Game Plan: The Power of Sports PR in Tampa Bay
Posted on Oct. 3, 2025 / Subscribe 0
by Kiran Malik
Take a moment to celebrate this: They are PR powerhouses talking about helping bring the Super Bowl, the NCAA Women’s Final Four and many high-profile sporting events to Tampa – and they are all women! PRSA Tampa Bay brought together local leaders for a panel discussion, “Game Plan: The Power of Sports PR in Tampa Bay,” on September 30. The event was held at the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County and gave members an insider’s perspective on what it takes to deliver successful events that shine in the national spotlight. The panel featured Claire Lessinger, Vice President of Events with the Tampa Bay Sports Commission; Jennifer Renspie, Partner with Crackerjack Media; and LaKendria Robinson, Founder & CEO of The Orenda Collective.
Santiago Corrada, President & CEO of Visit Tampa Bay opened the event. Together, they shared how strategy, storytelling, and collaboration fuel our city’s success in hosting major sporting events.
Building the Foundation for Sports Tourism
Tampa Bay has emerged as one of the nation’s most dynamic stages for major sporting events. Beyond the roar of the crowds and the economic windfall, there’s a different kind of game plan being executed - one powered by strategic public relations, storytelling, and collaboration.
Tampa Bay has built a reputation as a premier host city for marquee events. From the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship to the 2021 Super Bowl and the recent 2025 NCAA Women’s Final Four, the region’s sports calendar is stacked with opportunities to showcase the city’s energy and hospitality.
Corrada highlighted how sports fuel Tampa Bay’s tourism strategy:
“Tourism is our lifeblood, and sports are one of our greatest stages. These events don’t just bring visitors, they put our city in the national spotlight and create memories that encourage people to come back. Our aspiring vision is to inspire people to love Tampa Bay!”
STORYTELLING AS STRATEGY
In today’s media landscape, winning coverage is about more than final scores. The panelists emphasized the power of storytelling to capture hearts, minds, and headlines.
Jennifer Renspie explained:
“Fans may remember the score, but what really sticks are the human stories, the resilience, the joy, the sense of community. Our job is to find those stories and make sure they’re told in a way that connects far beyond the arena.”
COLLABORATION ACROSS SECTORS
One of the strongest themes to emerge from the discussion was the importance of collaboration. Coordinating an event like the Super Bowl requires more than just a stadium and a schedule. It involves city officials, transportation systems, security teams, hospitality partners, and media outlets - all moving in sync.
Claire Lessinger reflected on the challenge:
“No one organization can pull off something of this scale alone. It takes every sector working together - from city leaders to volunteers - to make Tampa Bay shine on the national stage.”
The Super Bowl RFP alone was thousands of pages – yes, thousands of pages. Imagine the collaboration needed to just begin the gargantuan process and then bringing it to fruition amid a pandemic. Tampa did it all with bells on!
adapting in real time
Another hallmark of Tampa Bay’s sports PR success has been the ability to pivot quickly in response to shifting expectations. Social media has heightened the demand for immediate engagement, while sponsors and fans expect personalized experiences.
LaKendria Robinson pointed to the importance of agility:
“You have to be ready to shift in real time. Whether it’s a change in schedule, media needs, or sponsor expectations, the ability to adapt is what keeps the story moving forward, and keeps the audience engaged.”
the bigger picture
Ultimately, the panelists agreed that sports PR in Tampa Bay isn’t just about managing events - it’s about shaping the region’s identity. Each successful tournament, playoff, or championship reinforces the message that Tampa Bay is a place where big things happen, and where communities come together to celebrate.
As Corrada summed up:
“Sports tourism is more than numbers. It’s about making Tampa Bay unforgettable, for fans, for players, and for the community that rallies behind them.”
For PR professionals, the takeaway is clear: the next time the world tunes in to watch a game in Tampa Bay, there’s a sophisticated playbook of strategy, storytelling, and collaboration at work behind the scenes. And for the community, the victories extend far beyond the field.
Register here. ZooTampa is located at 1101 W. Sligh Ave, Tampa, FL 33604.
0 Comments