Tampa considers naming rights for convention center

TAMPA -- The region already has Raymond James Stadium, the St. Pete Times Forum and Tropicana Field.

Now Mayor Pam Iorio is considering selling naming rights to the Tampa Convention Center.

"We're just fact-finding right now. We're finding out what other communities of like size have done to see if it's even feasible," Iorio said.

In a time of tight revenue for local governments, Iorio said she needs to consider every option for new money.

"The Convention Center is a venue that's going to constantly need upgrades to maintain its competitiveness," she said.

Preliminary research shows that naming rights could be worth about $250,000 a year, which could come in the form of cash, upgrades to the downtown Convention Center, or a combination of the two, said John Moors, center director.

If the city goes forward with the sale of naming rights, it could be in place next fiscal year, he said.

- Janet Zink, Times staff writer