Art galleries, museums, theaters, shops and restaurants are the pulse of St. Petersburg's downtown waterfront – the cultural and epicurean experience is something that locals and visitors appreciate and enjoy. Let’s explore another layer of downtown living – sports! There is the obvious and not-so-obvious….!

James Shields

The Tampa Bay Rays are the cornerstone of the downtown sports scene. Still considered a young ball club by Major League standards, the Rays have won the AL East two of the last three years, making it to the World Series in 2008 by beating the Boston Red Sox in a 7th game thriller. As the 2011 regular season winds down and the playoffs loom, the Rays are still mathematically in contention for a wild card berth. Nothing brings a city together quite like the quest for a title….Let’s Go Rays!

Looking to bring more diverse sporting events to our area and to produce additional revenue for city sports complexes that may sit empty for part of the year, Mayor Bill Foster organized a group of local “ambassadors” to help market the city to sporting event organizers. The St. Petersburg Sports Alliance was formed last spring and the results have been impressive!

Al Lang Stadium

FC Tampa Bay, of the North American Soccer League, has played their 2011 season at Al Lang Stadium on the downtown waterfront. The spring training home for the Tampa Bay Rays from 1998 – 2008, Al Lang sat empty for a short time and now has new life with soccer fans rocking the stands. Prior to the start of the soccer season, St. Petersburg International Baseball brought a 13-game spring series to Al Lang Field, pairing some of the world’s best baseball teams against MLB and college powerhouses.

Looking to expand post-season play, college football introduced the Beef O’Brady’s Bowl in 2008, choosing St. Petersburg as the host city. The overwhelming enthusiasm for college football in the state of Florida made St. Pete a perfect choice to host the annual game between Big East and Conference USA teams. The 2011 Beef O’Brady’s Bowl will be played on December 20th and televised nationally by ESPN…..which two lucky teams will it be this year?

College football’s longest running all-star match up, the East-West Shrine Game, is moving to St. Petersburg (from Orlando) for the 2012 and 2013 games. The game benefits Shriner’s Hospital for Children and is a showcase for college talent, giving scouts and coaches an opportunity to size up the highest rated NFL prospects. The 2012 game will be played at Tropicana Field on January 21st, televised by the NFL Network. Players and coaches will visit Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Tampa to spend time with patients.

Going into its 8th year in downtown St. Petersburg, the Honda Grand Prix has delighted race fans at every twist and turn along the waterfront circuit. Combining downtown streets circling Pioneer Park, Progress Energy Center for the Arts, the Dali Museum, and the runways at Albert Whitted Airport, the international television audience gets a spectacular glimpse of our picturesque waterfront. As the season-opening race of the IZOD IndyCar Series, the 2012 Honda Grand Prix runs from March 23rd – 25th.

These are just highlights of a broad selection of sporting events/teams right in downtown St. Petersburg…..the entertainment options are seemingly endless…..and Ovation is at the center of it all!

Although it’s not a downtown St. Petersburg attraction, we have a special affection for the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and their celebrity resident, Winter, the dolphin. Caring for countless stranded marine life over the years, CMA’s motto is “Rescue, Rehabilitate and Return” – not so with Winter – Clearwater Marine Aquarium has been her permanent home for almost 6 years!

Winter was found as a baby (3 months old), entangled in the ropes of a crab trap. The circulation to her tail was cut off by the tight ropes and she eventually lost her tail. A brilliant idea for a prosthetic tail, coupled with Winter’s strong will to survive, saved her life. The technology and special material used for the tail has since been used to change the lives of physically challenged people all over the world.

Winter’s miraculous story and the hope she symbolizes for so many has captivated every corner of the world….and Hollywood took notice! “Dolphin Tale”, starring Harry Connick, Jr., Ashley Judd, Morgan Freeman, and Winter will open in theaters across the country September 23rd. Producer Andrew A. Kosove says, “Dolphin Tale is about overcoming adversity, about persistence, and about courage – qualities that human beings can relate to at a very core level. What makes it even more special is that those qualities are seen through the experiences of an animal.”

Shot primarily at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, but also Honeymoon Island, Admiral Farragut Academy, and other Pinellas County spots, locals will see lots of familiar scenes in “Dolphin Tale” - - see you at the theater!