The airport commissioned the sculpture for $520,000. | Photo by @iamkhiemtang
Traveling via plane is fun — jet-setting over beautiful blue waters or rolling hills, taking in cloud formations, and landing in a completely different location in a matter of hours is unlike anything else.
The whole navigating the airport part? Less exciting, and sometimes pretty stressful. To help make your time at Tampa International as smooth as possible, we’ve created a guide that covers everything from gates and parking to details on the airport’s 90+ nonstop flights.
What to know
TSA | According to Tampa International’s website, it takes ~20 minutes to get through during off-peak hours and ~45 minutes during peak hours (6-9 a.m.).
Map it out | If you’re like us and need to completely visualize a place before you step foot inside, these maps of the entire airport will be your saving grace.
Reminder | By May 7, 2025, you will need a REAL ID or other forms of ID to board commercial flights in the US.
Flight status | While we recommend staying updated via your respective airline, you can also check the airport’s dashboard for your flight status in a pinch.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Philadelphia Phillies | 1:05 p.m. | BayCare Ballpark, Clearwater | $39 | Spring Training is waning, so make sure you catch the Jays and Phillies faceoff in the Florida sun.
“Black Bag” | Monday, March 17-Thursday, March 27 | Times vary | Tampa Theatre | $10+ | Sit back for Steven Soderbergh’s latest flick following an intelligence operative mission to solve the theft of a sophisticated piece of software.
Tuesday, March 18
7th Annual Iftar Dinner | 6-9 p.m. | Coliseum | Free | Tampa Bay Area Muslim Association invites the community for a dinner bringing together hundreds of residents of various faiths and backgrounds.
Wednesday, March 19
Celebrating Florida Nature and Wildlife | 7-8 p.m. | Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg | Free | Head to the Burg’s indie bookstore to spend the night with the authors of “Florida Springs” and “Of Slash Pines and Manatees.”
Thursday, March 20
4th Annual Baseball, Bourbon and Cigars | 6-9 p.m. | J.C. Newman Cigar Company, Tampa | $125 | Now’s your chance to meet MLB legends, listen to a Q+A hosted by commentator Dewayne Staats, and enjoy samples of cigars and bourbon at the historic cigar factory.
$260 million. That’s how much cash Blake Investment Partners just offered for the Tropicana Field redevelopment site. The local private equity group says they would pay the $60 million pricetag to fix Tropicana Field. Then, they would give the city $200 million for the land once the Rays’ lease expires. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Development
So, could the Rays hop over to Tampa? A former Tampa city attorney says pulling together the funding in Hillsborough would be a “complex undertaking.” But, it’s still possible, he says. And there are sites available — like the newly available WestShore Plaza land. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Announced
Despite back-to-back hurricanes, Tampa’s tourism industry is booming. Hillsborough County pulled in ~$124 million in taxable revenue in January, up ~19% from last year’s $104 million. Plus, it’s the fourth month in a row the county raked in $100 million+ in revenue. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)
Try This
Fort-making isn’t just a hobby, it’s a science. Glazer Children’s Museum just reopened its ‘Forts’ exhibit. The reimagined 1,100-sqft space boasts “larger-than-life framework furniture for fort building, hideaways and interactive projection mapping technology, and vintage and repurposed elements.” Buy tickets now. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)
Plan Ahead
Our mouths are watering. Taste of Water Street returns next month. Booked for Wednesday, April 16 from 5:30–9 p.m., the pop-up features eats and drinks from 20 local spots (Think: Ash, Alter Ego, and Predalina). The downtown neighborhood is releasing double the number of tickets this year. Tickets are $95.
Sports
Is Gage Goncalves the next star forward on the Lightning? Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews and more from local experts of the Tampa Bay Lightning with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Biz
Calling all business owners. For a limited time, we’re offering 15% off your first advertising purchase on our self-service ad portal. No long-term contract required — simply use the code NEW15 at checkout to redeem the discount.
Community
We love hearing from our readers. Every newsletter we create is built so you can keep up with all that’s happening in our city. Help us get better at what we do by sharing a little about yourself. Answer a few quick questions for a chance to win $100.
Finance
Car insurance premiums are projected to hit $2,101 annually by 2025 — a record high. Switching providers might save you over $1,300 each year. Why leave money on the table? Get matched with a more affordable plan.*
The Buy
The Buy
Really cute palazzo pants on sale at Nordstrom Rack. The lightweight, flowy pants can be dressed up or down for spring events and come in fun prints.
Anyone else pretty sure they’re a plant in another life? No? Okay, cool, moving on.
Calling all the budding gardeners and flower enthusiasts among us: The Spring Equinox arrives this Wednesday, March 19, signaling the start of the new season. Celebrate with a visit to a local farm or farmer’s market to pick up some of that springtime bounty.
Answered
Answered
Last week, we asked “What will happen to the Rays?”
Imagine taking in a ballgame from this perch.
Rendering via the Tampa Bay Rays
We may not have concrete answers for whether the Rays could swing a move to Tampa, but 47% of readers think it could be in the cards. Another 27% of folks hypothesize the team will move elsewhere (e.g. Orlando, Nashville or Raleigh).
Otherwise, 19% of people say they literally have no idea at this point. Same. And finally, another 8% of folks are still holding out hope the Rays stay at Tropicana Field.
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