If you search for TBPAC Tampa, you are looking for the performing arts building on the river in downtown Tampa. I still say TBPAC myself, and so do a lot of people who have lived here a while. 🎭 The letters stand for Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Today the same campus is best known as the Straz Center. Same organization, same doors, and a few different names on the signs, paperwork, and ticket confirmations. This guide covers what those names mean, how to buy tickets without getting burned, and how to park so you are not circling Fortune Street right before curtain.
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- TBPAC is the Straz Center. The legal corporation is still Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Inc. It has done business as the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts since November 11, 2009.
- Buy tickets from the Straz ticket office, not a reseller. The center says it will not honor tickets bought from unauthorized sellers, and resale at a premium is prohibited.
- Ticket office hours are Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 7 p.m., and it is also staffed 90 minutes before performances. The phone number is 813-229-STAR.
- Do not type the building's street address into your map app. Use a garage on Fortune Street or Ashley Drive instead. The Arrival Plaza on Tyler Street is limited and is not the general event lot.
- Everyone needs a ticket, including small children. Broadway shows are not toddler friendly, and the rules change show to show, so ask before you go.
- Gift cards are narrower than they look. They do not work at the bars, Canopy Bistro, concessions, or SteamHeat Cafe.
1. Why TBPAC Tampa and Straz Mean the Same Place
The first time I looked into this, the building seemed to have two names, and it was not obvious which one was current. The short answer is that both are current, depending on what you are looking at.
The legal entity is Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Inc. Its audited financial statements say it was formed on September 15, 1980, to manage and operate the performing arts facility under a lease with the City of Tampa. The stated purpose is to enhance the quality of life in the Tampa Bay region by educating and developing audiences through the performing arts, with an emphasis on diversity and quality. That is a mission statement, but it also tells you this is a nonprofit running a city-owned building, not a private theater company.
The lease is part of why the place can feel civic and private at the same time. The organization leases the operating facility from the City of Tampa for 100 dollars a year, for 99 years unless it ends sooner, and the lease renews. The audited statements put the city's insured value of the operating and education facility at about 150 million dollars, not counting contents, and they say the below-market lease is not something they could readily price. I am not going to turn that into an argument about public money. What it means for you as a visitor is simpler: ticket fees and operating money stay with the center to run and restore the building, rather than going to an outside commercial box office.
The name change came in November 2009. A large endowment went to the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center Foundation, Inc., which the center established on April 28, 1997. In recognition of that donor, the building began doing business as the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts effective November 11, 2009. The endowment went to the foundation, not to a second theater, and the initials did not move anywhere. So when the awning says Straz, the ticket confirmation says Straz Center, and an older friend still says TBPAC, they all point at the same doors on the river.
The timeline helps too. The doors first opened to the public in 1987. The center credits Mayor Bob Martinez with the project, and it notes that Mayor Nick Nuccio had floated a downtown music hall back in 1965 that never broke ground. The first touring Broadway show on the main stage was Cats. The main hall that was under construction in the early photos was called Festival Hall, and it is now Carol Morsani Hall. If you read old articles or tax letters, expect to see all of these names in the same paragraph.
2. Buy Tickets From the Straz Ticket Office
This is the part where the initials stop being useful. If you want 🎟️ tickets, go to the Straz Center ticket office, or buy through the center's official channels.
The ticket office is open Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 7 p.m. It is also staffed 90 minutes before performances. The phone number is 813-229-STAR, which is the same line as 813-229-7827 if you prefer digits. By mail, the address is Straz Center Ticket Office, 1010 N. WC MacInnes Place, Tampa, Florida 33602. Fax orders go to 813-222-1080. Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are accepted, and cash and checks are accepted too. Checks need a driver's license number and the issuing state written on them. A check that bounces picks up a 25 dollar fee from the center, so do not write one unless the money is there.
Will Call wants a photo ID from the purchaser, so bring the ID of the person who bought the tickets. Parking is free at the Arrival Plaza while you are buying tickets, which helps if you are doing it in person.
