsborough shortly after that.

Pasco is around 350,000 people today. They will double that soon, maybe not 3 yrs. But all of the new developments will be underway at that time to practically double. Zephyrhills, widely known for tons of mobil homes, is starting to develop some high profile communities. I thought it was daring, but its now starting to work. Wesley Chapel is going to be adding a super mall, and start breaking ground for Wire Grass, a community with 3 separate builders, including condos, townhomes, active adult, and single residential homes. The final count of that community will be 14,000 home +. And tons more communities are on the planning board.

I do think Pasco will look totally diferent in 3 yrs than the Pasco we all remembered. Unfortunately, traffic will be one of the obvious differences. Regardless, I can't see myself living any where north of Tampa until they build a mall there.

a little off, as of April 1, 2004 the population was estimated to be at 407,799 and grew at that time from 03 to 04 by 20,000 people...and yes, this was from the Census

a little off, as of April 1, 2004 the population was estimated to be at 407,799 and grew at that time from 03 to 04 by 20,000 people...and yes, this was from the Census


They were 344,000 in 2000. So they are growing at of 20,000 a yr. Expect between 40-50,000 more by the end of 05 and about the same in 06. These are their biggest yrs of growth approaching. Most of the homebuyers trying to move to tampa have been lured into Pasco for lower prices and much lower taxes.

I didn't really want to stray from the original thread, but I was making a point about Pasco growing quicker than Polk county.

Actually, combined, Tampa and Orlando do match and surpass Atlanta's sprawl-- for whatever its worth-- when you also throw in Polk, West Volusia, Sarasota-Bradenton, etc. The I-4 corridor has more people. I already crunched the numbers a few months back. I'll find them again.

How many people are in the Tampa city limits? I just moved here a few months ago and I've heard several different numbers. Also, does Tampa annex land anymore? I moved here from Raleigh, NC and they would just annex a neighborhood at a time and that would increase the population and tax base. I guess what I'm really asking, does Tampa (city limits) have room to grow.

I guess my main point is that central florida/bay area offers more and has much more than people give it credit for. Especially those in Atlanta that think Atlanta is the south's only example of a thriving "metropolis," or the only oasis of good stuff.

And for Georgians to think "how could a town like Tampa steal that bid from us" they should be saying "shit, we need to make a plan to compete better with them in the future, as they are a formidable force in this arena (or whatever)."

I'm tired of out-of-staters' low opinions of this state. and sometimes I can't very well blame them.

City Boundaries - Miles of Land Area 116.1 sq. mi
City Population (April 2004) 327,220

grows by about 8,000 a year, city limits...

City Boundaries - Miles of Land Area 116.1 sq. mi
City Population (April 2004) 327,220

grows by about 8,000 a year, city limits...

Wow, I thought it was much larger than that.

^The county is somewhere over a million, if that helps. I think it's maybe 1.1M these days?

I doubt Tampa will incporate new land except maybe in the New Tampa area. I never understood why they didn't incorporate Carrollwood and Town 'n' Country (stupid f*cking name for a community if you ask me, maybe that's why they don't want it.) I'm sure though that the suburbanite zombies who inhabit the decaying tract homes in those areas would prefer to stay unincoporated and keep their low taxes.

On the topic of incoporation, I still think that Brandon should incoporate and form their own city government. That place has just gotten too large. Maybe they can demolish Brandon Town Center, excuse me Westfield Shoppingtown Brandon, and build a cheesy new urbanist civic center in its place.

I never understood why they didn't incorporate Carrollwood and Town 'n' Country (stupid f*cking name for a community if you ask me, maybe that's why they don't want it.) I'm sure though that the suburbanite zombies who inhabit the decaying tract homes in those areas would prefer to stay unincoporated and keep their low taxes.

Um, I grew up in Carrollwood - the original one - not "Carrollwood" that realtors use and it is 1) not as you describe 2) more expensive than much of "Tampa" and 3) has a more urban structure than much of tampa. In fact, any true analysis of old Carrollwood would make it obvious that it is the last of the old style suburbs - without silly walls, with retail actually in accessable walking distance from many of the homes, with more than one way out of the place, connected to other developments, with nice real parks, with nice real sidewalks that people use, etc.

