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Wednesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Seminole Tribe to begin sports betting at all Florida casinos in December
The Seminole Tribe of Florida will begin sports betting, craps and roulette at all six of its casinos in December, the Tribe announced in a news release Wednesday, and South Florida’s gamblers will get to experience it first. The announcement comes a week after the U.S Supreme Court lifted a stay to allow sports betting in the state to move forward, a milestone in a series of legal challenges to a gaming compact between the Tribe and the state of Florida that gave it a monopoly on sports betting. More from NBC Miami, WTSP, and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Jacksonville trucking company agrees to almost $66 million buyout
Jacksonville-based Patriot Transportation Holding Inc. announced Nov. 1 it agreed to a buyout by privately held United Petroleum Transports Inc. for $65.9 million in cash. Patriot, a trucking company that transports fuel products in the Southeast, was spun off from Jacksonville-based construction materials company Florida Rock Industries Inc. Like Florida Rock, before it was acquired by Vulcan Materials Co. in 2007, Patriot is controlled by the Baker family of Jacksonville, which owns about 26% of the company’s stock. More from the Jacksonville Daily Record.
One of Tampa Bay’s top exports? Aquarium fish
While Tampa Bay is known for its oranges and strawberries, aquarium fish have also been one of the region’s prized exports for decades. Most tropical fish raised in the U.S. come from Florida. The state makes up more than 40% of the nation’s sales, according to federal data, with Hillsborough County priding itself as the “heart of the tropical aquaculture industry.” The tropical fish farm industry had a $172 million economic impact in Florida in 2021, according to a 2021 University of Florida survey. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Miami Beach Chamber unveils entertainment partnership
The Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce celebrated accomplishments, inaugurated officials and unveiled upcoming plans that include a new entertainment partnership at its annual meeting, “A Year in Review,” at the W Hotel in Miami Beach last week. The chamber announced as well a joint venture with Groot Hospitality, which has six South Florida restaurants and two nightclubs, as Mr. Segal welcomed David Grutman, founder of the Miami Beach company, onto the stage. More from Miami Today.
Orlando mayor lays out plan to spend more than $700M to improve city venues
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer outlined a plan Tuesday to use tourist-tax revenue to pay for an upgrade of Camping World Stadium, improvements to Amway Center and an addition to the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Not counting interest, the bill would be over $700 million — including $400 million for the stadium and $256 million for Amway — and require the city to issue bonds that it would pay off with future revenue from the tourist development tax. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Anniversary
‘Timeless’: Gainesville Fine Arts Association celebrates 100 years of supporting the arts
This year, the Gainesville Fine Arts Association is celebrating its centennial, honoring a 100-year history that began in 1923. Now at nearly 400 members, GFAA is one of the oldest continuously running arts organizations in Florida, a significant element of the city’s rich, often forgotten visual arts scene.
» More from the Gainesville Sun.
Sports Business
Soccer’s FIFA moving 100 workers from Switzerland to Coral Gables
FIFA, the body that governs soccer internationally, will be opening a permanent office in Coral Gables and will relocate an estimate of 100 jobs from Switzerland to Miami as well as hire locally. Miami’s hot soccer scene continues to gain popularity as the organization plans its move to South Florida.
» Read more from Miami Today.
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