Tampa Bay Sports & Entertainment LLC, owner of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, and Stellar Partners Inc. have partnered to open an interactive Tampa Bay Sports retail shop at the Tampa International Airport.
The new, 1,000-square-foot location is scheduled to open in spring 2017.
Tampa Bay Sports already operates a retail store at Amalie Arena, home of the Lightning, as well as an online store. The airport location will include licensed merchandise from the local professional sports teams such as Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays, the National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Lighting, as well as college teams such as the Florida Gators, Florida State Seminoles and South Florida Bulls.
The new location also will offer a full sports experience, with video screens showing highlights, games and other content, as well as appearances by athletes and other sports personalities during the year. Additionally, travelers can immerse themselves in venues, events and action via virtual-reality experiences.
“We are extremely excited to bring our interactive Tampa Bay Sports retail concept to Tampa International Airport,” says Tampa Bay Sports & Entertainment CEO Steve Griggs. “Tampa Bay Sports will go beyond a typical retail location, bringing visitors closer to the game than they’ve ever been before. We are very pleased to not only provide fans and travelers alike with a one-of-a-kind shopping experience, but also allow them to take a piece of the Tampa Bay sports landscape home with them.” — M.Q.