Red Bull Flugtag Returns to Tampa: Expectations, Road Closures, and Alternative Transportation

After a 13-year hiatus, Red Bull Flugtag is set to return to Tampa on November 9, 2024, drawing an estimated 80,000 attendees to the area around the Tampa Convention Center. The event, which takes place along the Riverwalk, features inventive competitors launching homemade, human-powered flying machines off a 27-foot-high deck into the Seddon Channel basin. The goal is to see how far these creative designs can fly before hitting the water.

The free event, scheduled from noon to 5 p.m., will be judged by celebrities who will evaluate the successes and failures of the flying machines. However, the excitement comes with its own set of challenges, particularly for drivers in the area. City officials have warned motorists to prepare for significant traffic disruptions and road closures starting as early as 8 a.m..

Bayshore Boulevard will be closed from Swann Avenue north to Brorein Street south, and the West Platt Street bridge, Franklin Street south, and the Franklin Street bridge to Harbour Island will also be closed. Parking will be limited, including at the Fort Brooke Garage. To mitigate these issues, the city recommends using alternative transportation such as parking in Ybor City and riding the free TECO Streetcar to the Greco Plaza stop in the Channel District.

This event marks the third time Red Bull Flugtag has been held in Tampa, following previous events in 2008 and 2011. Registration for participants ended in September, and the anticipation is high for this unique and entertaining competition.