Anyone going to the Barack Obama rally Wednesday in Tampa should arrive early, expect to hunt for parking and be aware that a ticket might not guarantee entrance. Here's what you need to know:
The event: Noon, St. Pete Times Forum, downtown Tampa.
Traffic and parking: Officials are not predicting major tieups getting to downtown because doors at the Times Forum open at 10:30 a.m. for the noon event, well after rush hour. Parking will be a different story, with downtown workers occupying many spaces in nearby garages and lots. A military meeting at the Tampa Convention Center will use up spots in that garage. "Folks are going to have to get creative. They're going to have to take public transportation or be willing to walk," said Irvin Lee, director of the city's Public Works department.
Parking tips: Best bets will be in Ybor City, where some can catch, for a fee, the streetcar to the Times Forum, or on the north end of downtown by the Marion Street Transit Center where a county bus will take you within blocks of the venue. Message boards throughout downtown will direct drivers to parking. Expect to pay $10 for parking in lots and hourly rates in city garages.
Tickets: No tickets available at the door. The St. Pete Times Forum holds about 20,000 people, but Hillsborough Democratic Party officials say more tickets than that were distributed. Once the Forum is full, ticket holders can watch video of Obama's speech outside the arena.
Forecast: Isolated thunderstorms, 20% chance of rain.
Downtown workers: City officials recommend getting to work by 8 a.m. to secure your normal parking spot.
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