The thing to avoid is the resale market. The center says it is not responsible for tickets from unauthorized sellers, and those tickets will not be honored. Resale at a premium is prohibited. If a link looks official but you did not get it from the center, do not buy from it. Call the office and confirm.
3. Know the Ticket Rules Before You Show Up
The rules are the part people most often trip over, and the center is blunt about them. Read them before you put the date on the calendar.
Every guest needs a ticket, at any age. That includes babies and toddlers. The center strongly recommends that children under 5 skip anything that is not Kid Time, Wee Folk, or marked toddler friendly. Broadway shows are not toddler friendly, and the center says so directly. Some toddler shows offer lap tickets for a child under 18 months, but the policy changes by show, so ask before you assume your toddler can sit on your lap for a long musical.
Dates, performers, and prices can change. Late seating is at management's discretion, which means if you arrive during the second act, the staff may hold you in the back until a break. Sales are final. There are no refunds or exchanges, and lost tickets are not replaced. Those rules apply whether you are buying for a Tuesday matinee or a big weekend show.
Fees are the other surprise. A standard handling fee of 17.5 percent stays with the center, and the center says that percentage can move. Phone and web orders also carry a per-order fee. I did not check a face-value price for any particular show, so I am not going to quote one here. Look at the total on the checkout screen before you commit.
If your plans fall through, there is an option. Operation Tickets takes donations if you give notice at least five business days before the show, and the center says you get a receipt for the value. It goes through the same ticket office, so call them rather than hoping someone at the door will take your seats.
4. Gift Cards Work Differently Than You Expect
Gift cards are a smaller trap. Electronic gift cards are delivered electronically. Physical ones are not mailed. You pick them up at Will Call, either at the ticket office or by calling 813-229-7827 to arrange it.
Gift cards can be used for tickets, merchandise, conservatory classes, and at Maestro's restaurant. They are not valid at the bars, at Canopy Bistro, at concessions, or at SteamHeat Cafe. Do not hand someone a gift card and tell them it works at intermission, because it does not, at least not for drinks or snacks. If you are buying one for a theater person, say exactly where it works so they are not surprised at the bar.
5. Parking Is the Practical Half of a TBPAC Visit
The address 1010 N. WC MacInnes Place is a poor single map pin. If you drive straight to it, you will end up in the wrong part of the campus. The center's advice is to put a garage address into your navigation rather than the center's address, unless you are using valet.
Drop-off depends on which hall you are visiting. For the Patel Conservatory, use Fortune Street. For Morsani Hall, use Fortune Street or the Arrival Plaza. For Ferguson Hall, use the Arrival Plaza. For the Jaeb Theater or the Shimberg Playhouse, use the corner of MacInnes Place and Tyler Street. The Arrival Plaza is on Tyler Street, and it is limited. It is for buying tickets, meetings, valet when it is available, pickups, and disabled parking. It is not the general event lot, so do not plan to park there for a show.
Valet runs through Metropolis. It costs 40 dollars a vehicle including ADA, plus a 5 percent service fee, and it takes credit cards only. When full valet is not running, event self-parking at the Arrival Plaza is 30 dollars including ADA. These are the center's figures, and they can change, so check before you go.
For the garages to save before a show, these are the ones the center has counted:
- Anchor Garage, 109 W. Fortune Street. The center has secured 319 spaces there, on weeknights after 6 p.m. and all weekend.
- Ashley Plaza Garage, 110 W. Fortune Street. The center still calls this the former Tampa Bay Times garage. It has 200 spaces on the same pattern.
- Royal Regional, 1200 N. Tampa Street. It is about a six-minute walk. The center wants weekday arrivals after 6 p.m.
- Poe Garage, 800 N. Ashley Drive. You pay by license plate before the show.
- Fort Brooke, on Franklin. It is about a 15-minute walk.
- The Barrymore, 111 W. Fortune Street. The lot opens for many big nights if you call ahead.
