Tampabay.com

APRIL 30, 2011

2012 GOP convention will be biggest event ever in Tampa Bay

TAMPA — Think of hosting an event as big as the Super Bowl. Now multiply that by four or five.

That's pretty much what we're looking at with the 2012 Republican National Convention. It will be the biggest event ever held in Tampa Bay.

Fifty thousand guests, delegates and dignitaries packing every major hotel within 35 minutes of downtown Tampa over four days. Fifteen thousand journalists from around the world and potentially more than 10,000 protesters. More than 1,000 breakfasts, lunches, receptions and blowout bashes at venues from Ybor City to downtown St. Petersburg. A security zone like the area has never seen.

"We're talking about a Super Bowl on steroids," said Santiago Corrada, who is coordinating convention planing for the city of Tampa. "We're talking about five Super Bowls on four to five consecutive days." (story here)

Join the discussion: Click to view comments, add yours
Loading...

About the blog

For Florida political news today, the Buzz is your can't-miss-it source. Tampa Bay Times writers offer the latest in Florida politics, the Florida Legislature and the Rick Scott administration. Keep in mind: This is a public forum sponsored and maintained by the Tampa Bay Times. When you post comments here, what you say becomes public and could appear in the newspaper. You are not engaging in private communication with candidates or Times staffers.

E-mail Times political editor Adam Smith: asmith@tampabay.com

Advertisement

Video

Advertisement

ON TWITTER



SPECIAL REPORTS

SITES OF INTEREST

POLITICAL LINKS

TIMES COLUMNS

REAL CLEAR POLITICS BLOG

POLITICS HEADLINES from the AP

Registration FAQ

Read our Frequently Asked Questions on how to register to comment on the site.