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We were so cocky, strolling into Tropicana Field 10 minutes before Saturday night's first pitch, spoiled by our easily obtained player bobbleheads and specialty jerseys at past Rays promotional games.

Not only were the light-up Trop replicas already gone — we'd missed the wave of giveaways by 40 minutes, a staffer told us.

Later that night, I checked eBay and saw that one had already sold for $75. More were up for bid, starting at $50. 

Why it matters: In this season that's both a homecoming and the start of a long goodbye, Trop nostalgia is at an all-time high. 

State of play: Fans were already lined up for Saturday's game before gates opened at 4:10pm, undeterred by the stormy weather. 

Heading to our seats empty-handed, my friend Brian (a Rays megafan and season ticket holder) and I (a kitsch enthusiast) eyed the yellow and blue boxes with cartoon villain levels of conniving: 

"I can take 'em," I said of an elderly couple who had the audacity to take one box each. (Two! For one household!) 

Half a beer later, liquid courage coursing through our veins, we started approaching people. 

"Not even close," a woman said to my fiancé after he offered to buy her a beer in exchange, and that became representative of our fruitless quest. Even a group of Giants fans turned us down.

The big picture: For a ballpark considered one of the worst in Major League Baseball, the Trop commands a strong fanbase in its own backyard.

"There are memories here," Tampa Bay Times editor Christian Blauvelt wrote in a recent love letter to the stadium. For a sampling, just look at the comments. 

It makes me think of my friend Brian's Trop tattoo. It shows the stadium, ringed by palm trees and rays of sunlight. "Another man's treasure," it reads, playing on the proverb. 

Tattoo on upper arm depicting a domed stadium with palm trees around its base; curved text above reads "ANOTHER MANS" and below "TREASURE".

Rays season ticket holder and friend of the newsletter Brian Jacoby's amazing Trop tattoo, by Jason Boyer of Webb's Tattoo in St. Pete. Photo: Kathryn Varn/Axios

What they're saying: That loyalty only strengthened after Hurricane Milton, Rays chief business officer Bill Walsh told Axios. 

"Now we've got this incredible comeback story," Walsh said, adding that the April 25 "Back in the 'Burg" T-shirt giveaway was also wildly popular. Some of those shirts, too, ended up on eBay.

That just further speaks to the fervor, he said. (It also doesn't break any giveaway rules, he said. Trust me. I asked.)

Back beneath the dome, the Rays were winning, but Brian and I were losing, still empty-handed. 

Walking back to our seats, a man ran up behind us. He heard we were in the market for some Trop replicas, and had two he was willing to sell for $25 each.

We bought them. Of course we did. "One man's trash," as they say. 

one of the worst in Major League Baseball

Tropicana Field nostalgia hits fever pitch

Saturday night's Rays game giveaway illustrated that Trop nostalgia is at an all-time high.

Split image: left shows Tropicana Field with an orange-lit circular ceiling and baseball diamond; right shows two fans in blue jerseys posing in the stands, smiling and holding a mini stadium model and a souvenir.

Scoring Saturday night's Rays game giveaway — a light-up replica of the Trop — required a fair amount of haggling. Photos: Kathryn Varn/Axios

We were so cocky, strolling into <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tropicana Field" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/04/03/rays-tropicana-field-return-what-to-know" data-vars-content-id="7d7206cf-3355-4fe2-a2b7-8fdd2ccd157b" data-vars-headline="Tropicana Field nostalgia hits fever pitch" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/04/03/rays-tropicana-field-return-what-to-know" target="_self">Tropicana Field</a> 10 minutes before Saturday night&#x27;s first pitch, spoiled by our easily obtained player bobbleheads and specialty jerseys at past <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rays promotional games" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/02/10/rays-promo-games-2026-tropicana-field-flappy-boi" data-vars-content-id="7d7206cf-3355-4fe2-a2b7-8fdd2ccd157b" data-vars-headline="Tropicana Field nostalgia hits fever pitch" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/02/10/rays-promo-games-2026-tropicana-field-flappy-boi" target="_self">Rays promotional games</a>.<ul><li>Not only were the light-up Trop replicas already gone — we&#x27;d missed the wave of giveaways by 40 minutes, a staffer told us.</li><li>Later that night, I checked eBay and saw that one had already sold for $75. More were up for bid, starting at $50. </li></ul>Why it matters: In this season that&#x27;s both a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="homecoming" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/04/07/rays-tropicana-field-return-home-opener" data-vars-content-id="7d7206cf-3355-4fe2-a2b7-8fdd2ccd157b" data-vars-headline="Tropicana Field nostalgia hits fever pitch" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/04/07/rays-tropicana-field-return-home-opener" target="_self">homecoming</a> and the start of a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="long goodbye" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/01/20/rays-plan-build-stadium-hillsborough-college" data-vars-content-id="7d7206cf-3355-4fe2-a2b7-8fdd2ccd157b" data-vars-headline="Tropicana Field nostalgia hits fever pitch" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/01/20/rays-plan-build-stadium-hillsborough-college" target="_self">long goodbye</a>, Trop nostalgia is at an all-time high.

