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Tampa Skate Park Wins Global Recognition

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Nick Williams / The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 2, 2007

Special Report: Video, Slide Show

TAMPA - George Lackey still chuckles over one of the more interesting real estate deals in his 42 years as an agent. The owner of George W. Lackey Co. and West Coast Insurance never thought renting a warehouse to a skateboarder from Tampa would lead to the establishment of a world renowned skate park.

Fifteen years ago all that stood at 4215 E. Columbus Drive was a private warehouse. An ambitious, 21-year-old skater named Brian Schaefer decided to rent the warehouse and turn it into the Skate Park of Tampa (SPoT).

"I put (Schaefer) off as many times as I could," said Lackey, 62. "He bugged the (heck) out of me for about two months. I thought that I wouldn't be able to get my rent out of him. I'd thought I'd have to chase him for it. I said "who do think will pay to go out to a non air-conditioned place to exercise like that? I thought he was out of his mind."

Schaefer's persistence paid off.

"I said "what is it going to take? And he said first and last month's rent and an extra deposit," Schaefer said.

Schaefer borrowed a little less than $10,000 from his parents and promised to pay $200 a month until it was paid in full.

In the first year, Schaefer rented out space in the warehouse to friends. The current location of the park's Pro Shop or equipment/clothing shop, used to be living quarters and a vertical skate ramp.

"This is where the most history went down," said SPoT event coordinator Barak Wiser. "This is where Tony Hawk did a 720, I think it was the first 720 [degree] varial ever done."

"There weren't many skate parks in the country then," Schaefer said. "It was a place to stay for Canadian skaters and friends from, like, Pennsylvania."

Eventually, he realized the park/warehouse could be a destination point for other skateboarders traveling through the country. As more skaters passed through, the idea of creating contests became realized.

Years later, while dining at a sports bar, Lackey happened to look up at the television to catch the rented space being used for a skateboarding competition.

"Obviously, they know what they're doing," Lackey said. "Brian was a hard worker. I think he got a lot of free labor by letting them skate."

In 2000, Lackey sold Schaefer the property for $1 million. During the time he rented the space to Schaefer, Lackey said he was only late with the rent twice.

Today, the park is featured in dozens of skateboard magazines, videos, and even the widely popular "Tony Hawk's Underground Skateboarding" video game. X-Games athletes like Hawk, Eric Koston, Paul Rodriguez Jr., Bob Burnquist, Bucky Lasek and Matt Hoffman as well as Rob Dyrdek of MTV's "Rob & Big" have visited and competed at the park.

The 8,000-square-foot street course offers two hand rails, two flat bars, seven bank ramps, manual frames and an apparel and equipment Pro Shop next door filled with the latest fashion trends and accessories. Outside the major course are a towering, 40-foot half pipe (U shaped wooden ramp) and a 4,500 square foot indoor kid's course and snack bar.

Global Appeal

Now an international landmark in the skateboarding world, the park's annual skateboarding contests, Tampa AM (amateur) and Tampa Pro (professional), peak the interest of amateur and pro skaters around the world and is sponsored by Nike's new expansion company, Nike Skateboarding.

"We didn't go into it with a business plan, we just kind of winged it," Schaeffer said. "We've been blessed. It's been a great journey. Somehow, we've maintained consistency."

Schaefer put SPoT on the map with the creation of the Tampa AM and Tampa Pro contests. Over the last decade, Tampa AM has unofficially been called the premier amateur skateboarding contest in the world. In March, the Tampa Pro contest, which featured numerous high-profile skaters, offered a $100,000 purse.

Recently, SPoT branched out to other avenues. Because the Tampa Am and Pro were popular, Schaeffer and partner Rob Meronek created the Damn AM, which consists of two annual top amateur contests in the U.S. and one international contest in Amsterdam. Schaefer also created SPoTlight Productions Inc., which promotes contests, demo's and concerts nationally and internationally.

But it's not the facility itself that has garnered all of the attention.

"It's really authentic skateboarding," said Jamey Stone, associate publisher of Transworld Skateboarding Magazine. "They host a lot of skateboarding events. Anybody skateboarding and anyone serious about skateboarding would want to make it a destination."

Staffers agree.

"The thing that separates us is the notoriety," said SPoT Manager Ryan Clements, 34. "We're adult skateboarders running a skate park as if we were still kids."

"We run contests the way skateboarders want it run," Wiser said.

Locals Excel

Raymond Feaste, 15, a sophomore at Gaither High, comes to SPoT everyday. After school, on the weekends, during the summer, he's there. And he's done it for three years.

"The feel of it is real exciting," he said. "It's just fun."

Feaste recalls watching older skaters make a name for themselves at the park. Some of those skaters have since turned pro or are on the verge of doing so.

"There are some really good locals here," Feaste said. "Everyday, there's a chance of someone landing a big trick."

Curtis Valentine, 22, has skated at SPoT since he was 15.

"The skate park of Tampa is like nothing else," he said. "It's a destination point for everyone in Tampa."

Aside being a resume builder for skaters looking to go pro, Valentine said it provides the 90-100 youths who visit the park each day an opportunity to find themselves.

"The way people skate is an expression of themselves. It's an art," he said. "This is just for fun. Some kids might have it in the back of their mind to go pro, but this is for fun."

SPoT also reaches out to the community, offering free H.I.V tests at the park as well as creating a skateboard drive for kids during Christmas season.

Clements, a character in "Tony Hawk's Underground Skateboarding" video game, has worked at SPoT since 1998. A skater since the age of 12, he said providing a place like SPoT for kids is fulfilling

"The fact you're creating something for kids to be syked about, is amazing," Clements said. "It's overwhelming, but I don't let it get to me. This is what we do."

For Schaefer, who discovered that nothing is impossible, going with the flow keeps SPoT current and in tune with Tampa youth.

"There is no set structure on how we run the park," he said. "No is not the answer there."

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 865-4848 or nwilliams@tampatrib.com.

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