By Michael Van Sickler, Times Staff Writer
Monday, September 27, 2010
ST. PETERSBURG — Ticket brokers, t-shirt hawkers and beer merchants may face a new set of rules and boundaries now that the Tampa Bay Rays are bound for the playoffs.
The City Council will vote next week to establish a 30-block area around Tropicana Field that will require temporary vendors to buy a $100 permit. Dubbed a "Clean Zone," it was also done in 2008 when the Rays went to the World Series. It's a regular practice in most cities for major sporting events and is created every year in St. Petersburg for the Grand Prix auto race. Clean zones are designed to prevent illegal counterfeiting activities and to enhance the aesthetics near the venue.
"It gives us a regulatory framework for temporary commercial activities," said Kevin Dunn, the city's managing director of development coordination. "It lets us work with Major League Baseball so that we can make sure the merchandise being sold is authorized and legal."
Permits will be issued for the sale of merchandise, entertainment, food and beverages. No semi-trailers, vans or R.V.-style vehicles will be allowed, except those specifically designed for vending of merchandise. No signs or logos are allowed on the tents, but two exterior signs near the tent can be used to identify what the tent offers. No commercial activities or lines are allowed on sidewalks and in streets.
Lawyers from baseball's commissioner's office will patrol the tents with St. Petersburg police to verity the authenticity of the merchandise. In 2008, quite a few vendors were found to be selling counterfeit merchandise, said Sgt. Kevin Smith, who heads the vice unit that will patrol the clean zone.
Those caught selling counterfeit tickets or merchandise can be fined either $138 if they did it unknowingly, or face arrest if they are repeat offenders. It can be a felony if they are caught selling more than $1,000 in illicit merchandise.
"It provides a nice buffer zone where restrictions can apply," Smith said. "We can keep better track of vendors this way."
Michael Van Sickler can be reached at (727) 893-8037 or mvansickler@sptimes.com