Tampa city attorney departs to work for Tampa Bay Storm owner Vinik

Jim Shimberg Jr., Tampa’s city attorney for the past two years, announced that he will leave City Hall for a new position at the Tampa Bay Storm’s parent company, which also owns the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

Shimberg will begin his new position with Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment on May 1, the Tampa Tribune said. Shimberg, a land-use specialist, has 26 years of experience and is a veteran of the Holland & Knight law firm. He is expected to begin his new job as the executive vice president and general counsel, the Tribune said.

Lightning CEO Tod Leiweke said Shimberg will provide expertise to the company’s leadership and will be responsible for the organization’s legal issues, including owner Jeff Vinik’s separate real estate interests.

The Tampa Bay Storm Is In The Giving Spirit

Recently the Tampa Bay area media ran features about the low-level of donations to the Toys for Tots program this season.  These stories pulled at the heart strings of members of the Storm staff.
The Tampa Bay Times reported on December 13 that “Toy donations are so low, Toys for Tots officials worry they won't have enough gifts for the estimated 40,000 boys and girls on their lists.”
Tampa Bay Storm owner and Chairman, Mr. Jeff Vinik, recently announced that he was going to give $75, funded by the Lightning Foundation, to all full-time Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment employees to use towards Christmas gifts for those less fortunate.
So the decision was made, by Storm president Derrick Brooks, to take a shopping trip to pick up toys and drop them off at the local Toys for Tots collection warehouse.
“Today was not just about giving away toys,” said Storm vice president of football operations Jeff Gooch.  “It was about giving back to the community, and that’s what is important this time of year.”
Members of the front office and coaching staff took time out of their schedules to go shopping at a local Super Walmart. Each employee, armed with their $75, a $25 gift card donated by Walmart, and some of their own money, headed to the toy aisles.
“We’re a big part of this community,” said Storm head coach Dave Ewart.  “We have to give back and we encourage others to do the same.”
For the Storm, and Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment, this was just another way to show their continued support and commitment to the Tampa Bay Community.

Tampa Bay Storm Honored By Tampa Police Department

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Tampa Bay Storm were awarded the Chief’s Certificate of Appreciation by the Tampa Police Department on Tuesday, August 14 for hosting the third annual Dodgeball For a Cause Tournament in July prior to a Tampa Bay Storm football game at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
Clear Channel Media and Entertainment partnered with the Lightning Foundation to hold the annual dodge ball tournament on July 14 and drew in more than 500 participants for the event. The tournament raised more than $12,000 for the Tampa Police Athletic League. Over the three year span of this event, nearly $50,000 has been directed to law enforcement charities and benevolent associations. The Tampa Police Athletic League is in the midst of a $4-million capital campaign with the cornerstone project being a new gymnasium and equipment to serve their approximately 500 youth.
The Lightning are committed to leading by example and inspiring others to give in all sorts of ways. They contributed through the Community Heroes program, as well as the C.H.A.R.G.E. volunteer program, $2.5 million in cash awards and more than 4,000 volunteer hours, respectively, during the 2011-12 season.
To learn more about the Tampa Police Athletic League please visit www.paltampa.org.

Tampa Bay Storm Organization Honored by League Office

The Arena Football League announced today the Tampa Bay Storm was awarded with the Source One Support Staff of the Year Award. The recognition includes the team's front office support as a whole, a combination of Public Relations, Operations, Player Personnel, Coaches, Management and Equipment Staff.
"This was a collective effort and demonstrates everyone's commitment at Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment to providing world class service to our fans, employees, colleagues and fellow members of the Arena Football League," said Tampa Bay Storm President Derrick Brooks.
Prior to the 2011 Arena Football League season, Tampa Bay Sports and Entertainment Chairman Jeff Vinik purchased the Storm. With Tod Leiweke serving as CEO and under the direction of President Derrick Brooks, the Storm became the model Arena Football League organization.
For Tampa Bay, an original member of the Arena Football League, this is the first organizational award in the rich history and tradition of the franchise that includes a league-high five ArenaBowl Championships, the most wins by any team (207) and the all-time attendance leader (2,276,930) in AFL history.
The Arena Football League, celebrating its Silver Anniversary Season, will host AVITAE ArenaBowl XXV in New Orleans, LA. The Philadelphia Soul will take on the Arizona Rattlers on Friday, August 10 at 10:30 p.m. ET on NFL Network at the New Orleans Arena.

Storm's owner Vinik expands his presence in Channelside

Jeff Vinik's drive to develop the Channelside District is moving in new directions — across the street.
Vinik, the owner of the Tampa Bay Storm and Lightning, is now part of groups that have purchased at least two properties across the street from the Tampa Bay Times Forum where his teams plays, and just down the street from the Channelside shopping complex that he hopes to purchase.
One parcel is a wedge-shaped plot that previously housed a bar called The Hut, and before that Newk's Cafe. The restaurant has remained dormant for months. Facilities staff for the Lightning were cleaning out the property this week and installing new safety railings around the outside deck.
Strategically placed, that property follows Channelside Drive to the south, Nebraska Avenue to the West and Brorein Street on the northeast.
The parcel last sold for $2.4 million in December 2010 to 514 Channelside Properties LLC — just a few months after Vinik purchased the Lightning. Officials with the team confirmed that Vinik is now a "noncontrolling" participant in that group, though they declined to say what Vinik's long-term plan could be for the property.
For now, the venue will host some events during the Republican National Convention in August, which will be held in the Forum.
In a similar move, Vinik is now part of a group that owns a plot to the west, at Morgan Street and Channelside Drive, that once held a restaurant and law firm. That property sits vacant. The plot last sold in March 2011 for $2.7 million, according to the Hillsborough County property appraiser's office.
Both properties could play into Vinik's overall plan to redevelop the much wider Channelside District as he's in the lead to purchase the Channelside Bay Plaza shopping and entertainment center down the street.
Besides the Forum, Vinik controls a large parking lot to the southeast of the stadium, plus another to the east that abuts the Channelside complex.
Mayor Bob Buckhorn has praised Vinik for his investment into the city and previously said he expects whoever owns Channelside will need help with nearby development.
"It's likely we'll limit that to things like sidewalks and landscaping," the mayor said in April. "To expect a huge investment from the city would be far-fetched."
Sometime this summer, officials with Vinik expect to present his proposed redevelopment design for the shopping complex, and they've long expressed a desire to have the overall neighborhood revamped.