Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling, a St. Petersburg native and Lakewood High School graduate, caught a 32-yard pass with just over two minutes remaining in the AFC Championship game to help secure a win. Kansa City’s 17-10 victory Sunday over the Baltimore Ravens secured a spot in the Feb. 11 Super Bowl. The Chiefs will face the San Francisco 49ers for the NFL championship.
St. Petersburg native Bert Kreischer announced Saturday that he will tape his latest Netflix comedy special at the Mahaffey Theater July 6 as he concludes his “Tops Off World Tour.” The 2024 Gasparilla grand marshal will perform a 7 and 9:30 p.m. show at the downtown waterfront theater. Tickets to the live taping will go on sale to the general public Friday, Feb. 2, through ticketmaster.com.
The EDGE Business District Association is partnering with the Downtown Business Association of St. Petersburg to host a Sunset Sale Wednesday, Jan. 31. The shopping event will feature nearly a dozen local boutiques with discounts and deals beginning at sunset (about 6:10 p.m., according to organizers) and running until 8 p.m.
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) officials announced that 48,044 people attended the Royal Rumble Saturday night at Tropicana Field. The record-breaking crowd surpassed the 47,150 who watched a New Kids on the Block concert at the St. Petersburg venue in August 1990. The Tampa Bay Rays' inaugural game in March 1998 set the previous benchmark for a sporting event with 45,369 attendees.
Gasparilla revelers will receive 50% off Florida Aquarium tickets for every five-gallon bucket of recycled beads they bring to the facility. The release notes that the trinkets are harmful to wildlife and that throwing beads into waterways is illegal. The MacDonald Training Center, a nonprofit that provides workforce training for adults with disabilities, will sanitize and repackage the beads for reuse at future events. For more information, visit the website here.
Pinellas County Government is now accepting applications for its Home Repair Loan Program, which allows residents to borrow up to $55,000 without accruing interest. In addition, officials have increased the Independent Living Grant for accessibility improvements to $20,000. The programs are available in unincorporated Pinellas and most cities, excluding Belleair, Largo, Clearwater and St. Petersburg, which provide similar assistance. For more information, visit the website here.
Greystar Real Estate Partners is now preleasing apartments in St. Petersburg’s Marlowe Gateway development near the Raymond James Financial campus. The community features 412 units, with 20% dedicated to those earning below 120% of area median income. Greystar officials expect Marlowe Gateway, located at 2790 Grand Ave., to open this summer.
Sunday at 2 p.m., the US Coast Guard will hold its annual memorial service for those who died Jan. 28, 1980 when the cutter Blackthorn sank in Tampa Bay. It’s at the Blackthorn Memorial, at the Pinellas rest area on the north end of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The public may attend. The story of the Blackthorn tragedy (click to read).
Single-day general admission tickets to the 20th annual Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday. Children aged 5 to 12 can also participate in the new Rookie Racers program, which provides immersive behind-the-scenes experiences and a “special membership kit.” The Grand Prix will take over downtown streets from March 8th through 10th. For more information, visit the website here.
Tampa Bay Times officials announced Thursday that they expect to pay $950,000 to resolve a class action lawsuit that accused its publisher of sharing customer data with Facebook. Online subscribers allege that the Times disclosed their identities and video viewing histories through a code embedded on tampabay.com. CEO Conan Gallaty maintained the company’s innocence and said the company settled to avoid a prolonged and expensive trial.
Dave Canales is leaving the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after one season to become the head coach of the Carolina Panthers, an NFC South rival. While Canales has no head coaching experience, and 2023 was his first season calling plays, he is widely credited for helping turn around quarterback Baker Mayfield’s career. Offensive coordinator is a key role for the Bucs, as Todd Bowles is a defensive-minded head coach.
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) will increase its service Saturday to accommodate the 40,000 people expected to attend World Wrestling Entertainment’s (WWE) Royal Rumble at Tropicana Field. The agency will have 11 buses available and provide free shuttle service through the Downtown Looper. The Flamingo Fares app will also offer $3 unlimited rides and group promotions.
