Does Tampa Bay have the potential to become a major/global city? (Miami: living, low cost)

[smarino]

"....before moving to Tampa Bay in 2008, no one in Germany has ever heard about the area, literally no one...."

Well, things have sure changed. If you consider St Pete to be part of the Tampa Bay area (and I consider us our own entity, so I guess that depends), this place is booming like gangbusters. Everywhere I go in this city there is new development going on, and there is a real sense that we had better enjoy it while we can before it gets out of hand, as much of downtown is getting. There is an influx of New Yorkers and other East Coast people (which I could do w/o, but they can come here just like anyone else. I guess) who are fed up w/ the extreme amount of money that is needed to live up there, as well as the frigid winters. They seem to love it down here, and I have to admit, St Pete has so much to offer it's not funny. That's why I moved here. It's a happening place (for what it is, and it's getting more densely populated every day).

So someone is apparently getting the message that this a great place to live. Now whether or not that translates into any awareness in Germany is sort of a moot point, since where we are geographically is more about Cuba and other places in this hemisphere.

Tampa seems to be taking a different direction, and I haven't a clue as to what is happening over there. This is very much like I operated when I lived in 'frisco. I, and most of the city, thought that there wasn't anywhere else we needed to go, so I lived in S.F. for a few years before even venturing over to Oakland and Berkeley. Once I went, I honestly didn't see much reason to go again.

[071402]

smarino: exactly. looking for a place to buy close close to downtown that's affordable (south sp?) and finding little if any.

[Concert D Major]

Originally Posted by 071402

smarino: exactly. looking for a place to buy close close to downtown that's affordable (south sp?) and finding little if any.

Close to downtown St. Pete or downtown Tampa? South St. Pete to downtown Tampa could be a slow tough commute during rush hour, maybe an hour's drive one-way. South St. Pete is notorious for its impoverished high-crime drug and prostitute-infested neighborhoods, especially an area called Mid-Town that is just west and a little south of downtown. There are a few small pockets of OK neighborhoods in South St. Pete, but I'd want to scope them out thoroughly (at night) first.

[071402]

St pete and i agree. Not sure which of the south st pete areas to start the scope in but thanks.

[Concert D Major]

A commute from South St. Pete to downtown St. Pete should be a piece of cake, compared to frickin' stupid Tampa. Makes me jealous. But lately, I have noticed the Carillon area is worse than it used to be a few years ago. That place has really grown.

[TyVincente]

Frankly I'm glad no one in GERMANY has never heard of TampaBay. Lots of US citizens don't give a damn about cities in Germany either.


Florida's population is attracting new residents, remote workers, entrepreneurs, students, retirees every year.


I'ved lived in Tampa Bay (TPA, Clearwater and St Pete), now I'm over the Skyway, and I can tell you for a fact, there are lots of GERMANS who visit and live in Sarasota all the way down to Naples and Bonita.


TampaBay in many ways is already becoming a "global city"...new ports in Tampa, Port Manatee, direct flights and connections to CUBA and even Iceland. It will never be a "Miami"...thank god, but the Bay area is quite a booming area, from Pasco to Manatee-Sarasota. We in TampaBay don't even "relate" to Orlando, and most of us can't stand Orlando OR Miami...LOL.


Professional Football, SOCCER, Baseball, Hockey, The Arts, boating, great food, great beaches from Clearwater to Siesta key, good boating and fishing, and sorta "hurricane proof" LOL LOL

[Sergio656]

Yes, Tampa will be a global city one day soon as the population continues to grow and diversify I will elaborate more. In 2013 Tampa Bay (was picked) to join the “Global Cities Initiative” - A program developed by the Brookings Institution and JPMorgan Chase, It equips metropolitan leaders with the information, policy ideas and global connections they need to bolster their regions' positions in the global economy to increase a metro area’s global trade and economic competitiveness. Since 2013 I can honestly say that the Tampa area started to turn a new leaf since as early as 2015/16, It’s only been up from there which at times is bittersweet. Increase in density, Increase in construction of roads and buildings etc, increase in population which is seen in the increase in traffic, increase in jobs, increase in cost of living, (area wide) increase in rents, increase of homelessness, increase of crime, increase of start up businesses, increase of headquarters relocating here, increase of renovations of businesses all over the area, increase of new homes/apartments being constructed, and the list goes on. A few days ago Tampa Int’l Airport added direct flights from Tampa to London and new direct flights from various global well known cities are being added on a weekly basis. In 2021 Tom Brady took Tampa Bay to the Super Bowl and won, The Buccaneers became the first team to win a Super Bowl in their host stadium. This gave Tampa even more recognition. The facts I have given in my excerpt are credible and can be researched, So again I say yes to your question.

[Bill Kidd]

Originally Posted by Sergio656

A few days ago Tampa Int’l Airport added direct flights from Tampa to London and new direct flights from various global well known cities are being added on a weekly basis. .

Correction: They have added NON-STOP flights.

[FL_Expert]

I can see Tampa evolving into a city like Houston or Dallas, but it probably won’t be the next NYC, Chicago, San Francisco, etc. It has a lot to offer, but I think Miami may have a better offering in most respects so that’s the city emerging as a genuine global city.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by FL_Expert

I can see Tampa evolving into a city like Houston or Dallas, but it probably won’t be the next NYC, Chicago, San Francisco, etc. It has a lot to offer, but I think Miami may have a better offering in most respects so that’s the city emerging as a genuine global city.

Right. Miami is THE Florida city. Unless something drastic happens, Tampa will always be a second-tier city, as Miami continues to steamroll its way through the Southeast.
Tampa is kind of still stuck in the backwoods to be honest... Little to no interest in investing in rapid transit, commuter rail lines, etc. Can't evolve much without those crucial things.