RNC event interrupts USF St. Petersburg student move-in, orientation

Administration has canceled the Freshman Convocation which would have been held on Sunday, August 26th. The event conflicts with an official RNC kick-off at Tropicana Field which will welcome 20,000 attendees.

 

The USF St. Petersburg campus falls within a 7.4-square mile RNC Event Zone extending from 22nd Street to Tampa Bay and from 5th Avenue North to 7th Avenue South. Kick-off guests will park at the Mahaffey Theatre and will be shuttled by bus to Tropicana Field. Traffic along 5th Avenue South will be impacted by the shuttles. 

 

Temporary rules for the Event Zone will be in place from August 26th to September 1st.

 

A spokesperson says the restrictions will have little impact on the USFSP campus, which will remain open.

 

Around 550 residential students including freshman will move in on one day only, instead of two. Move in day is scheduled for Saturday, August 25th. 

 

Several downtown streets will be shut-down to local traffic on Sunday. Street closures will begin after the Tampa Bay Rays-Oakland Athletics games scheduled for Saturday.

 

The most significant impact will be the closing of Interstate 175 on Sunday, August 26th from 2PM to midnight.

 

Watercraft including kayaks and sailboats will not be allowed on the campus’ waterfront during the kick-off event.

 

USF St. Petersburg classes starting Monday, August 27th will not be interrupted.