In the 80's, Carrollwood considered incorporating on their own, but there is little point to it (except to escape Rhonda Storms). There is no reason to join Tampa because Tampa is run by people with the attitude you blurted out who will spend all the money south of Kennedy. And if you followed county poltics, you would know that old Carrollwood usually gets what it wants.

Town 'n' Country is another issue altoghether . . .

And, by the way, NW Hillsborough County has more people than the city of Tampa

Um, I grew up in Carrollwood - the original one - not "Carrollwood" that realtors use and it is 1) not as you describe 2) more expensive than much of "Tampa" and 3) has a more urban structure than much of tampa. In fact, any true analysis of old Carrollwood would make it obvious that it is the last of the old style suburbs - without silly walls, with retail actually in accessable walking distance from many of the homes, with more than one way out of the place, connected to other developments, with nice real parks, with nice real sidewalks that people use, etc.


You're right, that part of "Carrollwood" is quite different. Most of what is called Carrollwood though is not that pleasant, or at least the streets and homes of friends I know that live there. I have not spent hours driving down every street in the vicinity, but generally what I saw was depressing to say the least.

^I can only assume that you haven't been around the metro much, because Carrollwood (even the 'new' parts of it) are FAR from being the crappiest, most depressing parts of this metro. The reality is quite the contrary.

Someone should start another thread about Bay area neighborhoods though, instead of hijacking this hotel thread.

Someone should start another thread about Bay area neighborhoods though, instead of hijacking this hotel thread.

Well, gee, I can't wait until someone does, because then I can be a more enlightened Tampa Bay area resident.

And, Jasonhouse, I said "depressing" not "most depressing." Personally, I find most any post World War II suburb depressing. I suppose from now on I should keep that to myself, especially on a website in which the main topic of discussion is urbanity.

As for hijacking hotel threads, I was simply commenting on annexation/incoporation after someone else brought that topic up. And yeah, I've lived in several parts of this metro, and driven on pretty much every thoroughfare in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Manatee Counties, plus many parts of Pasco. I can't think of many communities in this metro I haven't been to, outside of Hernando and Citrus Counties.

Hey, I think voicing your opinion is just fine, man. Having grown up in NW hillsborough during the time that most of it was built, I know it quite well. I have lived in Carrollwood, Carrollwood Village (which people who grew up in Carrollwood distinguish greatly as it is a totally different layout and experience) and most of my high school friends lvied in town and Country, so I know that quite well, as well (though it is a whole lot different now). I hung out in Brandon for various reasons and had friends in south Tampa, Temple Terrace, basically everywhere - let's talk neighborhoods man. There is a lot to say.

Who can name the first bar in Ybor's modern era? Second? Third?

There is a lot to say, and a lot to see, too. There are many fine neighborhoods in and around Tampa. Unfortunately, we don't have any prolific photographers.

Speaking of Temple Terrace, what ever happened to the Temple Terrace redevelpment plan? We had a thread for that, but I think it fell off the face of the earth.

Article in biz journal this week - just haven't gotten around to see if it is on the website. If you want to post it, go for it.

Well, gee, I can't wait until someone does, because then I can be a more enlightened Tampa Bay area resident.


I didn't finger anyone, I was merely stating a point of fact. I am the Admin afterall, and that's kinda my role here... To keep things tidy and on track. :)

yea, the county right now is about 1.2 million...and id say all of that population is clustered along the city of Tampa...except for Plant City's 30,000, but the city, is center in the sprawl and surrounded by it... so why not include Pinellas(930,000 full time as of 04'/1,040,080 back in 90s full/part time residents, not sure how many now)...not only do the bridges connect, but northern Pinellas and western Hillsborough connect a lot these days, linebaugh->forest lakes, Tampa->Hillsborough, and id even say keystone->tarpon...the first two roads starting to play host to many many apartments, town homes, condos, and hotels...even the area around westchase, which I had always assumed was protected land....now its 3 apartment complexes, and a sh*t load of town homes, plus the western Pasco, trinity, and now Odessa sprawl that's starting to connect with land o' lakes, new Tampa area....so it all seems just about a continuous urban area without interruption for the most part now and leads back to the host city, tampa...

