Tampa International Airport (TPA) officials expect to see over 100,000 passengers March 9 and March 17, setting new daily records. TPA has already surpassed its single-day benchmark with 93,334 flyers Feb. 25. Officials are now preparing to accommodate 90,000-100,000 people every Saturday and Sunday throughout the 38-day spring break travel period.
Tampa Bay homeowners must earn nearly double what they made four years ago to afford a home in the 2024 housing market, Zillow reports.
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority has partnered with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg to provide race fans with a low-cost transit option. Attendees can receive discounted fares on all fixed routes, including the SunRunner. A three-day event pass is $10 in the Flamingo Fares App, and daily group passes are $3. For more information, visit the website here.
A recently released RentCafe report found an average of eight prospective renters compete for the same vacant apartment in Tampa Bay. The real estate platform’s research showed the region’s available rental units typically stay on the market for 40 days. The report states that 65.4% of renters chose to renew their lease in January, about 4% higher than the national average.
Opening Friday at the St. Pete Pier, the second annual, 5,000 square-foot "Rockin Roller Rink" will be open through April 14. Tickets include skate rentals and 75 minutes of skate time; upcoming DJ theme nights include Taylor Swift Day, '90s Party, Latin Night and more. All information can be found here.
Tampa-based Bloomin’ Brands, the parent company of Outback Steakhouse, Bonefish Grill and Carrabba’s Italian Grill, recently announced plans to shutter 41 underperforming locations nationwide. Company officials told WTSP that the only location closing in Tampa Bay is an Outback Steakhouse in Sarasota.
A new report found that Tampa Bay residents must earn $116,329 annually to comfortably afford a home. According to real estate platform Zillow, that number was just $58,577 in 2020. In addition, the report states it will take potential homebuyers earning the region’s median income 9.8 years to save for a 10% down payment.
Star wide receiver Mike Evans will remain a Tampa Bay Buccaneer after agreeing to a two-year, $52 million extension Monday, with $35 million guaranteed. ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news and said the $26 million annual salary is “the largest for a wide receiver this old on his third contract.” Multiple outlets reported Friday that Evans, 30, planned to test the NFL’s free agent market but was open to returning to Tampa Bay.
WeBull Corp., a St. Petersburg-based retail investing platform, is going public through a merger with SK Group, a Korean special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). The deal values WeBull at roughly $7.3 billion. The trading platform relocated its global headquarters to St. Pete in November 2022, and its shareholders will retain 98% ownership after the merger.
St. Petersburg recently ranked among the “Happiest Cities in America;” however, it placed 80th, 18 spots below Tampa and one spot behind Pittsburgh. Personal finance platform WalletHub compiled its annual list by analyzing 180 of the largest U.S. cities across 29 metrics, including depression rates, income growth and average daily leisure time. St. Pete placed No. 78 for emotional and physical well-being, No. 53 for income and employment and No. 90 in the community & environment rankings.
The Tampa Bay Rowdies have entered a partnership with WTOG TampaBay44 that will allow fans to watch all but one home match over the airwaves. According to the announcement, WTOG’s north-to-south reach spans from Hernando to Charlotte County and east to Orange County. The Rowdies’ April 27 matchup against New Mexico United will air exclusively on CBS Sports Network.
St. Petersburg-based Lonestar Data Holdings successfully transmitted data to and from the Moon, despite Intuitive Machines’ lunar lander, Odysseus, tipping on its side as it reached the surface. The local startup completed its three data transmission tests on its first mission - in space, in cislunar orbit and from the Moon’s surface. Odysseus powered down Thursday, one week after it became the first U.S. spacecraft to land on the Moon since 1972.
