🫡 Good Tuesday morning to you.

🌧️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny then scattered showers and thunderstorms, with a high of 90 and a low of 76.

Sounds like: "Ghost in the Machine," SZA, feat. Phoebe Bridgers

🎂 Happy birthday to our member Jeri Schaller!

📬 Enjoying the newsletter? Consider becoming a member and further support our work.

This newsletter is 1,060 words, a 4-minute read.

The Florida Orchestra is on track to become the next operator of St. Petersburg's Mahaffey Theater.

Why it matters: The arrangement would give the orchestra a home base, resolving concerns over the future of the cultural institution.

• But it also skips a second round of bidding despite interest from entertainment players including Vinik Sports Group, Live Nation and Ruth Eckerd Hall.

State of play: Under the proposed arrangement, the orchestra would help oversee programming and handle artistic direction of its own performances while VenuWorks would handle day-to-day operations, orchestra leaders announced last week.

• VenuWorks is an employee-owned venue management firm that runs more than 60 performing arts centers, arenas and outdoor plazas across the country.
• The firm "will focus entirely on the Mahaffey in this market, with no conflict of interest from managing multiple venues here," orchestra spokesperson Kelly Smith said.

Catch up quick: The city has been running the Mahaffey since May, when the late developer and philanthropist Bill Edwards departed from the helm after 15 years.

• City officials weren't satisfied with the sole response to a request for proposals to take over operations and said they'd put it back out to bid.
• That didn't happen, and the Tampa Bay Times reported at the end of July that the city was in talks with the orchestra.

Between the lines: While government contracts typically go out to bid, city code exempts the Mahaffey Theater from such requirements.

• Still, Tampa Bay Lightning parent company Vinik Sports Group last month sent a 23-page pitch to run the theater for an initial five years with an annual management fee starting at $200,000, among other terms.
• Live Nation's Aug. 5 proposal included a pledge to invest $2.5 million over five years into facility improvements and called for a $300,000-per-year management fee.
• Ruth Eckerd Hall sent the city a letter of interest Aug. 7, while Legacy Management Systems, run by Brian Ligon, sent a proposal this month.

Zoom in: A draft term sheet with the orchestra, dated Aug. 11, calls for a three-year term with two one-year options for renewal.

• The city would pay an annual management fee of $240,000 and another $438,000 per year for facility improvements.
• The orchestra would pay the first $325,000 of maintenance and repair costs, with the city to kick in after that.
• The draft terms also state that the city will pursue $20 million in tax increment and tourist development funding for a "major renovation."

What's next: The agreement will have to go before the City Council for approval.

• City spokesperson Samantha Bequer told Axios there isn't an exact date yet but that "it should be soon."

Share this story

The Tampa Theatre is set to reopen next month, just in time for its 100th birthday.

Why it matters: A weeklong slate of events offer residents and fans a chance to see the results of a $30-million renovation, including the restoration of the Historic Duncan Auditorium and its famous starry night sky.

State of play: The events kick off Oct. 10 with a party and screening of "Clue" for theater members (and it's not too late to become one, the event page notes). The rest of the week is open to the public:

• Sunday, Oct. 11: Public open house from 1-5pm, with remarks from CEO George Levesque at 3pm. Volunteers and staff will be on hand to answer questions and give mini tours. This event isn't ticketed; just show up.
• Monday, Oct. 12: Screening of "Casablanca" at 7pm. Tickets ($13 for general admission, plus a $2 fee when purchased online).
• Tuesday, Oct. 13: Screening of "The Wizard of Oz" at 7pm. Tickets.
• Wednesday, Oct. 14: Screening of "A Night at the Opera" at 7pm. Tickets.

Of note: A Roaring 20s-themed Centennial Celebration planned for Thursday, Oct. 15, was sold out by Monday, spokesperson Jill Witecki told Axios.

Tell a friend

🚗 The Rays' new stadium plans could eliminate as many as 3,000 parking spaces used for nearby Raymond James Stadium, per economic development expert John Boyd. (Fox 13)

🛬 TPA has been nominated for Best Large Airport in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards. It has won that honor for two consecutive years. (Press release)

• It's also been nominated for Best Airport for Dining. Two of its restaurants, Café by Mise en Place and Cigar City Brewing, are up for Best Airport Sit-Down Restaurant.

💰Jesuit High School recently announced the largest donation in its history: a $10 million estate gift from Dr. Manuel Mon, the Tampa school's 1968 valedictorian. (Tampa Bay Times)

Your thoughts on AI posters were just as divided as the debates playing out in social media comment sections.

Here's what y'all had to say:

• "I'm a graphic designer/art director. It's maddening! ... It's like everyone wants design. Where were all these clowns when real people were (are) available?! If you love design, use a designer!!" -Lynn L.
• "I think flyers are probably the best use I have seen for AI." -Sharon C.
• "Visually AI sucks, especially the now-standard restaurant ads so crowded with words, pictures and exclamation points that I gloss right over them. ... I am in my '70s and glad I won't be around in 20 years or so when nobody knows how to write or draw." -Sharon T.
• "I have no problem with business owners using AI posters, but they can certainly work harder to improve them ... by using better prompts and making your posters look more original and a better representation of the culture of your business." -Gene S.
• "Personally, I tip my cap to the resourcefulness of using tech to quickly create an eye-catching image that brings in more customers to your venue. Strategic advantage." -Roland S.
  

🍄‍🟫 Kathryn is still thinking about the mushroom omelette she got over the weekend from Eat Art Love.

👋 Yacob is back from a day off for Yom Kippur.

Follow us on Instagram.

This newsletter was edited by Jeff Weiner.