Between today and the end of the year, the St. Pete Catalyst will publish a series of forward-looking interviews with prominent St. Petersburg residents - business leaders, politicians, educators, artists and those in the arts community, and more. Under the headline Catalyze 2022, each interview will focus on promises and desires for the year to come in our great city.
Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik plans to sell a minority stake in the team. Vinik, who bought the team for a reported $170 million in 2010, released a statement saying he will maintain control of Vinik Sports Group and daily operations will remain unchanged. “If and when the transaction is complete, I will comment further at that time,” said Vinik in the release. The minority partner remains unnamed.
A new report by PWC and Urban land institute ranks the Tampa/St. Petersburg metro as the No. 5 top real estate market of the year. Nashville claimed the top spot and Boston ranked as No. 10. The report was based on input from 1,600 people who work in real estate advisory, investing, lending or real estate development. The report indicates trends in the U.S. market especially from the impact of the pandemic. The pandemic accelerated the retail property decline with store closings and vacancies rising. There were few exceptions such as the grocery-anchored centers and home improvement retailers. The office sector changed from market to market. Meanwhile, vacation travel is bouncing back, creating more activity in the hospitality sector. See the full report here.
Tampa-based Lazydays (NASDAQ: LAZY), one of the nation’s largest RV retailers, has earned over $1 billion in annual revenue this year. "The past several years have brought rapid sales and earnings growth for Lazydays as we have expanded our footprint from four locations to 16. We want to thank and congratulate our customers, OEM partners, suppliers, shareholders and especially our Lazydays teammates for their support in achieving this exciting milestone," Lazydays Chairman and CEO Bill Murnane said in a news release.
Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled a $99.7 billion budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year that will include bonuses for teachers and $1 billion in gas tax relief. The budget, dubbed the “Freedom First Budget," includes $1.4 billion in funding for early child education, $2.7 billion in state operating funding for the State University System, and $226.7 million to provide raises for those working in public safety. Read the full list here.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady has been named Sports Illustrated’s 2021 Sportsman of the Year. The annual award, which began in 1954, is given to an athlete, coach or team that best embodies the spirit of sportsmanship, character and performance. “The quarterback earns this honor for the second time, 16 years after the first, for a year defined by victory in Super Bowl LV and - in the midst of an MVP-caliber encore - victory over time itself,” wrote Jon Wertham in announcing the award. Brady, 44, previously won the award in 2005 following his third Super Bowl victory with the New England Patriots.
St. Pete retailer Tombolo Books has announced its Top Ten bestselling titles for 2021, and two books published by St. Petersburg Press are included. No. 6 is Traveling St. Pete: A Girls Guide by Melanie Bowman and Meredith Gaunce. In the 8th spot is Vintage St. Pete: The Golden Age of Tourism - and More, by St. Pete Catalyst Senior Writer and Editor Bill DeYoung. Tombolo's top-selling book of the year was Matt Haig's novel The Midnight Library. St. Petersburg Press is owned by the St. Petersburg Group, which is an owner of the St. Pete Catalyst.
Carol Jenkins Barnett, the daughter of the founder of Publix, died at the age of 65 this week. Lakeland-based Publix Super Markets Inc. announced the departure of Barnett from the board in 2016 after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. She served as president of Publix Super Market Charities. Barnett's name can be seen throughout the region. Florida Southern College, where Barnett attended school, created the Carol Jenkins Barnett Center for Early Childhood Learning and Health. Most recently, Lakeland Regional Health established the Carol Jenkins Barnett Pavilion for Women and Children. A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Dec. 11 at the First United Methodist Church in Lakeland. The service will also be livestreamed online.
Tampa Bay Wave announced it received a $200,000 Neighborhood Builders' grant from Bank of America. The two-year grant will support programming expansion, as well as inviting Tampa Bay Wave CEO Linda Olson and Ramit Singh, director of startup and entrepreneurial programs, to join a leadership network of peer organizations from across the U.S. This funding will help Wave in fostering a diverse tech ecosystem, better representing minority-led and women-led startups. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast were also selected to receive the award.
Allegiant Air (NASDAQ: ALGT) will have new nonstop routes for spring vacation travel to West Virginia from St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport. The new route connecting travelers from Clarksburg, West Virginia, and St. Pete-Clearwater will begin March 11, according to Allegiant's Tuesday announcement.“These routes will connect our customers to premier destinations in Arizona and Florida just in time for Spring break,” said Drew Wells, Allegiant’s senior vice president of revenue and planning, in a statement. “Whether travelers are looking to explore the desert southwest or take in the beaches of Florida, we’ve got the flights for them – free from the hassle of stops and layovers – at a price they can afford.” Allegiant's one-way introductory fares on the new routes start at $49.
This year’s Gasparilla Bowl will decide bragging rights for the state of Florida, as the University of Florida (6-6) takes on the University of Central Florida (8-4) on Dec. 23 in Tampa. The game is Florida’s second at Raymond James this year after routing the University of South Florida 42-20 at its home stadium in September. If UF is victorious, they will close the 2021 season with wins over four in-state teams, a new state record. In addition to USF, UF has previously beaten Florida State and Florida Atlantic University. The last time UF and UCF met was in 2006, and the Gators shut out the Golden Knights 42-0. The teams recently agreed to play a three-game series beginning in 2024. The Gasparilla Bowl will be televised live on ESPN, beginning at 7 p.m.
Controversial Youtuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul will no longer face Tommy Fury in Tampa after Fury withdrew due to medical reasons. Paul and former UFC champion Tyron Woodley announced Monday morning that Woodley would take Fury’s place for the Dec. 18 bout at Amelie Arena. Fury (7-0) is WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury’s half-brother. He was also supposed to be Paul’s first opponent with previous boxing experience. Paul (4-0) beat Woodley (0-1) by split decision in August. Woodley has campaigned for a rematch since - even following through on a pre-fight bet by getting Paul’s name tattooed on his middle finger. Paul still declined the rematch and instead opted to fight Fury. Woodley, the first person to go the distance with Paul, will now get his chance for redemption. Showtime pay-per-view will stream the fight live.