Sports

Miami

Axios Miami

Friday marks the first day of turtle nesting season in Tampa Bay — that time of year when our beaches become runways for newborn hatchlings making their daring escapes into the sea.

Why it matters: Local governments are enforcing rules against bright lights near the beach and protecting nests, and turtle lovers are watching.

Concerns over sea turtle welfare were among those raised by environmentalists about a country music festival planned for St. Pete Beach and a proposed film shoot at Fort De Soto Park.  

Country Thunder Florida relocated off the beach, and producers of the TV Adaptation of "A Land Remembered" backed out of the shoot.

How it works: Hundreds of nests are laid each year on Pinellas County beaches. They're marked off with stakes, neon tape and a sign advising the public to stay away.

The area's most common nester is the loggerhead sea turtle, but occasionally green and Kemp's ridley — the smallest and most endangered sea turtle species in the world — make appearances.

And last year, Clearwater Marine Aquarium patrollers documented the county's first leatherback nest. 

During the season, biologists with the aquarium check for turtle nests every day across 21 miles from Caladesi Island to Treasure Island. Sea Turtle Trackers monitors St. Pete Beach, Shell Key Preserve and Outback Key off Fort De Soto. 

Stunning stat: Each nest will have about 100 hatchlings that make their way to the ocean.

One out of 1,000 hatchlings survives to adulthood, underscoring the need for conservation efforts.

A small sea turtle with a brown, patterned shell swims in blue ocean water, surrounded by white foamy waves and bubbles.

A loggerhead hatchling. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Threat level: Artificial light can disorient nesting adults and hatchlings, who may mistake it for the moon's reflection on the ocean.

The FWC encourages those living along or visiting the beach to turn off porch, parking or deck lights when not in use and close curtains after dark.

Holes in the sand, such as those made while building sandcastles, and furniture left on the beach overnight can also act as obstacles for hatchlings trying to make it to the water.

If you see a nesting sea turtle or hatchling, keep your distance, keep all lights off and report any emergencies to FWC. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium also has a rescue hotline at 727-441-1790 ext. 1.

How to watch: The Clearwater Marine Aquarium will offer ridealongs with turtle patrollers starting May 4 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

What's next: The season runs through Oct. 31.

Sea turtle nesting season returns to Tampa Bay beaches

Each nest can produce 100 hatchlings, but few survive, making protections critical.

Beach scene with calm blue sea. Two green ATVs parked near the water; a man in red shirt and shorts and a woman in gray walk along the shore. Yellow posts and pink rope form a barrier around a nest in the sand.

