The record attendance expected this year also helps boost revenues, Griffith said, since the city collects fractionally more rent as sales plateaus are met. The Pier got the same direct lift when the museum's other big winner, Treasures of the Czars, opened in 1995. Pier attendance that year zoomed to 11.1-million as museumgoers in cars and tour buses flocked there for meals and souvenirs. We'd had 12 to 14 buses out here at a time. But now that Titanic has left, the rush has faded a bit.
Kids are back in school and winter visitors have yet to appear.
Last week's fly-by from Hurricane Earl did not help matters, either. Even so, Friday found St. Petersburg resident Phyllis Taffin heading out to The Pier on one of the aqua trolleys. They were both here for the month of July, and we came out here at least twice. Great birthday gifts. City Council member Bill Foster grew up in St. Petersburg.