TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Obama Rally Parking Will Be At Premium, So Try To Arrive Early

News Channel 8 photo by RUGENE MOORE

Tampa police prepare for today's expected crowds.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 21, 2008

Today's Barack Obama rally in Tampa is officially sold out - tickets were free, but they're all gone, and a crowd of more than 20,000 is expected.

But the Obama campaign says people without tickets might be admitted to the noon event if there is space available in the St. Pete Times Forum - if people who got tickets don't use them.

Some logistical questions if you want to go:

Should I try to go without a ticket?

The campaign says yes, but you may or may not be able to get in. Audio of the events inside, and possibly video, will be available to what's expected to be a crowd in the plaza outside the forum.

"If people don't have a ticket, they should come," said campaign spokesman Josh Earnest. "If there are empty seats they can come in, if not they can hear it or maybe see it from outside."

Will the Forum be full?

The campaign says it gave out enough tickets to fill the arena, but some people won't use theirs, so some space should be available for those without tickets.

What about parking?

It will be a problem.

Tampa Police Department spokeswoman Laura McElroy said parking isn't normally a major problem for events that fill the Forum, but those usually are at night. This one will be midday on a weekday, with much downtown parking already filled by commuters.

Try to carpool or ride the bus to downtown, because most parking spaces will be occupied long before the event doors open at 10:30 a.m.

Downtown workers without reserved parking should arrive before 8 a.m. to get their normal spaces.

What are the parking alternatives?

The police suggest people arrive early and park in Ybor City in the decks at 13th Street and Palm Avenue, or 15th Street and Eighth Avenue.

They could then take the electric streetcar to the Forum. The total cost is cheaper than downtown parking, but it will take extra time.

The streetcar takes exact change only, but streetcar fare cards can be bought either onboard or at the Ybor City Visitor Information Center, 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Suite B-104, behind the Improv Comedy Club. The center opens at 10 a.m.

The trolley - fare 50 cents, exact change - will run extended hours, from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. between downtown garages and the Forum.

Another alternative, McElroy said, is to park near the Marion Street Transit Center. Buses will run from there to within a few blocks of the Forum.

What about security?

Attendees will have to go through a metal detector.

Will Hillary Rodham Clinton or John McCain be coming to the Tampa area?

McCain was in Miami on Tuesday and Clinton has announced plans to be in South Florida today, but neither has announced plans to be in the Tampa area in the near future.

William March and Rich Shopes

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT