Channel District | |
|---|---|
Neighborhood | |
 Overlooking Channelside Drive from the parking garage. Foreground: Channelside Bay Plaza Background: Harbour Island skyline | |
  Channel District | |
| Coordinates:27°56′51″N82°26′38″W / 27.9476089°N 82.4438019°W /27.9476089; -82.4438019 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
Channel District is a residential neighborhood in theCity of Tampa that includes an entertainment complex, just east ofDowntown Tampa,Florida. It also houses a Sony Giant Screen theater. TheTECO Streetcar has several stops in the district.[1] Also,NEVs are being utilized by startups to link Tampa's core neighborhoods including Channelside.[2][3][4][5] TheTampa Convention Center is located adjacent to the district to the west.
Several officialSuper Bowl XLIII parties featuring celebrity appearances were held in the district.[6][7][8][9]
Twin 30-story upscale condos Towers of Channelside were completed in 2007, with many other mid and high-rises completed since.Saint Leo University opened an adult continuing education center, called the Tampa Education Center, in the Channel District in July 2011.[10] The Channel District also includes the Small Business Development Center at theUniversity of South Florida.[citation needed]
Starting in 2010 the Tampa Attractions Association formed a tradition of coloring theGarrison Channel green forSaint Patrick's Day.[11]
Sparkman Wharf is a recent addition to the Channel side area in 2018.[12] This outdoor food hall is located on the waterfront. The Sparkman Wharf has options for food, drink, and outdoor seating.[13]
It is bordered byYbor Channel on the east andGarrison Channel on the south. Channelside is a nickname for the entertainment complexChannelside Bay Plaza, within the neighborhood that includes shops, restaurants, and bars.
Also located in the district is theBenchmark International Arena (formerly theAmalie Arena) where theNHL'sTampa Bay Lightning play their home games. The Arena also hosts concerts and other events.[14] The center of the Bay Plaza has a large open court for live music, with views of thedowntown skyline, cruise ships and thePort of Tampa.
More shopping and entertainment is planned for the area along with an urban sports park, to be named Madison Park. The side streets away from the bay plaza are becoming the focal points of the neighborhood, featuring many new restaurants, bars, and coffee shops.[15][16][17][18][19]
TheAmerican Victory Museum is located on the south end of the Channel District.
TheFlorida Aquarium is located on the south end of the Channel District. It is the 8th largest aquarium in the United States and in 2023, reached one million annual visitors.[20][21]
TheTampa Bay History Center is located on the south end of the Channel District.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link){{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal= (help);Missing or empty|title= (help){{cite web}}:Missing or empty|title= (help)