A marked-off sea turtle nest. Photo: Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Friday marks the first day of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="turtle nesting" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2022/09/26/florida-sea-turtles-nesting-season" data-vars-content-id="a72c2556-d211-4879-b6dd-d221bae67e84" data-vars-headline="Sea turtle nesting season returns to Tampa Bay beaches" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2022/09/26/florida-sea-turtles-nesting-season" target="_self">turtle nesting</a> season in Tampa Bay — that time of year when our beaches become runways for newborn hatchlings making their daring escapes into the sea.Why it matters: Local governments are enforcing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rules" data-vars-click-url="https://myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/lighting/ordinances/" data-vars-content-id="a72c2556-d211-4879-b6dd-d221bae67e84" data-vars-headline="Sea turtle nesting season returns to Tampa Bay beaches" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/lighting/ordinances/" target="_blank">rules</a> against bright lights near the beach and protecting nests, and turtle lovers are watching.<ul><li>Concerns over sea turtle welfare were among those raised by environmentalists about a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="country music festival" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/04/09/country-thunder-florida-st-pete-beach-permits-sea-turtles" data-vars-content-id="a72c2556-d211-4879-b6dd-d221bae67e84" data-vars-headline="Sea turtle nesting season returns to Tampa Bay beaches" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/04/09/country-thunder-florida-st-pete-beach-permits-sea-turtles" target="_self">country music festival</a> planned for St. Pete Beach and a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="proposed film shoot" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/04/10/fort-de-soto-a-land-remembered-tv-series" data-vars-content-id="a72c2556-d211-4879-b6dd-d221bae67e84" data-vars-headline="Sea turtle nesting season returns to Tampa Bay beaches" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/04/10/fort-de-soto-a-land-remembered-tv-series" target="_self">proposed film shoot</a> at Fort De Soto Park. </li><li>Country Thunder Florida <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="relocated off the beach" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/04/14/country-thunder-moves-to-clearwaters-coachman-park" data-vars-content-id="a72c2556-d211-4879-b6dd-d221bae67e84" data-vars-headline="Sea turtle nesting season returns to Tampa Bay beaches" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/04/14/country-thunder-moves-to-clearwaters-coachman-park" target="_self">relocated off the beach</a>, and producers of the TV Adaptation of &quot;A Land Remembered&quot; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="backed out of the shoot" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/04/15/a-land-remembered-fort-de-soto-fiming-canceled" data-vars-content-id="a72c2556-d211-4879-b6dd-d221bae67e84" data-vars-headline="Sea turtle nesting season returns to Tampa Bay beaches" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/04/15/a-land-remembered-fort-de-soto-fiming-canceled" target="_self">backed out of the shoot</a>.</li></ul>How it works: Hundreds of nests are laid each year on Pinellas County beaches. They&#x27;re marked off with stakes, neon tape and a sign advising the public to stay away.<ul><li>The area&#x27;s most common nester is the loggerhead sea turtle, but occasionally <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="green" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/2020/11/16/green-sea-turtle-nests-found-in-pinellas-county-for-first-time-in-years/" data-vars-content-id="a72c2556-d211-4879-b6dd-d221bae67e84" data-vars-headline="Sea turtle nesting season returns to Tampa Bay beaches" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/2020/11/16/green-sea-turtle-nests-found-in-pinellas-county-for-first-time-in-years/" target="_blank">green</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kemp&#x27;s ridley" data-vars-click-url="https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/reptiles/sea-turtles/kemps-ridley/" data-vars-content-id="a72c2556-d211-4879-b6dd-d221bae67e84" data-vars-headline="Sea turtle nesting season returns to Tampa Bay beaches" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/reptiles/sea-turtles/kemps-ridley/" target="_blank">Kemp&#x27;s ridley</a> — the smallest and most endangered sea turtle species in the world — make appearances.</li><li>And last year, Clearwater Marine Aquarium patrollers documented the county&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="first leatherback nest" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=887221826794178" data-vars-content-id="a72c2556-d211-4879-b6dd-d221bae67e84" data-vars-headline="Sea turtle nesting season returns to Tampa Bay beaches" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=887221826794178" target="_blank">first leatherback nest</a>. </li><li>During the season, biologists with the aquarium check for turtle nests every day across 21 miles from Caladesi Island to Treasure Island. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Sea Turtle Trackers" data-vars-click-url="https://seaturtletrackers.org/learn/what-we-are-doing/" data-vars-content-id="a72c2556-d211-4879-b6dd-d221bae67e84" data-vars-headline="Sea turtle nesting season returns to Tampa Bay beaches" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://seaturtletrackers.org/learn/what-we-are-doing/" target="_blank">Sea Turtle Trackers</a> monitors St. Pete Beach, Shell Key Preserve and Outback Key off Fort De Soto. </li></ul>Stunning stat: Each nest will have about 100 hatchlings that make their way to the ocean.<ul><li>One out of 1,000 hatchlings survives to adulthood, underscoring the need for conservation efforts.</li></ul><figure><img alt="A small sea turtle with a brown, patterned shell swims in blue ocean water, surrounded by white foamy waves and bubbles." height="1869" id="82ef6ae9-9b77-4603-90b6-96e682c22232" src="https://images.axios.com/qafNyuj_o4xZYTcQXJo6PwPF1s8=/2026/04/29/1777492932452.jpeg" width="3000"/><figcaption>A loggerhead hatchling. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>Threat level: Artificial light can disorient nesting adults and hatchlings, who may mistake it for the moon&#x27;s reflection on the ocean.<ul><li>The FWC encourages those living along or visiting the beach to turn off porch, parking or deck lights when not in use and close curtains after dark.</li><li><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Holes in the sand" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/seaturtletrackers/posts/pfbid0879rmUwFJ7ipJaWGfugW5yqtToNBWDMtLqCuxLCZaBEvYGBz191S1WkdqwpKe4bal" data-vars-content-id="a72c2556-d211-4879-b6dd-d221bae67e84" data-vars-headline="Sea turtle nesting season returns to Tampa Bay beaches" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/seaturtletrackers/posts/pfbid0879rmUwFJ7ipJaWGfugW5yqtToNBWDMtLqCuxLCZaBEvYGBz191S1WkdqwpKe4bal" target="_blank">Holes in the sand</a>, such as those made while building sandcastles, and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="furniture left on the beach overnight" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/ClearwaterMarineAquarium/posts/pfbid02iUthnAUgBLWyu5E2uXF6i8qzmMekyf9k94bvD44dH7mG4aH9uGEPCseyKVn43jwPl" data-vars-content-id="a72c2556-d211-4879-b6dd-d221bae67e84" data-vars-headline="Sea turtle nesting season returns to Tampa Bay beaches" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/ClearwaterMarineAquarium/posts/pfbid02iUthnAUgBLWyu5E2uXF6i8qzmMekyf9k94bvD44dH7mG4aH9uGEPCseyKVn43jwPl" target="_blank">furniture left on the beach overnight</a> can also act as obstacles for hatchlings trying to make it to the water.</li><li>If you see a nesting sea turtle or hatchling, keep your distance, keep all lights off and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report any emergencies to FWC" data-vars-click-url="https://myfwc.com/research/wildlife/sea-turtles/mortality/contact/" data-vars-content-id="a72c2556-d211-4879-b6dd-d221bae67e84" data-vars-headline="Sea turtle nesting season returns to Tampa Bay beaches" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://myfwc.com/research/wildlife/sea-turtles/mortality/contact/" target="_blank">report any emergencies to FWC</a>. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium also has a rescue hotline at 727-441-1790 ext. 1.</li></ul>How to watch: The Clearwater Marine Aquarium will offer ridealongs with turtle patrollers starting May 4 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.<ul><li><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tickets" data-vars-click-url="https://visit.cmaquarium.org/#/Admissionlist/SeaTurtleVIPRA" data-vars-content-id="a72c2556-d211-4879-b6dd-d221bae67e84" data-vars-headline="Sea turtle nesting season returns to Tampa Bay beaches" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://visit.cmaquarium.org/#/Admissionlist/SeaTurtleVIPRA" target="_blank">Tickets</a> are $99.95 per person.</li></ul>What&#x27;s next: The season runs through Oct. 31.

