PLAN FOR
ADVENTURE
CONTENTS 3
Championship Campus
5
Tackle Tampa Bay
7
Cheers to Craft Beers
11
Kitchen Playlist
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Make your plans for four full days of fun. Discover a community where there is a new play at every turn, and the only thing warmer than the weather is our hospitality.
It’s no wonder that Tampa Bay - the city with the biggest beer scene in the Southeast – consistently wins awards for its breweries and craft beer scene.
Tampa Bay is for food-lovers, whether you want a world-famous Cuban sandwich or locally-grown cuisine.
Sun Day, Fun Day
Shout with delight, at Tampa Bay’s amusement parks and imagination stations.
Team Tampa Bay
Cheer on local teams with fellow sports enthusiasts.
21 Stay in Motion
Getting around Tampa Bay is breeze.
25 Tampa Bay Area Map
You’ll find yourself in the middle of so much to do!
1 VISIT TAMPA BAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP INVASION GUIDE
CHAMPIONSHIP
CAMPUS Tampa Bay’s 2.5-mile (4 km) pedestrian path links downtown’s most popular destinations like gems on a string. The mix of museums, restaurants, and parks makes the Tampa Riverwalk a must-experience part of any visit.
FAN CENTRAL 1 PLAYOFF Tampa Convention Center
Friday, January 6 (3 - 8 p.m.)
Saturday, January 7 (Noon - 8 p.m.)
Sunday, January 8 (Noon - 8 p.m.)
Tampa Bay – Get ready for Playoff Fan Central! This three-day, family-friendly event affords thousands of fans the chance to be a part of the College Football Playoff National Championship experience. This fan-festival features appearances from the participating schools’ bands, cheerleaders and mascots, as well as mini pep rallies for each participating team. Filled with various activities including interactive games, sponsor activities, special guest appearances and exhibits celebrating college football, this event creates memories that last a lifetime. Make sure to visit Playoff Fan Central at the Tampa Convention Center beginning Friday, January 6! Tickets on sale now, visit TampaBay2017.com/PFC
2 AT&T PLAYOFF PLAYLIST LIVE! Curtis Hixon Park
Friday, January 6 (5 p.m. - 11 p.m.)
Saturday, January 7 (Noon - 11 p.m.)
Sunday, January 8 (Noon - 11 p.m.)
Curtis Hixon Park will come alive with some of the nation’s top recording artists at AT&T Playoff Playlist LIVE! Popular hit-makers, up-and-coming bands and long-time favorites will take the stage for three nights of incredible shows and dazzling fireworks. Gates open at 5 p.m. (Friday) and noon (Saturday and Sunday) for fan-friendly entertainment, with ESPN broadcasts throughout the day. Eric Paslay will perform Friday (Jan. 6), along with The Shadowboxers and Clare Dunn. Flo Rida will headline Saturday (Jan. 7), with additional performances by Rachel Platten and Cold War Kids. On Sunday (Jan. 8), Jay Pharoah will 3
serve as a special guest host, with Usher taking center stage as the headline act. Additional Sunday performances include Gavin DeGraw and Jamie N Commons.
3 EXTRA YARD 5K
Amalie Arena | Sunday, January 8 (8 a.m.) The 2017 Extra Yard 5K is the official road race of the College Football Playoff. The event will be held in the heart of Downtown Tampa’s Championship Campus! The 3.1 mile race will incorporate a scenic route down a portion of iconic Bayshore Boulevard, with a portion of the event including a 1-Mile Family Fun Run. All proceeds will benefit Extra Yard for Teachers, the College Football Playoff Foundation’s primary initiative that goes the “extra yard” by honoring and empowering teachers. The day will also include live entertainment, activities with race sponsors and a post-race awards ceremony! Participants can register through race day at EY5K.com.
