Skatepark of Tampa

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Skatepark of Tampa
Location	Tampa, Florida, United States
Opened	December 28, 1992
Website	spottampa.com

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]

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]

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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]

Pro:

• Gavin Overstreet
• Elissa Steamer
• Jeff Lenoce
• Matt Milligan
• Mike Frazier
• Clive Dixon
• Jimmy Marcus aka "The Greek"
• Mike Frazier
• Brian Schaefer(owner)
• Paul Zitzer
• Tyson Peterson
• Zion Wright

Am:

• Abdias Rivera
• Sam Bellipanni
• Eric McKenney
• Markus Jalaber
• James Cobb
• Wes Box
• Cash Gaddes
• Robby Kirkland
• Treshan O'Shaugnessy
• Alejandro Burnell
• Alex Johnson
• Allen Russell
• Pat Stiener
• Marse Farmer

• Adam Dyet
• Allen Russell
• Braydon Szafranski
• Brian Schaefer
• Chris Peck
• David Gravette
• Don Brown
• DJ Wade
• Bart Simpson
• Marty McFly
• Joey Brezinski
• Justin Strubing
• Lizard King
• Matt Milligan
• Oliver Flores
• Omar Hassan
• Pat Duffy
• P-Stone
• Cory Kennedy
• Keenan Milton
• Ali Boulala
• Shane Cross

• Brian Howard
• Brian Sloane
• Corey Hainline
• Dorian Tucker
• Jay Giroux
• Josh Stewart
• Kyle Berard
• Mike Peterson
• Paul Zitzer
• Ryan Dodge
• Scotty Conley
• Steve Brandi

• Spencer Foresman
• Mark Mulville
• Matt Coplon
• Luis (aka Project Pap) Pinzon
• Jeff Harrington
• Sean Albright

• Chris Kneer
• George Lackey
• Henry Alva
• Jimmy Hurn
• Michael J. Buscemi
• Wesley Cowan

Tampa Pro 1995^[7]

Vert:

1. Danny Way
2. Tas Pappas
3. Tony Hawk

Street:

1. Mike Vallely
2. Danny Way
3. Steve Berra

• 1986: Tommy Guerrero and Scott Watts
• 1994: Matt "Spread the Stoke" Mihaly
• 1995: Wayne "Wheel" Wells, Buffalo, NY
• 1996: Mike Vallely, New Jersey
• 1997: Johhny Davidson, Atlanta Georgia
• 1998: Omar Hassan, Benson, California
• 1999: Wade Speyer, Omaha, Nebraska
• 2000: Andy McDonald, Sunny Vale, California
• 2001: Chet Thomas, California
• 2002: Chris Senn, Oakland, California
• 2003: Jamie "Ham Bone" McKiernan, Louisville, Kentucky

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.^{[citation needed]}

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]

• Official website

27°57′58.44″N 82°24′37.42″W / 27.9662333°N 82.4103944°W / 27.9662333; -82.4103944