Tampa Convention Center

I had an event to do here for work. I have to say parking was not bad at all. But the reason this place gets 4 stars is the food was awesome. I bought a breakfast sandwich, lunch was provided but the food was awesome. So you may ask why not 5 because the food was expensive.

Tampa convention center is the best kept secret. I like it when someone holds their event here in an industry that I’m familiar with. It sure beats driving to Orlando or worse yet flying to Las Vegas. The convention center in Tampa also has plenty of docks for boat Parking and is right in the middle of all the action.
I recommend trying the Sail pavilion which is an alfresco type café right outside the convention center on the riverfront

I’ve had the pleasure of attending various events at the Convention Center throughout my many years here in the bay area. The location is phenomenal right on the bay and centrally located in the downtown/​harbor island area. The interior is very clean and the staff is always very accommodating and friendly.

TCC is easy to move about, with a smack-​dab-​in-​the-​middle-​of-​the-​city location. Its a great place for conventions and large meetings. Beautiful views, Clean inside and outside. Perfect amenities, easy to walk to just about anything, hotels, restaurants, bars, transportation, parking, the river, boating, Ice hockey and concerts, without any airport noise. Not the largest of convention centers, but about mid-​size great for many conventions.

I always thought that my first tattoo would be a dragonfly. In fact, when I asked the heavily tattooed young man, who held a handrail by me at the streetcar in San Francisco, where he had gotten his and the address, I could picture it on my left hip. Of course, he laughed at the very thought of very-​feminine, conservatively dressed, nerdy me ever going through with it. His dark eyes hinted sardonic glow. But off I got, out of that streetcar and into Ed Hardy. I picked the one and the colors… they did the transfer and placed it on my hip and rubbed alcohol. I stared at it. Loved it. But, at the last minute, I changed my mind. I chose a butterfly flying away from my hip. The artist argued that usually the Tattooed butterfly should fly as if inside. I insisted. Mine was flying away…
My change of heart made sense to no one. Not even me. Seven weeks later, it became clear. I arrived from the airport to find my sister and «bestest» friend in the world, unrecognizable from the one I had parted from just ten days prior. Her beautiful face had melted into sorrow. I gave her depression my all. All the strength and love and prayers my heart could hold. But such love was not enough. She made her decision and left… like a butterfly that could not be captured, or held… she flew away. Transforming into spirit… and my life into a serious existential chaos. Among the many memories I hoard of M. is a conversation in which we spoke about the afterlife and where we made a pact to signal to one another with dragonflies.
The Tampa Convention Center held the Tampa Tattoo and Art Convention this weekend. My Green-​Eyed Foodie and I walked among the darkly clothed and heavily tattooed enthusiast. Lots of stares our way. We must have looked like Snow White and Alice wondering into the woods. We blended as much as a drop of water on engine oil. Every couple of booths the same questions: «where is your ink?»
Tons of catalogues, styles, booths, walking samples, advice, smiles, questions, answers, douts… even more consults. My Green-​Eyed first ink… a mother’s trepidation. We found Bryan LaFave. We extended our wrists to him, ours palms up as if in begging… he marveled at such smallness. Could we trust him to creatively roam free? Could he reproduce the colors on both exactly the same?
The whole convention was light and fun. Friendly and knowledgeable staff in booths. Amazing jewelry and art. Next year, no more questions. We feel quite pretty in ink.
Some believe that dragonflies are a reminder of the time of magic, other realms, of fairies, of wonder. As the animal totem, it means the wisdom of transformation and ability to adapt in life. For two, a sister’s love, a mother’s love, a daughter’s love and moving on from grief.

I love me a good tattoo convention however… it was advertised that Black Ink would be here and they are not and that is why they get 3 stars… I will be back tomorrow to see if they keep their word, but if not… I will definitely give an update.
Overall the convention was cool, some really nice artists and the work that each team was doing looked pretty awesome. Some teams had absolutely no clients but maybe because of the time that I got there I didn’t see. Either way… I had a blast… till tomorrow!!!