4 TASTE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
The Florida Aquarium | Sunday, January 8 (7 p.m. - 10 p.m.) Football fans can enjoy an evening mingling with former college football stars, sample gourmet food and beverages from some of Tampa Bay’s best restaurants, as well as, top chefs from geographic regions from around the country. Proceeds from this event support the College Football Playoff Foundation’s Extra Yard for Teachers. Participating Tampa Bay restaurants include 717 South, Ava, Bern’s Steak House, Boca Kitchen, Bar & Market, Cigar City BrewPub, The Columbia, Datz, Fodder & Shine, Goody Goody, Haven, Mad Dogs and Englishmen, Mise En Place, Parkshore Grill, The Refinery, Roux and Ulele. Tickets are on sale now at TasteoftheChampionship.com for $250. Get yours today!
TACKLE
TAMPA BAY
Tampa Riverwalk 5 5
Tackle Tampa Bay during the College Football Playoff National Championship, and discover a place where there is excitement at every turn and the only thing warmer than the weather is our hospitality. We encourage you to explore our community as we introduce you to the attractions that make our destination one of the greatest in the world. The people of Tampa Bay invite you to unlock the treasures of this rich, cultural destination.
Take a time-out before the game and explore our Historic Latin Quarter, Ybor City. Stroll down the brick-lined streets and take in the scent of Cuban coffee roasting early in the morning or the rhythms of Latin music late into the night. Get active on the Riverwalk: Tampa’s dynamic cultural venues, family oriented parks and the city center’s vibrant business community creating connectivity and eclectic synergy.
Amalie Arena
Hyde Park Village
CHEERS TO
CRAFT BEER Consistently ranked among the top brewing scenes in America, Tampa Bay is the destination for craft beer. What better way to say cheers than with a locally brewed craft beer? Inspired by the tasty brews produced at Tampa Bay Brewing and other craft breweries across the country, Cigar City Brewing (CCB) came onto the scene and immediately hit the mark with brews that pushed beverage flavor boundaries. Jai Alai IPA, its most popular beer to this day, blends various hops to create a marriage of citrus and pine that thrilled many of the region’s beer drinkers at first gulp.
7 VISIT TAMPA BAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP INVASION GUIDE
Coppertail Brewing Co.
Operating in a former factory on the edge of Ybor City, Coppertail Brewing Co.—named after a mythical sea monster that was hatched in the imagination of the brewery founder’s daughter— produces mouthwatering brews. Pop into the two-story tasting room and pop open a Free Dive IPA or a Night Swim Porter. If you’re lucky enough to be in the building when the seasonal Capt’n Jack’s Stone Crab Stout is available, demand a drink! It’s brewed with freshly harvested stone crab claws, which infuse the beer with just a hint of a briny taste. Brew day for Capt’n Jack’s has become an event, and the stone crab claws are the evening’s main course for patrons and staff.
In hipster-friendly Seminole Heights, Angry Chair Brewing attracts fans to its tasting room with imaginatively crafted concoctions combined with a culinary twist, such as the Raspberry Berliner, German Chocolate Cupcake Stout and Strawberry Mojito Kolsch. All are, in a word, delicious. See for yourself—small pours for a couple bucks means you can sample a refrigerator of brews on a mini-fridge budget.
Angry Chair Brewing
Six Ten Brewing
Six Ten Brewing crafts its beer in the Town ‘n’ Country neighborhood, west of downtown. Sip on such brews as the Magpie Rye Pale Ale or one of the assortments of its palate-pleasing CBGB Berliner Weisse series, brewed with various fruits like cranberry, blackberry or star fruit. These slightly tart, lowalcohol wheat beers provide a refreshing thirst quencher on a sunny Florida day. Ulele Spring Brewery—perched at the northern end of downtown’s Tampa Riverwalk, this historic and restored Tampa Water Works building—shares space with the Ulele restaurant, which utilizes local ingredients in its menu. Ulele Spring Brewery is a bit different in that many of its craft beers are lagers, which require a more rigorous and technical brewing process than ales. Savor each sip—every libation is a labor of love. It’s easy out in the beer garden, which offers a relaxing dining and drinking experience, along with a scenic view of the Hillsborough River.
