The Skatepark of Tampa is a skatepark in Tampa, Florida, United States. It is considered one of the top skateboarding venues on the East Coast of the United States. The name is often abbreviated as SPoT, and it is well known for its annual Tampa Am and Tampa Pro competitions.[1][2]
History
On December 28, 1992, SPoT was opened only to employees, and on January 2, 1993 the park officially opened to the public.[3] The first pro contest was held April 1 & 2, 1995 and won by Mike Vallely.[4]
On April 1, 2012, SPoT announced on its website that the park had been purchased (for US$9.3 million) by rapper Lil Wayne. It was revealed shortly afterwards that the fake press release was an April Fool's joke.[5]
The skatepark includes a terrain park-style "pro course", offering a pyramid, rails and transitions. Outside, there is a concrete transition course with a pizza oven. The "beginner's course" features many smaller rails and ramps to expand skateboarding skills and also includes the famous bowl.
The street skateboarding course is redesigned every year for the Tampa Pro and Tampa Am contest.[6]
Street champions
1986 co-winners Tommy Guerrero and Scott Watts
1996 - Mike Vallely, N.J.
1997 - Johhny Davidson, Atl, Ga. 1998 - Omar Hassan, Benson, Ca.
1999 - Wade Speyer, Omaha, Nb.
2000 - Andy McDonald, Sunny Vale, Ca.
2001 - Chet Thomas, Cali
2002 - Chris Senn, oakland, Ca.
The skatepark also doubles as a popular music venue. In 2012, SPoT hosted its 20-year anniversary event with performances from Souls of Mischief and Killer Mike.[8]
The venue also hosts the Transitions Art Gallery music venue on its premises. TAG has served as a springboard for acoustic artists and other musicians. In December 2012, the owner of the Gallery announced he was stepping down and that the venue would be under new management from January 2013. The venue's new owners subsequently announced that the name of the venue would change to Epic Problem.[9]Epic Problem hosts many shows from many post-hardcore bands and one annual show from the nonprofit high school (mainly from Hillsborough High School) sketch comedy troupe On The Brink.[10]
In July 2016, Epic Problem held its last show and passed the torch to King State coffee, owned by Tim McTague, of Underoath and Nate Young, of Anberlin, who use the space for brewing.[11]
In March 2017, the SPoT Snack Bar was expanded and reconstructed into a full-fledged music venue and renamed "Transitions". It is complete with stage, lighting, sound system and newly rebuilt bar. Transitions held its first show during the 23rd Annual Tampa Pro contest that featured the music of Ray Barbee, Drowning Clowns, Arctic, and Tampa's own Samurai Shotgun.
Popular culture
The skatepark is a major feature in the Tony Hawk's Underground video game, and SPoT employees appear as competitors in the street and vertical contests. The skatepark also served as an exclusive competition level in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2x.[12]
SPoT appeared on the MTV series Rob & Big that featured professional skateboarder and entrepreneur Rob Dyrdek.[13]
In August 2011, Lil Wayne stopped by SPoT for a private after hours session. He has attended every Tampa Pro contest since, often spectating from the judges' booth.[14]
In May 2004, comedian Dave Chappelle set up an after hours session with some of his friends while on tour in Tampa.[15]
