Skip Navigation LinksHome > Live > District Areas > Convention/Arena

Convention/Arena

The rush of NHL hockey, the excitement of dragon boat racing and a myriad of other events and functions all take place in the Convention/Arena area of downtown. It is a Mecca of meetings, where people of all kinds come together for important meetings and a great time in a gorgeous setting. When the day is done and its time to retire for the evening, almost 3,000 hotel rooms await guests.

General Boundaries

Garrison Channel, Hillsborough River, Brorein Street and Beneficial Boulevard

District Gems

Cotanchobee/Fort Brooke Park:  The former site of the officer quarters for Fort Brooke, this place provided sleeping quarters for General Andrew Jackson, 7th President of the United States, and General Zachary Taylor, 12th President of the United States, during their time in the service. Today, the site is a public park that tells the historic story of both the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the soldiers of Fort Brooke’s battle together during the second Seminole Indian War. It also features Heroes’ Plaza, a site to remember fallen police officers, firefighters and military members.

Dick Greco Plaza Transportation Center:  Located at Times Forum Drive and Franklin Street, this award-winning, multi-use transit facility is named after one of Tampa's former mayors.  A main connectin point for  the TECO Line Streetcar, the facility is serviced by taxis, and is a connector with other HART buses. The design provides areas for vendor carts, shaded gathering spaces, and a large amount of seating along planter walls.

Garrison Channel:  Located behind the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina, the channel flows alongside the St.Pete Times Forum and the Tampa Bay History Museum. The Garrison Channel is also the site for Tampa’s popular Dragon Boat Races, which have become so popular that the city will also host the international dragon boat championships in August 2011.

St. Pete Times Forum:  Home to the 2004 NHL Stanley Cup winners, the Tampa Bay Lightning, the St. Pete Times Forum is the epicenter for sporting events and concerts in downtown Tampa with seats for more than 20,000 and 80 luxury suites. The St. Pete Times Forum is continually ranked one of the top 10 concert venues in the U.S. by Pollstar Magazine.

Tampa Convention Center:  Named among the top 25 venues in the country for customer service, staff expertise, quality of meeting and exhibit space, location and food service, business gets done at the Tampa Convention Center. A favorite among meeting planners around the country, the center features beautiful water views, flexible meeting space and even a notable recycling and energy conservation program. With approximately 300 events hosted last year along with a combined 300,000 attendees, the convention center is in use 15 percent more than the national average, making it the perfect place to mix business with pleasure.

Tampa Riverwalk:  The Tampa Riverwalk creates a vibrant and interactive waterfront experience for residents and visitors that reflects the spirit and uniqueness of Tampa. The Tampa Riverwalk is a  2.1 miles stretch from Beneficial Boulevard all the way north into the River Arts District of downtown.  The Tampa Riverwalk offers a diversity of aqua-environments, attractions and experiences.

TECO Line Streetcar System:  In its heyday the streetcar was the pulse of the community. Today, electric streetcars are back and supporting growth in downtown. The southern terminus of the streetcar line is located at the intersection of Whiting and Franklin Streets. The rail line takes visitors to and from Ybor City along in historically-styled streetcars.

Tampa Bay History Center:  It is Hillsborough County government’s first “green building” and houses more than 12,000 years of powerful stories of Tampa’s history. Much of what shaped Florida in local, national and international arenas took place in the Tampa Bay area. The four-story museum boasts a stunning atrium, interactive and immersive exhibits, theaters, map galleries, a research center and an events hall.
 
District Fun Facts

  • The St. Pete Times Forum is continually ranked as one of the top venues for ticket sales by Pollstar Magazine both nationally and internationally.
  • The Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina is a constant winner for customer service by meeting-planning organizations throughout the country and by the Marriott Hotel Company.
  • Pull up a bar stool and enjoy the view from the Tampa Convention Center’s Sail Pavilion. Located on the water, Sail Pavilion offers a relaxing waterfront setting in which to unwind or have an evening meeting.
  • The Tampa Bay History Center is Hillsborough County's first truly "green designated" building.