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Our microbrews
ARE A BIG DEAL. Named one of “America’s Top Ten Emerging Beer Towns,” by The Pour Fool, Tampa Bay has plenty to explore — and taste . Production Breweries & Tasting Rooms: Angry Chair, Seminole Heights BrewBus Brewing Company, Tampa Cigar City, Tampa Cigar City Cider and Mead, Ybor City Coppertail, Ybor City 81Bay, South Tampa Four Stacks, Apollo Beach Hidden Springs Ale Works, Tampa Heights Six Ten Brewing, Town ‘n’ Country Southern Brewing & Winemaking, Seminole Heights Tampa Beer Works, East Tampa/Brandon Two Henry’s Brewing, Plant City Yuengling, Tampa
Brewpubs:
Cigar City Brewpub, Northdale Dunderbrau, Tampa Palms Tampa Bay Brewing Company, Ybor City Ulele, Tampa Heights
KITCHEN
PLAYLIST Juicy, justpicked citrus, fresh-off-the-boat seafood and an abundance of locally- grown produce are just a few of the sundrenched ingredients fueling Tampa’s thriving culinary scene. Combined with recipes handed down by generations of Latin immigrants and Southern Crackers, seasoned with Native American influences and spiced with modern techniques and flavor profiles. Historic Ybor City is home to the Columbia Restaurant, the oldest restaurant in Florida and the largest Spanish restaurant in the world. Originally serving Cuban sandwiches and café con leche to local cigar workers, the Spanish/Cuban restaurant now covers 15 dining rooms and features flamenco dancing performances. For nearly six decades, Bern’s Steak House has set the bar for fine dining in Tampa Bay. In Tampa Heights, Ulele offers meals inspired by Florida’s native foods in a historic setting. Seminole Heights
The Refinery 11
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is becoming a center for adventurous eating. Ella’s Americana Folk Art Café, lets you admire the owner’s extensive collection of folk art while you eat. The Refinery changes its menu every Thursday to feature new dishes. Rooster and the Till features an eclectic blend of tastes in an intimate space. That’s just a sampling of area eateries that embrace the locavore movement. Find other inspired dishes around town, such as the Stinky Bunz at Anise Global Gastrobar, the Sous Vide 60 Spiced Chicken at Boca Kitchen, Bar + Market, the Lump Crab Squash Blossom Rangoon at Edison: Food + Drink Lab and any of the fresh plates at perennial favorite, Mise en Place.
Datz
le Ule
SUN DAY
FUN DAY
Touch Tampa’s heritage with a trip to our Historic Latin Quarter, Ybor City. Cigar magnate Don Vicente Martinez-Ybor settled his cigar business in the area that bears his name in the 1800s. Over the decades, the cigar industry flourished and made Tampa Bay a magnet for Spanish, Cuban, German and Italian immigrants. Between 1910 and 1920, 12,000 cigar makers in 200 factories produced an estimated 500 million cigars a year and Ybor City became known as the Cigar Capital of the World. Today Ybor City hums with unique restaurants, shops and bars. And it’s still a great place to enjoy a hand-rolled cigar!
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Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay. Discover the park’s newest addition, Cobra’s Curse, a three-and-a-half-minute long coaster centered around an 80-foot tall fanged snake. Test your might on other thrilling rides including Falcon’s Fury, the tallest freestanding drop tower in North America! Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is great for kids too. Meet Elmo, Zoe, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie, on a rock-fueled adventure filled with family-friendly fun and playful music.
y F ur Falcon’s
©2017 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved.
When you’ve had enough on land, head below the water’s surface at The Florida Aquarium. The Coral Reef at The Florida Aquarium is home to 1,600 fish, including stingrays, barracudas, sea turtles and sharks. Through the Shark Swim experience, you get a close look at all of them. You’ll wear a small scuba tank, regulator and flotation device for the exhilarating 30-minute swim.
