TAMPA, Fla. – Next door to where the Lightning and Avalanche will square off in game four of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday, June 22nd, a crowd will gather for a different Tampa-Colorado face-off. The stakes here are even bigger than a trophy: it’s about the future of Tampa’s growth and quality of life.
While Tampa has dominated hockey in the past decade – Denver, where the Colorado Avalanche play, has been a champion in urban development. This Wednesday, just hours before the puck drops, Denver’s visionary Downtown leader, former Downtown Denver Partnership CEO Tami Door, will be speaking to Tampa’s top minds about how Tampa and Denver have built similar quality of life success stories.
– The Lightning have three total Stanley Cup wins, while the Avalanche can only claim two
– Currently Denver is leading in areas like wages and lifestyle, according to Brookings:
– The Denver metro area ranks 11th in the US for an increase in average salaries, while Tampa Bay is 25th – For standard of living, metro Denver ranks 16th, with Tampa Bay at 44th
Door says when she looks at Tampa, she sees all the signs of where Denver was 10 to 20 years ago.
“Downtown Tampa is poised to be a premier example of urban growth and city building in our country. Strategy, leadership, and resilience will set the course to leverage all of the opportunities ahead,” Door said. “On Wednesday, I’ll be sharing insights and lessons learned from other Downtowns, including Denver, with Tampa leaders to support efforts to envision and create a Downtown that is primed to grow current businesses and create new industries, attract the future workforce, build inclusive and well-connected neighborhoods, and bring people together around a shared vision.”
Both hockey teams arrived in their cities at around the same time.
– The Lightning’s first season came in 1992
– The Avalanche moved to Denver from Quebec in 1995
To Door, this is another sign the two cities are on similar paths, and Tampa’s future will be bright if the city calls the right plays today.
“In terms of hockey, only one team can take home the Stanley Cup. But, when it comes to creating thriving Downtowns, I’m absolutely rooting for Tampa.”
WHO: Tami Door, President & CEO of Q-Factor (Photo Link) and Lynda Remund, President & CEO of the Tampa Downtown Partnership (Photo Link)
WHAT: Tami Door is the keynote speaker at the Tampa Downtown Partnership’s 36th Annual Meeting & Luncheon
WHERE: JW Marriott Tampa Water Street, just across Thunder Alley from Amalie Arena (510 Water Street, Tampa, FL, 33602)
WHEN: Wednesday, June 22 at 11:30am (Media to contact Ashly Anderson at aanderson@tampasdowntown.com for access / post-event interviews)
About the Tampa Downtown Partnership Tampa Downtown Partnership is a private, membership-based not-for-profit 501(c)(6) comprised of companies, organizations, and individuals with a common goal of advancing Tampa’s Downtown. Through an annual contract with the City of Tampa, Tampa Downtown Partnership administers the Special Services District. In addition to Tampa’s Downtown Guides and Clean Team, Tampa Downtown Partnership serves downtown through marketing, business development, transportation, advocacy, public space activation, planning, and beautification.