The Tampa Bay area is looking at 3 million+ before 2009, maybe more.

right, and as you head east on I-4, in west hillsborough, and into Polk, and then into Osceola and Orlando Metro past US 27, there isn't much of a break in population or overpasses and add those figures with Orlando metro's 2 million plus, and this region is more populated than Atlanta metro. and its got more hotel rooms...

id say more seeing as how manatee should be a bedroom community for tampa bay by then.....

I want to know what this is about... Where is this hotel going to go, and how big will it be?



Starwood says Tampa hotel will offer upscale bargain

By STEVE HUETTEL, Staff Writer
St Petersburg Times
Published June 13, 2005

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Tampa is set to be one of the first locations for a new hotel brand that promises travelers pizzazz at a bargain price.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide last week released details of its much anticipated new chain, identified only as "Project XYZ."

The alphabet code name is a reference to Starwood's upscale "W" chain. The 7-year-old brand created a buzz among affluent younger customers who like its cool bars and modern furnishings. Room rates for W average about $260 a night but can reach more than $400.

XYZ will target travelers on a tighter budget, with room rates less than $150. The chain will be in the "limited service" category now occupied by brands such as Courtyard by Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn and Starwood's Four Points by Sheraton.

XYZ is designed to capture some of the W's style, with a 24-hour kitchen for food to go, a "commons" space with a "'sunken conversation area" and lounge that will attract locals as well as hotel guests.

"Affordable doesn't have to be boring as brands like JetBlue, Mini Cooper, West Elm and Target have proven so brilliantly,' said Starwood chief executive Steven Heyer in announcing the brand last week. He described XYZ has having "the DNA of W."

Starwood plans to open the first new hotels in 2007 and have more than 500 by 2015. Tampa was among five cities the hotel chain identified for the first XYZs, all places where the high-end hotel customers are hard to come by.

"They tend to be markets that might not support a W product but would still value this concept," spokeswoman K.C. Kavanaugh said. Some national hotel building groups have been in touch about a Tampa location, she said.

And, by the way, it won't be called XYZ. Starwood plans to announce a permanent name this year.

Could be "mini-W."

Jvance75, I agree. Manatee should be part of the smsa. Manatee, Sarasota, Pinnelas, Hillsborogh, Pasco...

How many people are in the Tampa city limits? I just moved here a few months ago and I've heard several different numbers. Also, does Tampa annex land anymore? I moved here from Raleigh, NC and they would just annex a neighborhood at a time and that would increase the population and tax base. I guess what I'm really asking, does Tampa (city limits) have room to grow.

The cities here are not as aggressive as the cities in Wake county at annexation.. I think that the Town of Cary really sets the tone for annexation in that county. That town went from something like 20,000 - 100,000 in 20 years. I thought it was note worthy in 2002 when the Raleigh's population estimates put it's population above Tampa's. This was astounding to me considering in the 2000 census Raleigh had about 27,000 less people than Tampa.

58 Tampa city FL 303,447
63 Raleigh city NC 276,093

(from: http://www.census.gov/population/cen2000/phc-t5/tab02.txt

According to the city of Raleigh, the population is now 335,512.

(from: http://www.raleighnc.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_18371_0_0_18/Growth_and_Development_Report_Spring_2005.pdf)

As you already know, much of this was from annexation. Tampa would be twice the size if it had annexed the suburbs in the NW as already stated. This is of course what Raleigh routinely does. There was some recent talk about Tampa annexing the Palm River area (The largely industrial area to the E of downtown.) I am not sure what came if it. I think Tampa should do it as long as the residents are willing. I kind of agree with Agent Orange that I wish Tampa would have annexed Carrolwood and Town and Country. The population would be at 450,000 by now. And I'm all for weakening Hillsborough county and giving some more tax power to Tampa.

