How Are You Enjoying Having the RNC in Town?

Crowds, traffic jams, and lots of security. The RNC must be here!

If you've driven into downtown Tampa lately, you know that the Bay Area is hosting thousands of visitors for the Republican National Convention. The RNC may be over tomorrow, but its impact could be felt for months and years to come. Here are some of the highlights.

♦ Tropicana Field hosted the kick-off party on Sunday night and, according to the Tampa Bay Times, received $1 million from Tampa to cover security expenses. We hope you weren't caught in all that traffic!

♦ More than $500,000 was spent improving the acoustics at the Tampa Bay Times Forum, reports TBO.com. Experts say that hockey games will likely sound the same, but future concerts will sound so much better. We're all for that!

♦ Have you noticed better cell phone service? It may be because AT&T erected three new cell towers in the area.

♦ Next time you drive over one of bridges that span the Hillsborough River, you may see them lit with awesome LED lights. This Agua Luces project is part of a bigger effort to highlight Tampa's waterfront.

♦ Planning on going to the Straz Center soon? You'll probably notice nicer landscaping and better lighting all along Ashley Drive. Tampa made the improvements to impress its visitors, but we appreciate the new look.

♦ Even if you haven't attended the RNC, or gone anywhere near the Forum, you're probably heard news from the convention–and not just on TV. This convention is billed as the most social political convention ever, a Convention Without Walls, with news traveling via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and other platforms. Where are you getting your info?

We at St. Petersburg General Hospital are excited to be a part of this national event. We've enjoyed playing our part in hosting delegates from all over the country. We remain committed to providing quality healthcare to this wonderful community that we call home.