TAMPA, Fla. — Don't be alarmed if you are in downtown Tampa and hear gunshots or explosions today. A special operations demonstration will be taking place near the Tampa Convention Center and you might hear the sounds all around downtown Tampa.
The Special Operations Forces (SOF) "Battle of the Bay" demonstration will take place on May 8 between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. It will showcase over 170 United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and international service members performing a mock scenario in downtown Tampa.
The full military operations exercise will include helicopters, boats, gunshots, and explosions. The public is welcome to attend. The best views of the demonstration are from higher vantage points, including the Harbour Island Bridge. The demonstration will also be visible around the Convention Center, Riverwalk, and Bayshore Blvd.
South Franklin Street will be closed from Channelside Drive to the Westin Hotel and at the Water Street intersection. A detour can be found around Beneficial Drive to get to and from Harbour Island.
We stopped in a couple of businesses to ask what conventions like this mean for their business. They told us they prep in advance to keep up with the demand.
"We often do plan around when there's conventions going on. We'll make sure we're stocked up and prepared for it because it does bring in a lot of extra business so it's pretty important for us," Saul Weiskopf with Bright Ice explained.
A local food truck said they have no doubt they'll reach their sales goal.
"For us, the friendlier we are, the more people we serve, the faster we are, that's more potential for tip money, more potential for take home money!" Kelton Brooks with Pamz Pizza Conez said.
When debris from a tractor struck their vehicle on I-75, Denise and Mike Brennan were told by a state contractor that "they will take care of it." Now, more than six months later, the Brennans are still $7000 out-of-pocket for repairs and rentals.