I took my grandson to the Tampa Comic Con which was held at the Convention Center. The convention center is very large, multiple rooms. Many bathrooms noted. They were organized and the building was very clean considering the amount of people in attendance.

I really like coming to events at the Convention Center, from the Gasparilla/​Publix Health Fair and Distance Classic, to Hillsborough County Public School’s Science Fair, to Comic Con,. The place is huge and has nice meeting rooms, and rarely does anyone have to wait for a bathroom (as there are many to choose from, both inside the main rooms, and along the meeting room areas). There is parking underneath the convention center in the garage and several garages close by. However, I prefer taking the trolly from Ybor or Channelside, as there is always something to look at.
The food options at the convention center are limited, but it is a convention center, not a stadium. So if you want something that you don’t want to pay a lot of money for, bring your own food/​snacks or wait til you head someplace else after your event. (We went to Bernini’s in Ybor for ½ price entrees after ComicCon!)
The convention center even has a view and boat parking (if you have a boat!)

Just went to comic con at this convention center. The comic con was great, the hosting center needs work. One of the main events is when they award the cosplay costumes. The center did not reserve enough space so many people were turned away. For something that attracts a ton of people they should have had extra space set aside for it. At a minimum they should have displayed the event on the led tvs outside of the room. Instead they had advertisements for stupid television shows displaying in the screens in a loop. Would it have killed them to air what was going on inside. We didn’t even find out who won. Another event that we wanted to go to specifically was canceled but no one was ever told. So a bunch of folks sat in there waiting over a half hour. The event manager and police just acted like pricks.
The food there was crap and expensive, we had the unlucky day where the rain outside was horrendous forcing just about everyone to stay in the convention center and couldn’t leave to get something outside to eat. Needless too say they didn’t have enough crew to feed the guests.

Very nice convention center, just the right size to not have to walk from one end to the other on floor. Plenty of bathroom and food venders available on the floor.
The cons are: parking. Yikes, drove around 45 min to find a spot and still had to walk for good 15min in 92 degree weather. When they have a game next door, forget about parking anywhere close by. Take a cab from hotel.
Food, plenty of food venders inside but they all suck, and priced so high.
I recommend booking a hotel room next door ahead of one so you don’t have to drive around /​seek food venues.

This was a great place to navigate through. It was always clean and the space was sufficient for its purpose. I liked that there were plenty of lounge areas and such a neat view of the marina with a cool hang out waterside café super close by.
It’s also conveniently nestled between Embassy hotel and Marriott waterside.
5 stars for you Tampa CC!

Easy to get to from a variety of places; I took the 19 bus in from Dale Mabry and was there in less than 30 minutes. I feel kind of crowded at conferences, so I like to stay a bit away from the center and check out the rest of the town. It’s in a really convenient spot and along the water; there is an outdoor bar next to the convention center and lots of places to sit outside and space out in between sessions (if you need to).
Get coffee from outside before coming in; coffee’s $$$ and not great. I’d probably also bring a water.
Super easy to get to, and on the last day of my conference, I took the 30 bus back to the airport. Just walk a few blocks up from the center and there were a ton of places to eat along the way, once you are a few blocks from the center! There is a Publix to the West of the center, down the street, and a little past that is an Irish place. Lots of BBQ. Just be prepared to walk a few blocks north to find places to eat. Oh and there is a trolley stop that goes to Ybor City right between Convention Center and the Marriott, but remember to Über home because the Trolley stops running pretty early in the night.

A great location for a convention. Multiple rooms to fit your size needs. Beautiful inside and out and very clean. There are escalators to each level. Situiated right on Hillsborough river and riverwalk. its a short walk to everything! Walk on the water to your hotel, to dinner, to brunch, to a open air bar, to the Straz center for performing arts. Also a short walk to channelside, the florida aquarium, Amalie Arena and the port of Tampa.
Parking can be a bit tricky. There is a large parking garage a block away but it is hard to get to. Follow the signs carefully the garage is easy to miss!

