RNC Barricades Placed, Signs Posted

While at Tropicana Field until next weekend, barricades were being placed along 1st Avenue South Saturday morning.

The concrete barricades, which will also have fencing, were being put up between 17th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Street.

First Avenue South in that area is down to one lane. 

RNC Signs Posted

Take a stroll down Central Avenue or 1st Avenue South, and you'll see banners welcoming the RNC to "Tampa Bay," not St. Petersburg.

The signs went up last week, in what the city hopes is a huge marketing push for St. Petersburg.

At the Aug. 9 City Council meeting, Mayor Bill Foster predicted that the influx of media and delegates for the kickoff party at Tropicana Field won't generate immediate benefits to the city the night everyone is in town. The goal is to get these visitors to return as tourists with their families.

"Hopefully they will come back to the city of St. Petersburg," Foster said. "The welcome mat is up and we are open for business." 

Earlier this week, Foster  to St. Pete. 

"Please join me in extending a warm welcome to our guests," Foster wrote. "Party affiliations aside, there are many ways to show your hospitality. At your house, this is a great time to fly your American flag. If you own a business, consider posting a welcome greeting to our RNC guests. 

"... It is going to be a great week in St. Petersburg - please get out, enjoy the festivities and extend the warm hospitality for which we are famous to all of our guests with the hope that they will return again and again in the future," Foster concluded. 

RNC Interactive Map

Starting Friday, Aug. 24, multiple streets and sidewalks will shut down in preparation for the RNC cocktail party at Tropicana Field. The closures will continue through Monday morning, Aug. 27. 

The city has launched an interactive map for guests and residents to plan for the street and sidewalk closures. 

You can click on parking restrictions for specific dates as well as specific road closures for each day.