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Go up and away at the Museum of Science and Industry! It’s best not to look down when you walk across the think planks atop the Sky Trail® Ropes Course at MOSI, since you could be perched up to 36 feet above ground. Swinging steps, rope bridges and balance beams make up the 35 challenging elements on this multi-level course. When you’re finished with the course, wind down with a movie in Florida’s only IMAX Dome theater.
Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo
Among the premier zoos in America, Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo welcomes hands-on curiosity. Feed the giraffes, pet a stingray, let a lorikeet land on your arm and experience even more animal adventures in their globe-spanning exhibits. Discover endless wild wonders throughout, including native place species along the Florida Boardwalk. Take in many art experiences along Tampa’s waterfront district, from the Tampa Museum of Art and Florida Museum of Photographic Arts to the Broadway performances at the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts and interactive fun for kids at the Glazer Children’s Museum in downtown Tampa. Or take a step back in time at the Tampa Bay History Center to learn how Tampa Bay grew from a fishing post to a thriving metropolitan city.
VISIT TAMPA BAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP INVASION GUIDE
TEAM
TAMPA BAY
Enthusiasm is contagious. That is especially true in Tampa Bay’s monuments to live sports. Whether you’re catching a tailgate before a Buccaneers game or a foul ball at a Rays Baseball Canoe game, you won’t want to miss any of the action. “Be The Escape Thunder” as the Tampa Bay Lightning take the ice. Experience all the excitement that our ballpark, football stadium, and hockey arena have to offer.
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VISIT TAMPA BAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP INVASION GUIDE
Amalie Arena
Tampa Bay Lightning | Amalie Arena The National Hockey League’s Tampa Bay Lightning defends home ice in the heart of downtown Tampa. The Lightning, a team of young talent, is led by superstar captain Steven Stamkos and NorrisTrophy candidate defenseman Victor Hedman. During their 19 seasons at Amalie Arena, the Lightning have qualified for the playoffs eight times, gone to the Eastern Conference Final four times, made it to the Stanley Cup Final twice and brought home the Stanley Cup once after defeating the Calgary Flames in seven games in 2004. Tampa Bay Rays | Tropicana Field Located just a few blocks from downtown St. Petersburg and a short drive from downtown Tampa, is the only domed stadium for baseball, Tropicana Field. Don’t miss the chance to watch 2016’s Rawlings Platinum and Gold Glove Award winner Kevin Kiermaier take the outfield, while Evan Longoria protects third base and Chris Archer gets warmed up on the mound. Adding to the fun, Tropicana Field is the world’s only professional sports facility that features a live touch tank. The unique Rays Touch Tank allows fans to reach into a 10,000-gallon tank and touch cownose rays.
Tropicana Field
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Raymond James Stadium Tampa Bay is also home to the National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers first came to Tampa Bay in 1976, two years after the Bay area was awarded the National Football League’s 27th franchise. In January of 2003, at the end of the franchise’s 27th season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers came home with the Lombardi Trophy after a 48-21 victory over Oakland in Super Bowl XXXVII. Catch Pro Bowlers Doug Martin and Gerald McCoy on field, along with 2016 Rookie of the Year, Jameis Winston. At the National Championship game, be sure to check out all of the new renovations Raymond James Stadium has to offer and don’t forget a picture with the renowned pirate ship on the main concourse.
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MILES OF FAN FUN
F LO R I D
A’ s
WINNING LINEUP From the excitement of the College Football Playoff to the beautiful Riverwalk, Tampa Bay offers the most of everything you want in a Florida vacation. Thrill rides, animal encounters, award-winning craft beer, shopping, fun on the water and dynamic nightlife. Florida’s most is yours to explore.
Countless Ideas, Endless fun.
