A Bit Of Inconvenience Now Will Put Tampa Convention Center On Map Later

TAMPA, FL — As the Tampa Convention Center makes headway in its ambitious capital improvement plan, a portion of the Tampa Riverwalk will be rerouted starting Oct. 13 to accommodate the construction of 18 new waterfront meeting rooms.

Unanimously approved by the Tampa City Council in October 2020, the $38 million capital improvements plan is the largest renovation project in the Tampa Convention Center's history.

Scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2023, city officials said the improvements will result in increased efficiency, more amenities for convention goers, cost savings to the city and more demand for the facility as host to national conventions and world-wide events.

Opened in 1990 at 333 S. Franklin St., the 600,000-square-foot convention center located on Tampa's waterfront was sorely in need of modernization and additional meeting space to compete with convention centers in other major cities around the country, said Una Garvey, convention center and tourism director.

"The renovation of our meeting spaces and the additional meeting rooms will allow us to remain competitive in an ever-changing market," Garvey said. "Through these efforts, we will be able to attract larger events and bring more visitors and business to Tampa.”

The plan calls for the entire first floor of the convention center to be modernized with a number of technological improvements.

Skanska, which has designed and built everything from major stadiums to airports, was hired to oversee the expansion and renovations, with Baker Barrios Architects providing design services.

Unfortunately, the complexity of the construction of the 18 new meeting rooms requires re-routing 400 feet of the Tampa Riverwalk directly behind the Tampa Convention Center at a time when the popular Riverwalk is at its busiest, hosting upcoming seasonal events.

Detour signage will redirect pedestrians and cyclists around the construction area from Oct. 13 through November 2022, when construction of the meeting rooms is expected to be completed.

Improvements Coming To The Tampa Convention Center

The 18 new waterfront meeting rooms will span 18,000 square feet across two levels within the convention center. They will feature air (moveable) walls for increased flexibility, a terrace for increased outdoor space, floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Garrison Channel and the Hillsborough River, new restrooms and a second service elevator.

The rooms will serve as flexible space that can be converted as an extension of the existing 200,000-square-foot exhibit hall, which now accommodates up to 1,000 10-square-foot exhibit booths.

Previously completed projects include renovating the 36,000-square-foot ballroom, including new carpet, paint, new fabric on the moveable walls and upgraded lighting; upgraded restrooms; and improvements at The Sail Plaza, which were completed in May 2020.

Completed July 1, the completely re-imagined Sail Plaza with its 360-degree waterfront bar offers with an expanded seating area and a shade structure. The $1 million renovation project features new décor, flooring and now allows for unobstructed views of the waterfront throughout the pavilion.An innovative ramp system will guide pedestrian traffic, allowing for more outdoor events along the Tampa Riverwalk. Restrooms now include a family restroom and air conditioning.

The Sail Plaza includes Big Ray’s Fish Camp Restaurant, a local favorite for seafood in the Tampa Bay area. Additionally, Datz Restaurant, a Tampa favorite since its opening in South Tampa in 2009, has joined the plaza.

Inside the convention center, the 25 existing meeting rooms have been updated with new carpeting, paint, new fabric on the moveable walls and upgraded lighting.

The center's 15 restrooms have been upgraded as well with wall-to-wall large-format modern tile, integrated sinks, stainless steel touchless fixtures and backlit mirrors.

Exhibit hall concessions have been modernized to include refreshed menus with new signage and digital menu boards.

And the three-story rotunda area now features Nourish, a choose-your-own-ingredients healthy bowl concept. This modular kiosk provides fresh offerings based upon guest preferences with a wide selection and a focus on efficient customer service.

The renovations will be funded with eight annual contributions of $16 million each by the Hillsborough County Tourist Development Council. The funds come from annual tourist tax, a 6 percent surcharge for hotels and other overnight accommodations.

With the help of the Tourist Development Council, the city has improvements already completed have totaled $16.8 million.

After a number of cancellations during the coronavirus pandemic, the convention center is in heavy demand, hosting events this year including Metrocon, Florida's largest anime convention, the Tampa Bay Comic Convention (Comic Con) and the Florida Boat Show.

• Starting Wednesday and running through Friday, the center will host Metalcon, an annual conference and exhibition for the metal construction industry attended craftspeople, architects, builders, designers, framers, contractors and professionals in the metal industry.
• The Digital Summit, which, as the name implies, focuses in digital technology businesses, is slated for Oct. 13-14.
• The Hot Tub and Swim Spa Blowout 2021 runs from Oct. 15-17.
• The American Bankers Association convention Oct. 18-19.
• The seventh annual Tattoo Arts convention Oct. 22-24.
• Tampa Bay Home Show Oct. 23-24.
• The Tampa Condo & HOA Expo Oct. 28.
• Sneaker Games, the premier convention for “Sneaker Heads” to buy, sell and trade their most valuable sneakers, is set for Oct. 30.
• National Conference of State Legislators Summit takes place Oct. 31 to Nov. 6.
• The Oddities & Curiosities Expo featuring vendors of the weird and creepy including quack medical devices, funeral collectibles and taxidermy, is Nov. 13.
• The Prego Expo, the premier pregnancy, parenting and baby expo, takes place Nov. 14.
• The Florida Music Education Association will host its professional development conference Jan. 12-14.
• The Streetz Dance Convention and Competition is slated for Jan. 22-23.
• Florida Huddle 2022, the official travel trade show for Florida, is scheduled for Jan. 24-26.
• The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers will meet Jan. 30 to Feb. 3.

Click here for a complete list of upcoming events.