Tampa Bay’s Ticket Thirst Drives Our Local Economy

Garth Brooks just added a third concert date in Tampa.  Dave Chappelle added a fourth show to his Clearwater performances.  With more local venues and stages than ever before, Tampa Bay has a serious thirst for concert and event tickets.  Gone are the days that you had to drive to the Lakeland Civic Center to catch a national act.  There is something big happening almost every weekend in Tampa Bay and ticket sales are driving our local bay area economy.

The renaissance of new stores and restaurants moving into Channelside depends on Amalie Arena concert goers and Tampa Bay Lightning fans.  The new La Meriden hotel is two minutes from the Straz Center in downtown Tampa.  The Amphitheater at the fairgrounds was built before the Hard Rock Hotel came to the Seminole Casino.  There is resurgence in downtown Clearwater near the newly renovated Capitol Theatre and Sundial St. Pete is transforming the waterfront district near the Mahaffey Theatre.

Ticket demand for Brooks and Chappelle is unique.  Garth Brooks hasn’t performed in Tampa in 16 years.  Dave Chappelle hasn’t been here since 2006.  But many artists play our area year after year.  If they weren’t selling tickets, they simply would not keep coming back.  It’s obvious we are star struck in Tampa Bay and we can’t seem to get enough.

If your local business is not geographically desirable for concert goers, take advantage of the excitement and borrow equity in another way.  Attract consumers with discounts on their ticket stub.  Sponsor local concerts and events with on-site exposure at the venue or outdoor festival.  Get your commercial played on the jumbotron in front of thousands of people.  Use digital marketing and social media to engage with ticket buyers.  Show that your business has excitement for the artist and invite their local fans to do business with you.

You don’t need to be in the entertainment business to make money on the show.  You just need a strategy.