Channel District is a residential neighborhood in the

City of Tampa Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and the seat of Hillsborough Count ...

that includes an entertainment complex, just east of

Downtown Tampa Downtown Tampa is the central business district of Tampa, Florida, United States, and the chief financial district of the Tampa Bay Area. It is second only to Westshore regarding employment in the area. Companies with a major presence downtown i ...

, Florida. It is bordered by Ybor Channel on the east and

Garrison Channel The Garrison Channel is one of several channels for boat traffic in and around the Port of Tampa in the City of Tampa, Florida. The Garrison Channel is anchored by the Channelside District on the East, leads to the Ybor and Sparkman Channel and ...

on the south. Channelside is a nickname for the entertainment complex ''Channelside Bay Plaza'', within the neighborhood that includes shops, restaurants, and bars. It is located next to the

Florida Aquarium The Florida Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, publicly operated institution located in downtown Tampa, Florida, United States. It is a large scale, aquarium and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. This means th ...

, American Victory Museum,

Port Tampa Bay Port Tampa Bay, known as the Port of Tampa until January 2014, is the largest port in the state of Florida and is overseen by the Tampa Port Authority, a Hillsborough County agency. The port is located in Tampa, Florida near downtown Tampa's Cha ...

(the launching point for

cruise line A cruise line is a company that operates cruise ships that operate on ocean or rivers and which markets cruises to the public. Cruise lines are distinct from passenger lines which are primarily concerned with transportation of passengers. Though ...

s) and a short stretch on the Tampa Riverwalk to the Tampa Bay History Center. Also located in the district is the

Amalie Arena Amalie Arena (officially stylized as AMALIE Arena) is a multipurpose arena in Tampa, Florida, that has been used for ice hockey, basketball, arena football, concerts, and other events. It is mainly used as the home for the Tampa Bay Lightning ...

(formerly the

Tampa Bay Times Forum Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and the seat of Hillsborough ...

) where the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning play their home games. The Arena also hosts concerts and other events. The center of the Bay Plaza has a large open court for live music, with views of the downtown skyline, cruise ships and the

Port of Tampa Port Tampa Bay, known as the Port of Tampa until January 2014, is the largest port in the state of Florida and is overseen by the Tampa Port Authority, a Hillsborough County agency. The port is located in Tampa, Florida near downtown Tampa's Ch ...

. It also houses a Sony Giant Screen theater. The TECO Streetcar has several stops in the district. Also,

NEVs NEVS AB (an abbreviated form of "National Electric Vehicle Sweden") is a Swedish electric car manufacturer which acquired the assets of Saab Automobile from a bankruptcy estate in 2012. NEVS is the trademark of the company's products including ...

are being utilized by startups to link Tampa's core neighborhoods including Channelside. The

Tampa Convention Center The Tampa Convention Center is a mid-sized convention center located in downtown Tampa, Florida at the mouth of the Hillsborough River. It has both waterfront views of Tampa Bay and views of the city's skyline. Harbour Island is across the epony ...

is located adjacent to the district to the west. Twin 30-story upscale condos

Towers of Channelside A tower is a tall structure, taller than it is wide, often by a significant factor. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires and are therefore, along with tall buildings, self-supporting structures. Towers are specifica ...

were completed in 2007, with many other mid and high-rises completed since.

Saint Leo University Saint Leo University is a private Roman Catholic liberal arts university in St. Leo, Florida. It was established in 1889. The university is associated with the Holy Name Monastery, a Benedictine convent, and Saint Leo Abbey, a Benedictine mon ...

opened an adult continuing education center, called the Tampa Education Center, in the Channel District in July 2011. More shopping and entertainment is planned for the area along with an urban sports park, to be named Madison Park. The side streets away from the bay plaza are becoming the focal points of the neighborhood, featuring many new restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. The Channel District also includes the Small Business Development Center at the University of South Florida. Starting in 2010 the Tampa Attractions Association formed a tradition of coloring the

green for Saint Patrick's Day. Sparkman Wharf is a recent addition to the Channel side area in 2018. This outdoor food hall is located on the waterfront. The Sparkman Wharf has options for food, drink, and outdoor seating. Several official Super Bowl XLIII parties featuring celebrity appearances were held in the district.

References

External links

Official City of Tampa Neighborhoods Channel District Legal Description. Currently there is an inactive Neighborhood Association.Channelside TampaChannelside District demographics pageWhere To Go In Channelside
{{Tampa neighborhoods , state=expanded Neighborhoods in Tampa, Florida Populated places on Tampa Bay Redeveloped ports and waterfronts in the United States