Heading into the weekend, drivers around Tampa should be ready for a slow roll near the Convention Center. You can expect the Gasparilla Volleyball Kickoff tournament to draw thousands, with athletes and their supporters descending on the city from tomorrow through Monday, according to an announcement from the City of Tampa. With matches stretching from early morning into the late hours of the night, traffic jams are likely at the start and end of each day—when the tournament is kicking off and spiking to a close.
The fun starts at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, with the final serves taking place just shy of midnight. If you plan on hitting the road, consider the 6:45 a.m. door opening time as your cue to either beat the rush or to settle in for longer drive times. Though Monday's games will end earlier, at 4:30 p.m., with doors swinging open at 7:45 a.m., the early birds looking to catch the action may again get tangled in traffic. Tampa's downtown will be particularly congested this weekend, with Amalie Arena also hosting concerts both nights – so if volleyball isn't your jam, maybe avoid that bumper to bumper ballad altogether.
For those attending the tournament, your best bet might be to leave the car behind. Downtown Tampa's traffic arteries will be clogged with fans and families eager to cheer on their champions, while others just trying to get from point A to B could find themselves caught in the traffic net. As per the city's notice, the peak congestion times will coincide with the throngs arriving for the tournament's first serve and bidding farewell as the last volleys are made.
It's not just sports fans who should take note of the extra vehicles hitting the streets this weekend. Concert-goers and downtown diners, who are heading to indulge in the local fare or catch a show, must also navigate the traffic surge expected at the downtown hub. Preparing for a surge in foot traffic as well, local businesses around the Tampa Convention Center are likely bracing themselves for the invasion of out-of-towners here to catch some airborne antics on the volleyball courts.
