Issue #340: New Straz Lineup • Why Ybor Has Chickens • Rays Field Makeover • USF Welcomes Coach Hodgson

In this issue of NewTampa | WesleyChapel
Local Pulse

Our Event Calendar

WEATHER

Local News

— Straz Center Unveils Star-Studded 2025-2026 Broadway Season

Of Interest

— Where Did Ybor’s Chickens Come From? A Feathery Tale of Tampa's Famous Flock

Sports

— Rays Begin Rapid Makeover of Steinbrenner Field in Tampa

— USF Names Bryan Hodgson New Men’s Basketball Head Coach

🎵 Useful Arts & Entertainment Event Links

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Straz Center Unveils Star-Studded 2025-2026 Broadway Season

The Straz Center for the Performing Arts has announced a packed 2025-2026 Broadway season featuring nine new shows and the return of four fan favorites. The season runs from September 2025 through June 2026, spotlighting a mix of groundbreaking debuts, revivals, and high-energy musicals.

Premiering productions include The Outsiders, Kimberly Akimbo, & Juliet, and Hell’s Kitchen, alongside the regional debut of Stereophonic and Water For Elephants. Beloved classics like The Wiz and The Notebook round out the lineup.

Returning Encores — Les Misérables, SIX, Beetlejuice, and A Christmas Story — can be added on.

Season tickets go on sale March 28, with renewal deadlines set for April 27. Pricing ranges from $346.50 to premium Broadway Circle seats requiring annual donations.

All shows will take place at the Straz Center in downtown Tampa. For more info, visit strazcenter.org.

Read More: wfla.com

Where Did Ybor’s Chickens Come From? A Feathery Tale of Tampa's Famous Flock

Ybor City’s free-roaming chickens are more than quirky residents — they’re a symbol of Tampa’s history and resilience. Their roots trace back to the 1880s, when immigrant cigar workers kept chickens in their yards. Over time, some birds escaped or were released, possibly including those from a coop destroyed during a 1993 hurricane.

Now protected by city ordinance, the chickens are championed by locals like Dylan Breese, founder of the Ybor Misfits Microsanctuary, who rescues injured birds and advocates for their welfare.

The late Tommy Stephens, Ybor’s “Chicken Man,” helped cement the birds’ icon status by hosting annual funeral parades for fallen roosters. Today, the flock is celebrated in merchandise, tattoos — and even Chicken Yoga at Hotel Haya.

While the flock’s size is unknown, one thing is certain: these chickens are here to stay, clucking proudly across the city’s brick streets.

Read More: tampabay.com 

Rays Begin Rapid Makeover of Steinbrenner Field
in Tampa

The Tampa Bay Rays are racing against the clock to convert Steinbrenner Field — the Yankees’ spring training home — into their temporary ballpark following hurricane damage to Tropicana Field. The 120-hour transformation began Sunday after the teams wrapped spring training.

By Monday, Yankees signage was being removed and stored, while Rays branding appeared across the stadium. Workers in bright yellow Rays shirts replaced 10-by-9-foot “YANKEES” letters with bold “RAYS” signage featuring the club’s signature starburst logo.

Inside, vendors reorganized shelves, removing Yankees gear and prepping Rays memorabilia for Opening Day. The scoreboard now showcases Shane McClanahan and Taj Bradley, and the marquee thanks the Yankees for their cooperation.

Media will tour the changes Wednesday, but all eyes are on Friday’s home opener at 4:10 p.m. against the Rockies. Forecast: clear skies and 83 degrees — perfect weather for Tampa’s new baseball chapter.

Read More: wusf.org

USF Names Bryan Hodgson New Men’s Basketball Head Coach

The University of South Florida has tapped Bryan Hodgson, former Arkansas State head coach, to lead its men’s basketball program. Hodgson, 37, becomes the 12th head coach in USF history, taking over after a 13-19 season under interim coach Ben Fletcher.

Hodgson led a stunning turnaround at Arkansas State, transforming a 20-loss team into a 25-11 powerhouse in 2024-25. The Red Wolves secured their first postseason berth since 1999, a Sun Belt title, and their first NIT appearance in over 30 years.

USF Athletic Director Michael Kelly praised Hodgson’s proven track record in building winning cultures and recruiting top talent, saying he’s the “right leader to take this program to new heights.”

Hodgson brings energy, vision, and a commitment to player development. A Western New York native, he arrives in Tampa with his fiancée, Jordan, and their son, Jett, born in 2024.

Read More: baynews9.com

​The St. Louis Cardinals and the St. Louis Browns shared Sportsman's Park for an extensive period, cohabiting the stadium from 1920 until 1953. This 33-year arrangement is one of the longest instances of two Major League Baseball teams sharing a single venue. ​

Key Highlights of Their Shared Tenure:

• 1944 All-St. Louis World Series: A unique highlight of this shared arrangement was the 1944 World Series, where the Cardinals and the Browns faced off against each other. Remarkably, all six games of the series were played at Sportsman's Park, underscoring the stadium's dual-team functionality. ​

• Installation of Stadium Lighting: In 1940, after prolonged discussions, both teams agreed to split the $150,000 cost to install lights at Sportsman's Park. This collaboration allowed for the introduction of night games, with the Browns hosting the inaugural evening match on May 24, followed by the Cardinals on June 4. ​

• Transition and Renaming: Following the Browns' relocation to Baltimore in 1954 (where they became the Orioles), the Cardinals acquired full ownership of Sportsman's Park. Subsequently, they undertook significant renovations and renamed it Busch Stadium. ​

This prolonged cohabitation of Sportsman's Park by two major league teams is a testament to the evolving dynamics of stadium usage and team relationships in the history of professional baseball.​

For a visual exploration of this shared history, you might find this YouTube video insightful.

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Spring Concerts Coming to Tampa Bay Area

Source: suncoastpost.com

Best Live Music in Tampa Bay
3/21 - 3/28

Source: cltampa.com

Top Things to do Around Tampa & WC
3/20 - 3/26
Source: tampabeacon.com

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Useful Arts & Entertainment Event Links

The Arts
- 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

- The Krate, WC
- The Shops at Wiregrass, WC

For Kids
- Fun4TampaKids

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