Strip Clubs in Tampa Are Ready to Cash In on G.O.P. Convention
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As Tampa gears up for the Republican National Convention, the biggest party it has ever held, the city and its businesses are primping and polishing for the August arrival of tens of thousands of visitors. Like it or not mostly not, for city officials Tampas well-known strip clubs have joined the welcome wagon.
Club owners here say they have schmoozed with their counterparts in former host cities, like Denver, and have been told that revenue pours in during conventions, sometimes quadrupling earnings from a Super Bowl week. As for party affiliation, this is one place where the countrys caustic partisan differences fall away, owners say.
Angelina Spencer, the executive director of the Association of Club Executives, which serves as a trade association for strip clubs, said an informal survey of convention business in New York and Denver had determined that Republicans dropped more money at clubs, by far.
Hands down, it was Republicans, she said. The average was $150 for Republicans and $50 for Democrats.
As further evidence of the clubs nonpartisan appeal, Don Kleinhans, the owner of the 2001 Odyssey, said when the Promise Keepers, a male evangelical group, came to town years ago, business was rollicking.
We had phenomenal numbers all weekend, and they walked in wearing badges and name tags and werent shy at all, he said.
James Davis, a spokesman for the Republican National Convention, declined to discuss Tampas prominent strip clubs.
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As Tampa gears up for the Republican National Convention, the biggest party it has ever held, the city and its businesses are primping and polishing for the August arrival of tens of thousands of visitors. Like it or not mostly not, for city officials Tampas well-known strip clubs have joined the welcome wagon.
Club owners here say they have schmoozed with their counterparts in former host cities, like Denver, and have been told that revenue pours in during conventions, sometimes quadrupling earnings from a Super Bowl week. As for party affiliation, this is one place where the countrys caustic partisan differences fall away, owners say.
Angelina Spencer, the executive director of the Association of Club Executives, which serves as a trade association for strip clubs, said an informal survey of convention business in New York and Denver had determined that Republicans dropped more money at clubs, by far.
Hands down, it was Republicans, she said. The average was $150 for Republicans and $50 for Democrats.
As further evidence of the clubs nonpartisan appeal, Don Kleinhans, the owner of the 2001 Odyssey, said when the Promise Keepers, a male evangelical group, came to town years ago, business was rollicking.
We had phenomenal numbers all weekend, and they walked in wearing badges and name tags and werent shy at all, he said.
James Davis, a spokesman for the Republican National Convention, declined to discuss Tampas prominent strip clubs.
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