No need to wait for USF economist Phil Porter, the economic-impact contrarian, to weigh in. Chances are the numbers for the Bollywood Oscars fell shy of the most optimistic projections. They always do. Plus, this was April–not summer when hotels are more challenged to generate room nights.
But this much still seems obvious: It was a net winner for Tampa and Tampa Bay, the first American venue to host this international event. The more modest estimates of local economic impact were still in the low 8 figures. The weather–there was no Plan B in case it had turned unexpectedly wet–was pleasantly balmy. The music was Do Da Tampa; the theme was Can-Do Tampa.
The turnaround time was an unheard of, improbable nine months, a veritable sprint in the mega-event recruiting business. But from the TIA welcome and the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park “Stomp” party to the interaction of diverse cultures and the International Indian Film Academy Awards at Raymond James Stadium, the four-day gathering reflected well on Tampa. And the IIAF extravaganza will be televised worldwide in June to a projected audience of 800 million viewers.
“It’s about more than just the party,” said Mayor Bob Buckhorn. “It’s about creating an identity for the city that we haven’t ever had before. … This is our chance to expose Tampa to a whole subcontinent that’s never seen it before.” And to take advantage of the nexus between India and this community–with more than 35,000 people of Indian descent living here.
And you can bet that, as we speak, Visit Tampa Bay President and CEO Santiago Corrada has already incorporated the four-day, international whirlwind that was into VTB’s Power Point presentation. It’s a major can-do arrow in that host-city quiver.
He can also take a bow.