Amazing venue to watch the Gasparilla invasion. Tables were set up outside and the brunch was buffet style. The food was mostly breakfast items and it’s hard to mess that up. It would have been nice to be offered some other dishes like blinzes, crepes and omelets. And for the price we paid ($ 90 with tax) a mimosa or Bloody Mary would have been a nice touch. (It was a cash bar) Overall though it was a lovely day!

It’s weird to rate a convention center but my experience here wasn’t great. Keep in mind that I was actually working a conference rather than attending one so my perspective will be a little different.
First and most noticeable — if you need to get to the upper meeting rooms/​exhibit halls you have to climb stairs. I’m sure there are elevators tucked away someplace but they weren’t signposted. So let’s say you’re setting up for a trade show — you have roller bags full of crap that you have to HAUL UP FLIGHTS of STAIRS. Sure, there was ONE escalator but it was broken. How would folks with disabilities get up there and more importantly, how would they exit in case of an emergency? Again, I’m sure there are elevators somewhere but SIGNS directing a person to them would probably help.
If you’re setting up or breaking down be aware that they don’t turn on the A/​C at all so enjoy the free sauna!
The location is beautiful (right on the river) but there aren’t very many eating options nearby. There are a few hotel restaurants within a 2-​block radius but everything else would be farther away and tough to access if you’re trying to get something to eat on a break.
Seriously, who wants to climb flights of stairs in Tampa heat?

This is a beautiful center located within walking distance of a lot of places such as hotels and the Forum.
It’s very large and is a great location for events. However, if Tampa Bay Comic Con continues to get larger, the event planing team will need to step it up.
Other than the 2014 TBCC, I’ve always been pleased when I am at the Convention Center for events.

Was there for Comic Com 2014, nice facility and they keep up on bathrooms, etc. Event organizers did a poor job on signage and directions. Parking was close.

I loved coming to the comic con here. It’s a building building! I can’t wait to come here again. The vendors were very pricey (can of soda was $ 3).
Great location! It’s right by Jackson’s bar and the water. You can rent a boat for couple hours and make a day of it. It’s about 5 minutes from ybor

Great location to hold SOFIC. The exhibits were outstanding and the layout was accessibly organized and nicely kept.
I’m also a fan of the beer garden just right outside on the bay.

Tampa’s beautiful convention center sits right on the water, at the top of the bay with spectacular views of Tampa General Hospital, the nearby islands, and Bayshore Boulevard. You’re south of the Crosstown Expressway, and very near to Channelside and the Tampa Bay Times Forum. The Convention Center is along the city’s Riverwalk, which makes it nice for an outdoor stroll along the river during convention breaks.
There is a large, covered parking structure next door to the Convention Center, and several nearby lots providing plenty of parking for the attendees. Even if you have to park at one of the outer lots you can easily hop the TECO streetcar and ride to the Convention Center.
Inside the facility has a three-​story atrium with numerous meeting rooms on each floor. Everything is up-​to-​date and modern with good WiFi coverage throughout the building. Plenty of clean restrooms for conventioneers, and the drinking fountains all have spouts to fill your water bottles.
Eating options are slim inside the center, but you’ll find plenty of good spots outside and across the bridge.
If you’re here in late January /​early February for the Gasparilla Pirate Festival then you’ll recognize the Tampa Convention Center as the place where the flotilla of pirate ships will gather as the Jose Gasparilla, a 165′ long «pirate» ship docks in front of the Tampa Convention Center. The mayor of Tampa then hands over the key of the city to the pirate captain and a «victory parade» ensues down Bayshore Boulevard.
The convention center is home to numerous regional events, and larger gatherings like Comic Con and the Bollywood Film Festival.