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Tampa's 'Clean Zone' Would Curb Super Bowl Hawkers

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 15, 2008

TAMPA - They arrive before dawn and stake out spots along street corners and medians, hawking fake NFL T-shirts, jackets, footballs and other counterfeited memorabilia.

Before Super Bowl week arrives in late January, legions of fly-by-night vendors are expected to jockey for space near Raymond James Stadium to sell their wares.

But unless they've got a special permit, they're likely to come away empty-handed.

That's because the city plans to create "clean zones" encompassing several city blocks around the stadium and downtown hotels. The proposed ordinance, to be considered by the city council at Thursday's meeting, would regulate commercial activities in the area during the National Football League's championship game.

There will actually be two clean zones. One downtown will encircle the Tampa Convention Center, Tampa Marriott Waterside, Embassy Suites and Cotanchobee Park area, where NFL officials will be staying. The other, around the stadium, will stretch from Lois Avenue east to MacDill Avenue and from West Hillsborough Avenue south to Palmetto Avenue.

Super Bowl XLIII will be played Feb. 1 at the stadium. The restrictions, if approved, would be in effect from 12:01 a.m. Jan. 21 through midnight Feb. 2.

"This is really nothing new," said Santiago Corrada, the city's neighborhood services administrator "We did it for the last Super Bowl [in Tampa in 2001] and Women's Final Four basketball [in April]."

He said the proposed ordinance is meant to protect official NFL vendors from unlicensed competition and create a more aesthetically pleasing environment for fans and visitors.

The ordinance also will ban inflatable balloons, open-air cooking and unlicensed alcohol sales. It will require vendors to operate out of stores or set up shop in approved tents.

City officials expect the sporting event to generate more than $250 million.

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (813) 259-7679.

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