News

Environment

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Things to Do

Move over, pickleball. A hot new racquet sport is on the rise in Tampa Bay.

Why it matters: Padel, often described as a mix of squash and tennis, is growing in the U.S., with Florida as the epicenter, according to the International Padel Federation.

While the sport first took off in Miami, it's begun to pop up at clubs in Tampa and St. Petersburg.

The big picture: Padel, invented in Mexico in 1969, is played with a deflated tennis ball and perforated paddles on a shrunken tennis court enclosed within glass walls.

It's played by more than 35 million people around the world and is especially popular in Spain, Italy and Argentina.

While participation in the U.S. still pales in comparison, the sport has seen explosive growth from about 230 courts and 90,000 players in 2023 to more than a thousand courts and a million players in recent months.

Zoom in: Tampa Bay got an early taste of the sport in 2023, when the Pro Padel League kicked off its inaugural season at the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center in Zephyrhills.

The club and academy was ahead of the curve when it opened in 2020 with four padel courts.

Luxury padel operator Ace Padel was set to open its first club in Tampa, but the plans were derailed by "environmental issues," the Sports Business Journal reported. The company has since pivoted to Miami.

Last year, Tampa social club The Stovall House opened two padel courts at its members-only fitness amenity, SH19. 

The latest: St. Pete got its first two padel courts this month as part of pickleball and social club St. Pete Athletic's 20,000-square-foot expansion.  

Courts are also on the way to Carrollwood via Flapjack Social, a pickleball and padel facility set to open this year. 

Friction point: While padel is often compared to U.S.-born pickleball, it has more barriers to entry and expansion. 

It's more physically demanding. And unlike pickleball, which can be easily played on re-lined tennis courts, padel courts are more expensive to install.

It's also more expensive to play. While cities including St. Pete and Tampa offer free pickleball courts at public parks, padel's growth has so far mostly been in clubs with membership or access fees.

The Washington Post described padel as "pickleball's posher, privileged cousin" in a 2024 article delving into the sport's proliferation among the super-rich, particularly in South Florida.

How to play: Courts at St. Pete Athletic and the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center are open to non-club members for a fee. 

Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center

Tampa Bay joins Florida padel boom with new courts, clubs

The sport is growing across the U.S., with the Sunshine State as the epicenter.

Split image: left view of an indoor padel court with green turf and glass walls; right close-up of a teal padel racket with a bright yellow ball on it.

On left, St. Pete Athletic's padel courts. On right, a branded padel racket. Photos: Courtesy of St. Pete Athletic

Move over, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pickleball" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/08/27/pickleball-clubs-st-pete-tampa-largo" data-vars-content-id="bbfe4db6-dfa3-4ac2-82aa-97802c4c09f4" data-vars-headline="Tampa Bay joins Florida padel boom with new courts, clubs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2025/08/27/pickleball-clubs-st-pete-tampa-largo" target="_self">pickleball</a>. A hot new racquet sport is on the rise in Tampa Bay.Why it matters: Padel, often described as a mix of squash and tennis, is growing in the U.S., with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Florida as the epicenter" data-vars-click-url="https://www.padelfip.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/FIP-WPR-2025_DIGITAL.pdf" data-vars-content-id="bbfe4db6-dfa3-4ac2-82aa-97802c4c09f4" data-vars-headline="Tampa Bay joins Florida padel boom with new courts, clubs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.padelfip.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/FIP-WPR-2025_DIGITAL.pdf" target="_blank">Florida as the epicenter</a>, according to the International Padel Federation.

St. Petersburg leaders are headed back to the drawing board in search of a new management group to run the Mahaffey Theater.

Why it matters: Officials rejected the sole proposal submitted through a competitive bid process, leaving the city to take over theater operations for the first time in two decades.

State of play: After contract extension negotiations fell apart last year, 15-year operator Bill Edwards is set to depart May 10. 

Edwards declined to put his name in the ring to continue running the theater, instead opting to terminate his contract five months early.

City officials turned their attention to the sole pitch, from St. Petersburg Arts Partners, a group helmed by St. Pete Catalyst publisher Joe Hamilton and his firm, the St. Petersburg Group. 

It listed Vinik Sports Group, Live Nation and venue management firm Oak View Group as partners but lacked formalized agreements with those collaborators. 

Friction point: That was ultimately why members of a city evaluation committee rejected the proposal during a meeting on Monday.

"I am concerned, as others have said, about what feels like a loose arrangement at this point," director of asset management Philip Lazzara said. 

The intrigue: That didn't sit right with Hamilton, who told Axios he asked Mayor Ken Welch's office to review the evaluation process.

"It would be very hard to look at this group who came together to lift up our Mahaffey — you'd have to try hard to tear it apart, and I think that's exactly what they did," he said.

He emphasized his pitch brought together the region's biggest names in entertainment, including David Harb, who formerly held leadership positions with Live Nation and the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheater in Tampa.

Harb confirmed his involvement to Axios and said the city's decision "doesn't just miss the moment. It shows the process is broken."

The other side: City spokesperson Samantha Bequer said in a statement that committee members gave the group multiple opportunities to address their concerns.

"Under the current proposal, there was no guarantee" that negotiations between the parties would lead to formal partnerships, she said.

What's next: City staff will seek feedback from industry leaders, then issue a new request for proposals, Bequer said.

St. Petersburg rejects Mahaffey Theater proposal, restarts search

City to take over theater operations for the first time in two decades.

Sunny day at a waterfront campus: beige glass-front building with palm trees along a promenade, calm water in the foreground, blue sky, and a few parked cars.

The Duke Energy Center for the Arts — Mahaffey Theater in downtown St. Petersburg. Photo: Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

St. Petersburg leaders are headed back to the drawing board in search of a new management group to run the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mahaffey Theater" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/03/13/mahaffey-theater-st-pete-bill-edwards-leaving" data-vars-content-id="f9c25a5f-ff05-4b21-bedc-ecb929177885" data-vars-headline="St. Petersburg rejects Mahaffey Theater proposal, restarts search" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/03/13/mahaffey-theater-st-pete-bill-edwards-leaving" target="_self">Mahaffey Theater</a>.Why it matters: Officials rejected the sole proposal submitted through a competitive bid process, leaving the city to take over theater operations for the first time in two decades.

Kathryn Varn

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