FloridaHomesMag.com | 35
NEWS
Sun Coast
T
The University of South Florida
will serve as the host school for the
NCAA Women's Final Four at Amalie
Arena in April 2015. The city first
hosted the basketball Final Four in
2008. Tampa will also host the men's
hockey Frozen Four for the second time in 2016 and the col-
lege football national title game at Raymond James Stadium
in 2017. The 2012 Frozen Four reportedly generated more
than $10 million in consumer spending in hospitality and
tourism. "The economic impact [for Tampa] is significant,"
said Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan. While
developments in the Tampa Bay area continue to offer ex-
citing opportunities for the city, the tourism board is looking
to expand opportunities to fill its calendar."
Alliance Partners HSP LLC has
purchased the 39-story Tampa City
Center in two deeded transactions
totaling $117.73 million. Tenants in-
clude Cushman & Wakefield, Merrill
Lynch, University Club, Bank of
Tampa, Florida Bank, Ernst & Young,
PNC Bank, Verizon and Northwest
Mutual Insurance Co.
The Tampa Innovation Center is
moving its office from Largo to
downtown St. Pete. The non-profit
entrepreneur company hopes to
assist in building businesses in Pinellas
County. Its most recent initiative is
an an incubator project called TEC
Garage provides rental offices and
mentoring to entrepreneurs for a
nominal fee.
Tampa International Airport
announced an increase
in passenger traffic and
revenue. With a 53%
increase in international
traffic since 2010, the aviation
authority's fiscal picture is
seeing record numbers.
