Written by: Porter Sherman, University of Tampa, CL ’26 & Luana Laguna, University of South Florida, CL ‘26
As college students and early career professionals, we spend so much time chasing the next big professional opportunity that we forget something just as important: the quality of the lives we’re building. On Friday, March 6th, 2026, Collegiate Leadership of the Tampa Bay Chamber Class of 2026 held their Arts, Entertainment, Hospitality, and Sports Day. We explored how these sectors shape Tampa’s identity, strengthen community, and create opportunities besides leisure. The biggest insight that stayed with me was how deeply these experiences influence a city’s sense of belonging.
We kicked off the day with the “Live! From The Mark” discussion at Cigar City Taproom at Benchmark International Arena, where we heard from professionals working for the Vinik Sports Group and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Our speakers included Travis Pelleymounter, Rachel Rodrigues De Oliveira, and Angelina Leto. The panel gave a behind-the-scenes look at how revenue generation and fan experience are connected especially through ticket sales strategies and in-game production. What stood out most was how much effort goes into creating an engaging environment for fans throughout the entirety of an actual game to lead up to the event. As well as the fact that it is always changing and requires them to think fast and on the fly. They also told us their stories about starting in the industry, and made an overarching point to take the time to connect with as many people as possible, and work as hard as you can at whatever task you are assigned. Overall, this discussion showed that success in sports and the work that goes on is not always as glamorous as what you see on the field or ice, but how hard work and the strategy behind business operations and customer experience plays a role.
After such an inspiring start, we headed to Tampa Marriott Water Street for a tour of their amazing facilities, where we learned about how the hotel prepares for major citywide events like Gasparilla and the Super Bowl, or weddings and conferences. Seeing the scale of coordination required showed how invisible hospitality work becomes when it’s done well. We then heard from Don Barnes, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, and Brittny Bevel from the Tampa Museum of Art. Don shared how Gasparilla has shaped Tampa’s identity since 1904 and now is one of the top three largest parades in the country, generating nearly $200 million in revenue for the city. Brittny discussed the importance of art in being a catalyst for conversation. Art institutions can serve as the foundation for guiding people through different perspectives and building relationships.
At Stageworks Theatre we continued an interesting discussion regarding the different impacts of the arts in our lives. We heard from Summer Bohenkamp, CMO at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, who brought the perspective of the arts as a business with real financial impact ($150 million from the Straz Center alone), and shared that having artistic institutions can even increase property values in an area. Karla Hartley, President & Producing Artistic Director at Stageworks Theatre, spoke about theatre as one of the last truly shared experiences between people in a digital world. It builds community, encourages critical thinking and empathy, and a lot of times takes you out of your comfort zone. Dawn Truax, the Director of Education at Stageworks Theatre, highlighted the neurological and therapeutic benefits of simply witnessing or participating in creative activities. What resonated most was the idea that arts and entertainment are essential factors in improving the quality of life of a city and its people. In a moment when arts funding is being cut across the state, it is important to show up for the institutions that make that possible.
Next, we travelled to the USL team located in Tampa, The Tampa Bay Rowdies Training Facility. At the facility, “The Starting Lineup: Tampa’s Sports Leaders Panel” brought together leaders from across the Tampa Bay sports landscape, including Yanna Boutzoukas from the Tampa Bay Rays, Desiree Phelps from Tampa Bay Sun FC, and Jeff Attinella of the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Each speaker shared insight into how their organizations operate, market, and grow within an increasingly competitive sports market. A key takeaway was the importance of adaptability and collaboration not only within organizations, but across the entire Tampa Bay sports ecosystem, and how interconnected everybody truly is. Hearing directly from these leaders highlighted for our class how Tampa’s success as a sports market is driven in a collective effort driven by innovation, community engagement, and a commitment to elevating the fan experience.
The day concluded with an Overview of Tourism in Tampa led by Sherri Brown from Visit Tampa Bay, which is our city's CVB or Convention & Visitors Bureau. This talk really tied together everything we had experienced throughout the day. She emphasized how tourism serves as the backbone connecting sports, arts, entertainment, and hospitality, driving both economic impact to the city, and growing the community. Whether it is a large-scale sporting event or another experience, Tampa has made itself as a year round destination for visitors. I was shocked by how much money Visit Tampa Bay brings in for the city via economic impact, and I don’t think a lot of people really understand what they do. What stood out most was how intentional the city is in creating not just events, but memorable experiences that keep people coming back. It reinforced the idea that tourism is not just about attracting visitors but setting our city up for long term growth.
Overall, one of the biggest takeaways from this day is the importance of investing in the cultural and communal experiences that make a city worth living in. A special thanks to everyone who participated in this amazing day and to our Day Chairs who made it happen!