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- Issue #602: John Morgan Sparks Rays Relocation Buzz, Tampa’s Luxe New Supper Club Opens, Deputies Bust $12M Theft Ring, USF Basketball Lands Elite Class
Issue #602: John Morgan Sparks Rays Relocation Buzz, Tampa’s Luxe New Supper Club Opens, Deputies Bust $12M Theft Ring, USF Basketball Lands Elite Class
5/14/2026
Ted Grellner
14 May
In partnership with
GOOD MORNING
Dr Ted
USAF Retired
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In this issue of NewTampa | WesleyChapel Local Pulse
Our Event Calendar
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Local News
— Billionaire John Morgan Fuels Speculation About Rays Leaving Tampa Bay
Entertainment
— Tampa’s New 1950s-Inspired Supper Club Brings Luxury Dining and Nightlife to Westshore
Crime
— Hillsborough Deputies Bust Massive $12 Million Retail Theft Ring
Sports
— Chris Mack Reloads USF Basketball with Top-Ranked Recruiting Class
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Billionaire John Morgan Fuels Speculation About Rays Leaving Tampa Bay
Prominent Florida attorney and billionaire John Morgan says he would financially support bringing Major League Baseball to Orlando if negotiations for a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium collapse.
Speaking with Orlando television station WFTV, Morgan said he remains close with one of the Rays’ new owners and believes Tampa’s proposed stadium agreement still faces political obstacles.
“It’s not necessarily a lock,” Morgan said, adding Tampa may not currently have enough votes to approve the project.
The proposed development near Dale Mabry Highway could require roughly $1 billion in public funding, including about $251 million from the City of Tampa. Critics have questioned whether taxpayer dollars should support a stadium project while transportation and infrastructure concerns remain unresolved.
Supporters argue the development could create jobs, generate tax revenue and help secure the Rays’ long-term future in the Tampa Bay region.
The Rays say their primary focus remains on negotiations with Tampa and Hillsborough County.
Tampa’s New 1950s-Inspired Supper Club Brings Luxury Dining and Nightlife to Westshore
A glamorous new dining and nightlife destination is arriving in Tampa’s Westshore business district this week. The Sapphire: Lounge & Supper Club officially opens Friday inside a 17,000-square-foot venue at TriPointe Plaza on W. Boy Scout Blvd.
Inspired by the elegance of 1950s supper clubs, the venue blends upscale dining with immersive entertainment, including live bands, DJs, atmospheric performers, a signature LED dance floor and a 12-foot LED wall.
The Sapphire will begin with late-night lounge service before launching its full dining experience on June 3, with reservations already available through OpenTable. The venue also features private and semi-private suites designed for intimate dinners and large celebrations.
Managing Partner Stephen Hickey, a Tampa native with more than two decades in hospitality, says the project was created to bring an “elevated experience” to the Tampa community.
The venue will operate Wednesday through Sunday, with late-night hours extending to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Hillsborough Deputies Bust Massive $12 Million Retail Theft Ring
A major organized retail theft ring accused of moving more than $12 million in stolen merchandise has been dismantled following a lengthy investigation by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities say the operation centered around Save on Construction LLC, a family-run business accused of purchasing and reselling stolen goods taken from hardware stores across several states.
Investigators say the group operated a sophisticated fencing network from a home in Lutz that was reportedly organized like a retail hardware store, complete with sections for paint, electrical supplies and tools.
The investigation began in late 2025 after detectives received a tip. Undercover deputies later infiltrated the organization by posing as sellers of stolen merchandise.
In total, 14 people were arrested, including four individuals reportedly in the country illegally. Detectives seized approximately $5 million in stolen goods, $220,000 in cash and seven vehicles tied to the operation.
Sheriff Chad Chronister called the organization a “highly organized criminal enterprise.”
Chris Mack Reloads USF Basketball with Top-Ranked Recruiting Class
In his first season leading the program, USF head coach Chris Mack has completed a dramatic roster overhaul, bringing in 15 new players for the 2026-27 campaign.
The class includes 12 transfer portal additions and three high school signees, giving the Bulls one of the highest-rated recruiting groups in the American Conference and among Group of 6 programs.
Among the newcomers are several proven scorers, including Sonny Wilson, who scored more than 1,300 career points at Toledo, and AJ Dancler, who arrives from Coastal Carolina with more than 1,100 career points.
The roster also features four former four-star recruits and a strong mix of veteran experience and young talent. Tampa native Joshua Lewis returns home after beginning his college career at Louisiana.
Mack says the goal was to build a balanced roster capable of continuing USF’s championship standard following last season’s NCAA Tournament run.
Tampa Bay’s Best Live Music | Things to Do in Tampa this W/E | TB Weekend Entertainment Guide |
|---|---|---|
May 8 - May 14 | May 15 - 17 | May 15 - 17 |
Source: cltampa.com | Source: thatssotampa.com | Source: wmnf.org |
Top Events | |
|
Useful Arts & Entertainment Event Links
The Arts
- The Exhibiting Society of Artists (new)
- USF College of the Arts
- USF Steinway Piano Concert Series
Theater
- NTPAC - New Tampa Performing Arts Center
- New Tampa Players
- USF School of Theatre & Dance
- Wesley Chapel Theater Group
- Carrollwood Players Theatre
Misc
- Carrollwood Center Events
- Craft Festivals (new)
- Fall (Farmer’s) Market Guide for Tampa Bay (new)
- The Krate, WC
- The Shops at Wiregrass, WC
- visitflorida.com
For Kids
- Fun4TampaKids
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