The Tampa Streetcar is the real MVP during big events

exterior of a large streetcar in a downtown area

The TECO Line Streetcar delivered a slam dunk during the 2025 NCAA Women’s Final Four, with nearly 25,000 rides taken over the championship weekend. As thousands of fans from across the country packed downtown Tampa, the streetcar system proved to be a standout MVP—moving people safely, swiftly, and seamlessly through the city’s hottest destinations.

HART reported impressive daily ridership numbers:

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  • Thursday, April 3: 3,666 rides
  • Friday, April 4: 5,472 rides
  • Saturday, April 5: 9,071 rides
  • Sunday, April 6: 6,484 rides
a group of passengers ride the historic Tampa Streetcar on a sunny day. The interior is solid wood with gold hued bars above the seats for passengers to hold
The free Tampa Streetcars offer a unique way to explore downtown Tampa and Ybor City

Tampa Streetcar carries 25,000 passengers during Final Four weekend

With extended service hours on Thursday and Sunday, HART ensured fans could rely on late-night trips to and from the heart of the Final Four celebrations. Streetcars ran every 12–15 minutes across the 2.7-mile route—completely fare-free—connecting downtown Tampa, the Channel District, and historic Ybor City with convenient access to Amalie Arena.

The city’s transit success didn’t stop there. Route 1, which links downtown Tampa to Tampa Heights and Armature Works, also operated fare-free throughout the weekend. Thanks to funding from the City of Tampa, Route 1 will remain fare-free until January 2026, providing another accessible and affordable option for residents and visitors alike.

a local green and yellow streetcar outside of a sports stadium
The TECO Streetcar has convenient stops near Amalie Arena

Fan-friendly infrastructure downtown

HART CEO Scott Drainville expressed pride in the system’s performance, stating, “We were thrilled to help showcase Tampa as a vibrant, accessible city during one of the biggest weekends in college sports. The TECO Line Streetcar provided a smooth and scenic way for thousands of fans to experience all our downtown has to offer.”

As the city basks in the success of the Final Four, Tampa’s transit network stands out as a shining example of efficient, fan-friendly infrastructure.

For real-time tracking and more information about the service, visit TECO’s website.

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