The Outback Bowl, which features the Kentucky Wildcats and Penn State Nittany Lions in Tampa on New Year's Day, is also helping draw people, said Stork. We've been told there's a 40,000 to 50,000 contingent of Kentucky fans in town, and Penn State brings a good crowd, too. On Dec. 28 of last year, The Pier logged 10,500 visitors, she said, and welcomed almost exactly that many on the same day this year. People are looking for something to do. David Dorman, director of marketing at the Florida Aquarium in Tampa, said some of the brisk business is traceable to the end of Christmas chores.
Local kids are out of school, and their parents are done with shopping.
Plus tourists are in town. In the midst of the holiday optimism, however, comes a reminder from the highway patrol. Of special concern this year, said Tripp, is the long, four-day New Year's weekend, Thursday through Sunday. We're afraid that this year could be a lot worse. St. Petersburg Times.