VisitTampaBay.com
STAY
IN MOTION ZipCar Need a car for an hour? Or a day? ZipCar is one of Tampa’s newest ways to explore the city. With four simple steps, you will be on your way. Step 1: Apply in the app or online. Step 2: Book your ZipCar for the time you need. Step 3: Hold your Zipcard to the car’s windshield—or tap the app—to unlock. Step 4: Hit the road. When you’re done, park the car in its reserved spot and use your Zipcard or the app to lock up. Gas and insurance are even included in hourly and daily rates.
TECO Line Streetcar Tampa’s streetcar system dates back to 1892 when it was the most extensive streetcar system in Florida. Today, streetcars carry visitors to 11 station stops along a 2.7-mile route, with five stops in Tampa’s Channelside District, four in historic Ybor City and downtown. Each station stop incorporates public art elements that celebrate the lives of Ybor City workers and Tampa residents. 21 19
VISIT TAMPA BAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP INVASION GUIDE
Pirate Water Taxi Pirate Water Taxi is a fleet of entertaining pirate-themed water taxis in downtown Tampa. With over 14 stops conveniently located along the Riverwalk, Channel District and Davis Islands, hop on and off wherever your destination awaits. The three 50-foot water taxis can accommodate up to 50 passengers and offer whimsical historical narration and concessions.
In-Towner Trolley The In-Towner Trolley is a rubber-wheeled vehicle that is now FREE to ride and runs every 15 minutes from Downtown to Harbour Island. The loop starts at the Marion Transit Center follows Tampa Street and Franklin Street to Harbour Island and then back along Franklin Street and Florida Avenue to the Marion Transit Center. It is a convenient way to reach downtown hotels, Curtis Hixon Park, the Riverwalk, Tampa Convention Center, and Harbour Island. It also connects to the TECO Streetcar.
Water Bikes Tampa Bay Water Bike Company operates along the Hillsborough River. After a quick tutorial, the water bikes let visitors power their way to sites along the Riverwalk. The sturdy bikes are virtually impossible to tip over and offer a memorable way to get around on the water and you don’t even have to get wet.
Credit: Dale Sanders/Photo Shelter
eBoats Credit eBoats/Stehlik Photo
eBoats Be your own captain on the water with one of these easy to operate electric boats. Each boat fits 10 guests comfortably. After a quick lesson, visitors can set off on the Hillsborough River and the downtown waterways. Rent by the hour at the Tampa Convention Center Docks.
Coast Bike Share Coast Bike Share is the healthy, fun and affordable way to breeze around Tampa. Swipe your credit card and set off into downtown, Ybor City, Hyde Park and Davis Islands. You can even “Hold� and lock the bike to a rack if you want to take a break and continue riding. To end your trip, just lock your bike at one of the convenient hub locations or at any regular bike rack for a small additional fee.
The Downtowner Free electric shuttle services are available for short trips between downtown, the Channel District, Harbour Island and the University of Tampa area. The shuttles can be hailed by an app called Downtowner. With the push of a button, you can get a free ride anywhere in downtown Tampa aboard a six-seater, openair vehicle.
The Cross-Bay Ferry Commuters and day-trippers can cruise between the downtowns of St. Petersburg and Tampa on a 55-foot, 147-passenger catamaran in under an hour. From St. Petersburg, it docks in the yacht basin along Bay Shore Drive NE, to Tampa at the Tampa Convention Center. Fare is $10 for a one-way trip. Passengers can book their tickets online well in advance, or purchase any available seats as walk-ups at either dock.
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Close to all that is Florida Driving Time/Distance from Tampa to: Gulf Beaches - 20 min/35 km Orlando/Disney - 75 min/135 km Miami/Ft. Lauderdale - 240 min/450 km Key West - 380 min/680 km
TAMPA BAY CityPASS
Embrace the thrills of roller coasters, animal encounters and saving a few bucks. CityPASS offers discounted tickets on the area’s top attractions. Get all the details at VisitTampaBay.com.
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