Strategic Property Partners, the team behind Water Street Tampa, has outlined a significant expansion for the downtown district. Featuring a new music venue, a new hotel, public spaces, and a hefty amount of retail and restaurant buildout, the plans aren’t just for an expansion of Water Street Tampa, but the creation of an entirely new district within it.
The massive expansion will be anchored by a 3,500‑capacity live music and entertainment venue and a 250‑key hotel, then complemented by 80,000 square feet of entertainment‑driven retail, dining and hospitality spaces. It will also be “intentionally layered with activated public gathering spaces to create a walkable destination that remains active on both event and non‑event days.”
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The new entertainment hub will have to receive city approval, and the development is already in the review process. SPP projects construction to begin in early 2027. An official name for the entertainment district and hotel partnership will be announced at a later date.
“We are creating a fully integrated entertainment district that expands the energy of Water Street Tampa and Benchmark International Arena while delivering unforgettable experiences for residents, visitors, sports fans and concertgoers alike,” said Josh Taube, CEO of Strategic Property Partners. “The vision is to create a destination that broadens what Water Street Tampa offers—one that delivers a diverse range of experiences and remains active whether driven by major events or everyday downtown life.”
Here are the key highlights from SPP’s updated plans:
Entertainment venue
- A 2,800-person general admission floor with an additional 700-person mezzanine level (3,500 total capacity)
- More than 8,000 square feet of exterior terrace space overlooking Channelside Drive
- A 6,000-square-foot VIP lounge
Hotel
- A 250-key hotel integrated directly into the entertainment district
- A 12,000-square-foot amenity and pool deck level
- Direct VIP connectivity to the venue with a private entrance connected to the hotel lobby and amenity deck
Retail & Dining
- Approximately 80,000 square feet of entertainment-focused retail, dining and hospitality offerings
- Retail and restaurant spaces spread across two levels activating Channelside Drive, Morgan Street and Jefferson Street
- Spaces designed to operate independently while also benefiting from the activity created by concerts, sporting events and district programming
Parking & Access
- Approximately 1,000 parking spaces integrated into the development
- A covered three-lane central valet and rideshare drop-off experience
- Direct access serving the venue, hotel and retail components through a covered porte-cochère
Public Realm
- More than 25,000 square feet of activated public realm and gathering space
- A central plaza facing Channelside Drive and Benchmark International Arena designed to support year-round community activity, pre-event programming and outdoor entertainment experiences
SPP says the new entertainment venue will have an “open room” model, which they describe as “an independent operating structure that allows the space to host artists, tours and events from any promoter or entertainment company rather than being tied exclusively to a single operator or touring pipeline.”
