Here’s 5 Things We’re Excited About For 2017

Bye bye, 2016.

Hello, 2017.

For many, there are no sweeter words. We’ll let the historians debate about how bad 2016 really was, but they have plenty of material to study.

Those historians might want to start with an election season that was meaner and nastier than any other. Ever. Considering the New Tampa area seemed firmly in Hillary Clinton’s camp, based on voting results, President Donald Trump will only add to the misery for some in the years to come.

Our country also faced an Ebola outbreak and a Zika outbreak, neither of which seems so bad in a world seemingly bent on destroying itself with hateful attacks leaving scores dead in Brussels, Paris and Instanbul, as well as in Charleston and Orlando…and the list just keeps getting longer with each passing day.

We had a significant hurricane scare (thank you, Matthew) and while the storm season spared New Tampa, thousands in other places in Matthew’s wake weren’t nearly as fortunate.

Muhammad Ali, David Bowie and Prince all died during 2016. Now, we really know what it sounds like when doves cry.

So bye bye, 2016.

Hello, 2017.

We could use some cheering up, so here’s five things we’re looking forward to as the calendar turns, because, really, things have to get better, don’t they?

1. Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI) — Of all the things to look forward in the New Tampa-Wesley Chapel area in 2017, the $20-million FHCI (see ad on pg. 47), located along Cypress Ridge Blvd. on the northeast corner of the I-75/S.R. 56 interchange, has to be near the top of the list.

If you haven’t noticed, Tampa Bay has become something of a hockey town, thanks to the success of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning. With so many northern transplants in the area, FCHI is sure to be a hit.

The five-rink complex will host corporate events, non-ice events like street and roller hockey, and with just a little configuring, even volleyball and basketball.

But even though the rink will feature the Top Shelf Sports Lounge, the bread and butter of FCHI will be served cold. The 150,500-sq.-ft. facility will have free skating, figure skating, high school hockey, adult hockey leagues, and everything in between. Gordie Zimmermann, who runs the place, has even teased curling leagues for locals. Raise your hand if you’ve watched curling during the Winter Olympics and said, ‘You know, I’d sure like to try that.’

Now you can.

Sometime in January, you’ll even be able to watch your first hockey game at the new FHCI when Wiregrass Ranch High plays. Spectrum Sports also will televise a live high school hockey game from FHCI sometime soon, too. Expect the Lightning to have some sort of a presence in the new joint, starting with clinics for kids.

And, Skate For Hope, which will benefit cancer research and feature many of the world’s top figure skaters, is scheduled for June 17.

2. The Taste of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel — Speaking of FCHI, that brings us to the second thing we are looking forward to in 2017— the Taste of New Tampa, which returns Saturday, March 18, after a four-year hiatus.

You might remember the last Taste, back in 2003, which was foiled by terrible weather.

Well, this year, that won’t be a problem, as FHCI is hosting virtually all of the event inside. So, no rain, no sweating, no sunburn, just cool sub-70-degree weather as you walk around sampling tastes from as many as 50 local restaurants.

The star of the Taste is always the food, but we don’t want to put any pressure on our happy editor Gary Nager, who has been personally involved in almost every Taste to date. But, since he is again responsible for bringing in the best restaurants this year, COME ON MAN! AFTER 2016 THE WHOLE AREA IS RELYING ON A VARIED SELECTION OF DELICIOUS SAMPLES FROM THE BEST RESTAURANTS AROUND OR 2017 WILL BE RUINED!

Okay, so maybe there’s a little pressure.

3. New Restaurants — Speaking of food, we love playing Follow the New Restaurants here in the office. In this regard, 2016 was pretty good to us, with Ginza, Cheddar’s, Culver’s, Chick-Fil-A, B.J.’s Brewhouse, Longhorn Steakhouse and Vuelo all opening their doors.

And, while you may never have eaten at a Ford’s Garage or a Pollo Tropical, both are expected to open in 2017 right across from the Tampa Premium Outlets (TPO). Our office will be among the first ones inside.

4. Costco — And, while we’re on the subject of TPO, if you look just a little west of it, the Costco looks ready to open.

We repeat: Costco looks ready to open!

We are now hearing the gas pumps will be open Jan. 9, and the wholesaler will be opening on Feb. 9. 

The mega wholesaler already has a cult following, but the nearest one to New Tampa is in Brandon. The expected February opening in Wesley Chapel will attract many of us, not just for the 200 or so jobs, which pay around an average of $20 an hour, with nice benefits, but also for the food. The Costco warehouse is filled with goodies, and as any veteran member knows, sample time around lunchtime is the cheapest date around.

5. Crystal Lagoons — Speaking of cheap dates, a trip to the beach can’t be beat, but why make that drive if there’s a crystal-clear, hyper-clean lagoon outlined by sandy beaches in your own back yard? Yes, after a delay, the first-ever Crystal Lagoon to be built in the U.S., is actually happening. Day passes will be on our Christmas list next year, for sure. 

We also look forward to seeing how New Tampa’s Luis Viera does as a Tampa City Council member, to the expansion of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, the possible start of construction of the Diverging Diamond Interchange at S.R. 56, the construction of Raymond James Financial, and more!