TAMPA, April 1, 1997 - A group of prominent Tampa businessmen announced today the formation of a public-private partnership that will turn the city into a major international tourist attraction.

"This is exactly what Dick Greco has been looking for, a super development," said concert promoter Stan Tipton, chairman of the development group. "We are hesitant to reveal all the details for fear that some other city will try to beat us."

Still, the Weekly Planet has learned that the developers plan to build a 700-foot tower on top of the Ice Palace. From the top of the tower, a fully enclosed, refrigerated ski slope will descend into downtown Tampa. One branch will lead to an entrance to be built atop the convention center. "No one has thought of any better way to get people into the convention center," said lawyer Bob Foster, a partner in the project.

A separate high-speed, almost freefall flume ride will land people inside the Florida Aquarium. "We call it the Big Plunge," Foster said. "You're likely to get soaked, especially if you pay taxes."

"Vail had better watch out," added real estate developer Owen Whitman. "Tampa's going to be the ski capital of America."

The group said that they are completely sure of the feasibility of what they call Mount Spendmore. "We expect a report from the respected accounting firm of Coopers & Lybrand - you know, the ones who did that fine study for the aquarium - that will show 10 million people a year will ski Mount Spendmore," Foster said.

The developers said the project will generate more than $10 billion a year in direct spending. "We asked the financial consultants who testified for the Bucs what the total economic impact would be," Foster added. "They said every tourist will spend $1,000 and we will have a multiplier effect of seven. So the total impact will be, let's see, $70 billion." When asked why the project would have a multiplier effect of seven, Foster replied: "Just because."

Estimated costs for the project are $800 million. "The best news is that we don't need a single dime from government," said Whitman. "However, since this is a public-private partnership, we do need the city, county and Tampa Sports Authority to guarantee the bonds. That's all, just a guarantee that if we can't make our mortgage payment, government will. That won't happen because we are savvy businessmen. There is absolutely no risk to the taxpayers. We are absolutely sure of that. Absolutely. Believe me."

Whitman said the developers had consulted with former Mayor Sandy Freedman, who told them there "was much less of a chance of problems than in the very fine projects I proposed for downtown Tampa."

Foster said he plans to meet soon with government negotiators. "We hope they'll be the same fellows who negotiated with Malcolm Glazer - you know, Hinks Shimberg, Greco, Dan Kleman. We can't lose with them on the other side of the table."

Tipton said there was something in the project for everyone - at least every insider. "L. Garry Smith will sell the bonds, Holland & Knight will be the bond attorneys, Hinks' business partners will get a deal to build a hotel inside the enclosed ski slope, Jack Wilson will do some of the construction once he gets done with all his other plum government contracts. And, for the mayor, we'll make sure his old employer, the DeBartolo Corp. gets some of the action. Oh, yes, I almost forgot, Dick's good friend Phil Alessi gets free rent wherever he wants to sell beignets."

Whitman added: "We're going to make Jimmy Ferman chairman of our board, and hope he'll do as good a job with us as at the aquarium."

After all the inside players collect their fees, "we should actually still have about $2 million to build the thing," Foster said. "Same sort of accounting as they did at the Ice Palace."

Tipton concluded by saying the group had conceived a whole new marketing plan for Tampa. "We think it's a winner: 91Tampa: The City That Goes for Broke!' Do you like it? We just want to speed the city along the course our leaders have charted."

* * *

OK, when the esteemed members of the Save the World Society called and said they had a great idea for downtown Tampa, they played it straight-faced. Never totally convinced, I nonetheless tentatively took the bait and agreed to hear the plan from the group of social outcasts, ne'er-do-well scions of prominent families and political malcontents that lunches each Friday at Mis en Place. Some of them have money - at least the ones that haven't lost their fortunes on booze, women and gambling - so they might, just might, really have a deal cooking.

They didn't tell me the name until they were well into the ski slope description. Several other uninformed friends of the Worlders sat at the table. One of them bobbed his head up and down. Long after I had recalled it was almost April Fools' Day, that fellow was still biting. He believed it. If I had had as much wine as he had, I might have swallowed the story longer, too.

The scary thing is, in Tampa such a scheme might be taken seriously. Consider: Two groups - neither with any finances - have proposed building waterfront sky needle towers hundreds of feet higher than Tampa's tallest skyscrapers. Goofy, bizarre, madcap, screwy, idiotic - absolutely, but our mayor and other officials defy common sense and treat the would-be tower developers as sane individuals.

I'd rather bet on Mount Spendmore.

Contact Your "Politicals" Directly At Links Below ( They need your guidance)   City of Tampa Government Link Hillsborough County Government Link Hillsborough County Commissioners  Email Link Two "Clicks" to find your Representatives in Washington and send them a  direct fax or email message!    

HOTPOLITICS NEEDS YOUR HELP... If you have direct knowledge, or have heard "rumors" of any impropriety committed by Bay area Politicians or Political-Insiders "Politicals" HOTPOLITICS would like to hear about it. E-mail us by simply clicking on the button below. We will do the rest.

HOME