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Businesses Hike Prices For Super Bowl Visitors

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By BAIRD HELGESON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 29, 2009

Visitors in town for the Super Bowl will pay a lot more than usual to stay and play in the Bay area.

Don't expect action from the Florida Attorney General's Office, though: The state's gouging restrictions only apply during a state of emergency. A sports windfall, under the law, is no hurricane.

Here are a few price comparisons, two months ago/today.

Hotel, one night

The 100,000 expected visitors need a place to stay. Several hotels report they still have a few rooms for the weekend.

Hilton Garden Inn Tampa North in Temple Terrace: $129/$305

Westshore Hotel: $119/$399

Car rental, per day

Visitors have snatched up the choicest cars, like Corvettes, Mustang convertibles and Suburbans. Some smaller cars are available, but at heart-stopping prices.

Avis: Chevrolet Aveo $34.77/$90.24

Budget: Volkswagen Beetle convertible $85.99/$139.999

Strip clubs, Saturday cover

Mons Venus owner Joe Redner pledged to charge what the market would bear. Many clubs will adjust admission prices repeatedly, depending on demand.

Mons Venus: $20/$50

The Penthouse Club: $10/$25

Golf, Sunday morning round

Many visitors from cold climates will mix their love of football and golf. Some courses are booked for the weekend, but many have tee times available.

TPC Tampa Bay in Lutz: $162/$225

Limousine

With all the celebrities in town, limos are in short supply. Several companies have cars available, but at higher rates and with a higher minimum.

Advantage Limousine, eight-passenger: $450 (five-hour minimum) $1,800 (ten-hour minimum)

Beer, Raymond James Stadium

By forking over $800 or more for a ticket to the Super Bowl game, fans are also buying the privilege of paying a premium for a beer.

$7.75/$10 (with souvenir cup)

Reporter Baird Helgeson can be reached at (813) 259-7668

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