Rates move with whatever else is happening downtown, so treat them as a starting point. If you are being dropped off by rideshare, the pickup belongs on the north side along Fortune Street. Pirate Water Taxi stop 14 is in front of the building, 🌊 which is a good option if you are coming in from the water. A disabled permit can use a meter for up to four hours without paying.
Useful Things to Know
Give yourself time at Will Call. The ticket office is open until 7 p.m. on its open days, and it is staffed 90 minutes before a performance. Bring the buyer's photo ID.
Save the garage address, not the building. This is the most useful single tip. A plan for parking makes the rest of the night easier, especially on a busy downtown evening. Tampa Theatre, on Franklin Street, is a different room and a different ticket.
Ask about children before you buy. The under-5 guidance is clear, but the lap ticket policy depends on the show. Call the ticket office and ask about the specific production.
Stick to official channels. Use the Straz ticket office, the phone line, or the center's official site. The no-refund policy means a bad purchase is hard to undo.
Compare totals, not ticket prices. The handling fee and per-order fee add up. The total on the checkout screen is what matters.
Check the season before you plan around it. When I looked, the current season listed The Sound of Music, Buena Vista Social Club, Black Violin, Misery, After Dark, and Hamilton. There was also a 26/27 Bank of America Broadway season you build yourself by calling 813-229-7827, Patel Conservatory classes, and Opera Tampa's 2027 season of three Italian works. Seasons change, so check the current listings before you commit.
Premium options are separate products. A premium lounge add-on exists for select shows in Morsani Hall. Luxury boxes are six-seat mezzanine boxes in Carol Morsani Hall, offered in an 8- or 12-show package, and they go through the development office by email. They are not the same as a regular ticket, and they do not combine into one price.
FAQ
Is TBPAC Tampa the same as the Straz Center?
Yes. TBPAC is the old name for Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, which is still the legal corporation. The building has done business as the David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts since November 11, 2009. The ticket office, the signs, and most current materials use Straz Center.
When is the Straz Center ticket office open?
The ticket office is open Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 7 p.m. It is also staffed 90 minutes before performances. Hours can change, so check before you go.
What is the phone number for Straz Center tickets?
The number is 813-229-STAR, which is the same as 813-229-7827. Use it for ticket questions, gift card pickup, and the 26/27 Broadway season.
Can I buy tickets from a reseller for a Straz Center show?
You should not. The center says it is not responsible for tickets from unauthorized sellers, and those tickets will not be honored. Resale at a premium is prohibited. Buy from the ticket office or the center's official channels.
Do toddlers need a ticket to attend a show at the Straz Center?
Yes. Every guest needs a ticket at any age. The center strongly recommends that children under 5 skip anything that is not Kid Time, Wee Folk, or marked toddler friendly. Some toddler shows offer lap tickets for children under 18 months, but the policy varies by show, so ask first.
Where should I park for a show at the Straz Center?
Put a garage address into your map app, not 1010 N. WC MacInnes Place. Anchor Garage at 109 W. Fortune Street and Ashley Plaza Garage at 110 W. Fortune Street are the largest options the center has counted, on weeknights after 6 and on weekends. The Arrival Plaza on Tyler Street is limited and is not the general event lot.
Can I use a Straz Center gift card at the bars or concessions?
No. Gift cards can be used for tickets, merchandise, conservatory classes, and Maestro's restaurant. They are not valid at the bars, Canopy Bistro, concessions, or SteamHeat Cafe.
What happens if I cannot attend a show?
Sales are final, and there are no refunds or exchanges. If you want to donate your tickets, Operation Tickets takes donations when you contact the ticket office at least five business days before the show. The center says you receive a receipt for the value.
Final Thoughts
I still say TBPAC, and I probably always will. The initials are older than the Straz name, and they are how a lot of people in this city learned the building. But when it comes time to buy tickets or drive down to the river, the initials do not help much. Use the Straz ticket office, buy from the center and not a reseller, read the rules before you bring a toddler, and put a garage on Fortune or Ashley into your map instead of the MacInnes Place address. If something goes sideways, the number is still 813-229-STAR.
