Expanded Clearwater Marine Aquarium Could Bring Two Million People Downtown

An expanded Clearwater Marine Aquarium overlooking the city's scenic bluff would be the catalyst to bring potentially millions of visitors into the city's downtown.

At least, that is what officials with the aquarium anticipate through the creation of a $160-million home for Winter the dolphin on the footprint of present-day City Hall.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium officials Frank Dame, David Yates and former mayor Frank Hibbard talked about the plans and answered questions regarding its impact to downtown with the City Council Tuesday.

City officials asked about the potential success of a new facility given the struggles the Florida Aquarium has in maintaining its nearly 600,000 visitors.

“It’s a dynamite facility, but there are differences,” Hibbard said.

Last year, more than 700,000 visitors packed the Island Estates facility to see Winter the dolphin. Officials expect more than a million visitors in the coming years, and an expanded facility could double its capacity.

“We have awareness they don’t have,” Yates said. “The movie doesn’t end today. This awareness goes on for years and years.”

In addition to the movie "Dolphin Tale," a handful of books based on Winter also have been published. Yates believes the movie will become the top grossing film for tourism of all time.

In addition to its resident star Winter, Clearwater also has something the Florida Aquarium doesn’t — the beach, Yates said.

 “When we market ourselves to Orlando and they can see Winter and the beaches at the same time... that’s a great marketing draw.”

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Already Winter's Dolphin Tale Adventure in the Harborview Center, attracted more than 315,000 people to downtown last year. Some residents have questioned the impact of those visitors.

Dame said some downtown businesses may not have seen impact because the attraction was never meant to be permanent, which would not embolden potential business investors.

 “If we have a permanent facility and bring two million visitors a year to the downtown area and they know it’s permanent, there’s going to be a different investor to come in,” Dame said.

Dame said aquarium officials met with the Downtown Merchants Association about putting a rack with brochures for area businesses, but he never heard back from the group, which ended up disbanding.

Dame said it is a different story for the businesses that reached out to the aquarium.

Bledar Starova, owner of Tony’s Pizza, was featured as part of the downtown attraction success when an economic impact study was released.

Starova came in, talked to aquarium employees and gave them information about his restaurant on Cleveland Street.

“And his business flourished,” Dame said.

Aquarium officials see the plans as a jumpstart for downtown.

“To bring two million people to downtown would be revolutionary,” Hibbard said. “This would benefit not just downtown but all of Clearwater and all of the Tampa Bay area.”

Hibbard compared the plans to Beach Walk, the controversial development along Clearwater Beach that spurred development there.

“It was a catalyst, and I don’t want to offend anyone, in some instances you took properties from weak hands and turned it over to strong hands,” he said. “Downtown Clearwater’s position has radically changed if the aquarium comes to downtown.”

Related coverage:

• What Clearwater’s Saying: Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s $160 Million Expansion
• Clearwater Marine Aquarium Eyes City Hall for $160 Million Expansion
• Downtown Neighbors Track Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s Visitor Impact
• Clearwater Marine Aquarium Opens Downtown Attraction
• Experience A Hurricane at Clearwater Marine Aquarium
• See Winter the Dolphin by Water Ferry
• Winter’s Dolphin Tale Adventure Looks to Grow
• Winter’s ‘Dolphin Tale’ Could Net $5 Billion for Clearwater Area
• Coachman Park Committee Cool With Aquarium Plan for Harborview Center
• Pickles Plus Deal Sours