If the new Starwood Hotel is going for a cheaper market, then I wouldn't be surprised to see it near the interstate.

The cities here are not as aggressive as the cities in Wake county at annexation.. I think that the Town of Cary really sets the tone for annexation in that county. That town went from something like 20,000 - 100,000 in 20 years. I thought it was note worthy in 2002 when the Raleigh's population estimates put it's population above Tampa's. This was astounding to me considering in the 2000 census Raleigh had about 27,000 less people than Tampa.

58 Tampa city FL 303,447
63 Raleigh city NC 276,093

(from: http://www.census.gov/population/cen2000/phc-t5/tab02.txt

According to the city of Raleigh, the population is now 335,512.

(from: http://www.raleighnc.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_18371_0_0_18/Growth_and_Development_Report_Spring_2005.pdf)

As you already know, much of this was from annexation. Tampa would be twice the size if it had annexed the suburbs in the NW as already stated. This is of course what Raleigh routinely does. There was some recent talk about Tampa annexing the Palm River area (The largely industrial area to the E of downtown.) I am not sure what came if it. I think Tampa should do it as long as the residents are willing. I kind of agree with Agent Orange that I wish Tampa would have annexed Carrolwood and Town and Country. The population would be at 450,000 by now. And I'm all for weakening Hillsborough county and giving some more tax power to Tampa.

I think Tampa should annex some areas. Raleigh is supposedly one of the country's fastest growing cities, at least that's what they say in Raleigh. I've noticed growth there, but the growth here seems to be much more, but most of it outside city limits.

The metro area population growth is actually about the same. Here are some stats for 1990-2000

20 Raleigh--Durham--Chapel Hill, NC 332,396
21 Tampa--St. Petersburg--Clearwater, FL MSA 328,038

(see http://www.census.gov/population/cen2000/phc-t3/tab04.txt)

Of course the Tampa Bay MSA is much larger than Raleigh Durham.

Anyway, back on the subject of hotels in the Bay Area --- All I have to say is that was a stupid friggin article by the Times. There are plenty of Hotels in the area. Tampa Bay is a mid-major tourist destination last time I checked. We have held major Bowl games that attract as many fans (not as much press) every year for as long as I can remember. They are obviously not counting all the (albeit disappearing) Hotel/Motel/Efficiency Appartments on the Beaches.

That's actually a good point-- what did they count for the previous super bowls re hotel rooms? Or, did they "up" the standards or make more stringent prerequisites to land a bid since then?

I'm not sure. But according to the dumb article, the NFL requires 43,000 rooms and the
Tampa Bay's task force gave them a list of 50,000. SO I don't really see a problem here. All I read is that the owners of teams in two competing cities were ticked off at the decision and are trashing Tampa to the media because they are jealous that they lost the bid.

I would expect this story in the Atlanta paper and the Houston paper, but why the Times thought there was a story here is beyond me.

that article orig. posted by Jason stated that they needed to declare 19,000 rooms of a certain class or quality-- they listed 12,000 in TB and another 7,000 near Disney to get that number. I don't think they're looking at total rooms.

I guarantee you they are ticked and are trying to downplay what TB's got, maybe to help their cause the next time the bids are assigned. But by then, there will be so much more developed within TB that it won't be an issue.

^I'm sure that reminding people of how much growth there will be by 2009 was part of Tampa's pitch (at least behind closed doors). Iorio kept saying how there will be like 7,000 hotel rooms in the DT area alone by 2009...

The way I look at it is, we've successfully held 3 Superbowls before, and the metro will have basically doubled in size from when the first was held here in 1983, to the one in 2009.

valid point. stadium attendance hasn't changed; there are more hotels since then; larger TPA; etc...

There should be no worries about Tampa's ability to hold the Super Bowl, if Jacksonville can do it I am sure we will be fine too.

If Jax could do it-- albeit with cruise ships, then Tampa sure as shizzle could without cruise ships-- but, they could do it with cruise ships as well to make it like a novelty-- something inland cities can't do.