Worldwide soccer fans are descending upon Tampa to watch Lionel Messi and Inter Miami face off against Orlando City Soccer Club at Raymond James Stadium in a preseason match Friday evening. Miami’s coach confirmed that Messi, and all starters, will see “as many minutes as possible.” Ron Higgins, executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, noted that “very few people get an opportunity to be in the stands to see the greatest player of all time … right here in our hometown.”
CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas will offer “opportunity youth,” those aged 16 to 24 who are disconnected from school and work, paid summer employment, career exploration and professional development workshops. Participants will earn $15 an hour for up to 20 hours weekly over the six-week program. Pinellas youth can access Summer Jobs Initiative applications at the website here. Employers can access program information at the website here.
The United Soccer League (USL), home of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, has announced plans to launch a Division One men’s professional soccer league in 2027. The Rowdies play in the USL Championship, a Division Two league. Alec Papadakis, CEO of the Tampa-based USL, called establishing a Division One league a “bold step forward” that will expand access to “top-tier competition” and strengthen the sport’s global brand.
According to real estate platform Redfin, year-over-year rents in the Tampa Bay metro area decreased by 8.2% in January due to a surge in supply. However, the median monthly rent is over $1,700, and the average annual income is nearly $15,000 less than the amount needed to afford those prices ($69,400). The national median rent was $1,599, a .1% decrease from January 2024.
St. Petersburg-based Duke Energy Florida announced Wednesday that customers would likely not notice lower rates in January due to cold temperatures. According to the utility, St. Petersburg residents used about 187% more energy for heat in January than they did in December, and 71% more year-over-year. Duke also highlighted financial assistance and savings programs.
Cynthia Erivo, the Academy Award-nominated star of Wicked, will perform with The Florida Orchestra May 2 at the Mahaffey Theater, and May 3 at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Erivo, who won Tony and Grammy Awards for her portrayal of Celie in The Color Purple, will perform songs made famous by other female vocalists. Michael Francis will conduct the orchestra. Tickets go on sale Feb. 19 for TFO subscribers, and Feb. 25 to the general public.
The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area has jumped eight spots in Wallethub’s latest “Cities with the Biggest Inflation Problems” rankings. The personal finance platform, citing Bureau of Labor Statistics data, noted Tampa Bay’s consumer price index increased by 2.3% year-over-year and 1.2% in the past two months. The metro area's year-over-year increase was 1.6% in January. Chicago's yearly inflation rate paced the nation at 4.3%.
Pinellas County Schools (PCS) are hosting Listen and Learn Community Connection Sessions this spring. The sessions give staff, families, and community members opportunities to learn about district initiatives, ask questions, share their thoughts, and meet district leaders. Learn more at this link.
Savoir On Central, a new membership wine club, will open in St. Petersburg’s Grand Central District next month. According to its website, Savoir will offer continuous educational events and members will receive exclusive access to wines selected by Sommelier Sharon Mahoney. The establishment at 2531 Central Ave. will also serve gourmet coffee, “delectable” bites and private group space.
The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce will formally introduce its new CEO, former Pinellas County Commissioner Charlie Justice, to the community Feb. 26. The introduction is part of the organization’s “Positive Progress” annual celebration from 5:30 p.m. through 8 p.m. at the TradeWinds Resort. For more information, visit the website here.
CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas has relaunched an initiative to help local veterans identify specialized career advancement opportunities. The Veterans Networking Group will meet on the second Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m. until noon at 9215 N. Florida Ave. in Tampa. Programming is also open to National Guard and Reserve service members and eligible spouses seeking new careers. To register, visit the website here.
Visit St. Pete-Clearwater has partnered with the Tampa Bay Lightning to increase exposure in markets like New York, Detroit, Toronto, Chicago and Boston. The visitor bureau’s prominent branding will appear on away team broadcasts for each Lightning home game. The partnership also includes social media, sweepstakes and newsletter collaborations.
