Expo Hall
Expo Hall is located in Florida
Expo Hall
Expo Hall
Location in Florida
Expo Hall is located in the United States
Expo Hall
Expo Hall
Location in the United States
Former namesTampa Fairgrounds Arena (1977–83)
Address4800 US Highway 301 North
LocationEast Lake-Orient Park, Florida
Coordinates27°59′26″N 82°21′45″W / 27.99056°N 82.36250°W / 27.99056; -82.36250
OwnerFlorida State Fair Authority[1]
OperatorFlorida State Fair Authority
CapacityIndoor soccer: 9,200
Ice hockey: 10,425
Concerts: 11,926
Field size88,000 sq ft (8,200 m2)
Opened1977[2]
Tenants
South Florida Bulls men's basketball (1979-1980)
Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) (1984)
Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL) (1992–1993)
Tampa Bay Tritons (RHI) (1994)
Website
www.floridastatefair.com

Expo Hall is an indoor arena located at the Florida State Fairgrounds in East Lake-Orient Park, Florida. It is used primarily as an exhibition hall during the Florida State Fair, but has also hosted concerts and sporting events.

The South Florida Bulls men's basketball team used Expo Hall as their main home arena for the 1979–80 season before the on campus USF Sun Dome opened.

The Tampa Bay Rowdies of the defunct North American Soccer League used Expo Hall for 8 of their 16 home games during the 1983–84 indoor season. At that time the arena's capacity was 9,200.[3] This would also prove to be the league's final indoor campaign before suspending operations following the 1984 outdoor season.[4]

The arena was more famously used by the National Hockey League's Tampa Bay Lightning during the team's inaugural season of 1992-1993. The facility's seating capacity of 10,425 proved too small for the Lightning, and the team relocated to the ThunderDome in St. Petersburg for three seasons, until their permanent home, Amalie Arena, was built in downtown Tampa.

In 1994 the expansion Tampa Bay Tritons of Roller Hockey International played for one season at Expo Hall before folding. Mark Messier was the owner of the club.[5]

The facility currently hosts graduation ceremonies for Hillsborough County's public high schools.

Noteworthy entertainers to perform in concert at Expo Hall include Robert Plant, REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick, No Doubt, Green Day, Nine Inch Nails, Peter Frampton, Stone Temple Pilots, Yes, George Michael, Santana, Beastie Boys, Alabama, Motörhead, and The Smashing Pumpkins.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Expo Hall venue information". Retrieved 2021-10-08.
  2. ↑ McMorrow-Hernandez, Joshua (27 April 2015). Tampa Bay Landmarks and Destinations. ISBN 9781439651063. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
  3. ↑ Bunch, Ken (November 8, 1983). "Arena possible site for Rowdies". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1-2. Retrieved 2016-03-25.
  4. ↑ Beard, Randy (November 5, 1983). "Don't hold your breath as Rowdies unveil schedule". Evening Independent. p. 4-C. Retrieved 2012-06-02.
  5. ↑ Brown, Arthur R. Jr. (June 11, 1994). "Tritons to make roller hockey home debut". Lakeland Ledger. p. 3D. Retrieved 2017-03-16.
  6. ↑ "Expo Hall Tampa Concert Setlists". www.setlist.fm. Archived from the original on 28 August 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
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