Local football legends bring UF-FSU watch party to Palmetto with tourism support proposed
By Lisa Neff
Two hometown football legends are bringing one of college football’s biggest rivalries to Palmetto, with plans to draw tourists, unite fans and raise money for local students.
And Manatee County tourism officials are backing the play.
The county tourist development council met Oct. 12 in Bradenton to hear several reports and act on a proposal to allocate $35,000 in tourist development tax funds to boost RI5E Leadership & Sports Academy, founded by former football player Adrian McPherson to empower youth through academics, athletics and leadership development.
McPherson and former football player Reggie Davis are organizing a RI5E benefit, the Legacy Weekend Tailgate and Watch Party, at Sutton Park in Palmetto Nov. 27, when the University of Florida Gators face the Florida State Seminoles. Plans also include a Legacy Social celebration Nov. 28 at the Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa.
The event is billed as “the biggest watch party in the state,” with plans for a big screen to view the game, food trucks and meet-and-greets with former players. McPherson was a standout athlete at Southeast High School who later played at Florida State University, then in the NFL and the Arena Football League. Davis also played at Southeast and then at the University of Florida.
Aware of the rivalry between the universities and heavy viewership for the UF-FSU game, McPherson said he thought, “Why not bring everybody together?”
He and RI5E chief operating officer Lynette White presented their funding request to the TDC Oct. 12 with support from Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“We are excited to share an initiative that represents so much more than football. It represents community, economic opportunity, tourism and, most importantly, investing in our future, in RI5E Leadership & Sports Academy,” said White, adding that the nonprofit is about “preparing young people to succeed both on and off the field.”
Falcione suggested a $35,000 allocation. “The nonprofit’s going to incur some startup fees,” he said.
The council unanimously voted to recommend the funding, which requires approval from county commissioners.
“I’m excited about this, excited to support it,” said County Commissioner Amanda Ballard, who chairs the TDC.
Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown, a TDC member, said, “This year might be that trial year, but it’s going to be a year that will show this is a great thing and next year is going to be twice as successful. So, I think this is a great idea.”
The watch party fits into a broader county tourism strategy to attract visitors through sporting events while creating opportunities for local businesses and residents.
And, according to figures presented to the TDC, sports tourism is already big business.
During fiscal year 2025-26, which ended Sept. 30, the county hosted at least 57 sporting events that attracted more than 260,000 visitors and generated an estimated $311 million in economic impact, according to the BACVB.
Sports-related tourism for the year also generated about $2.4 million in sales tax revenue.
“All of these together just kind of outline the importance of why sports is so important for our destination,” said BACVB general manager Mitch Conner.
The BACVB’s goals include hosting events that benefit the community and the tourism economy, according to Conner.
The Legacy Weekend Tailgate and Watch Party could serve as one example.
“We see an opportunity to bring new visitors into our hotels, support local restaurants and businesses, showcase our beautiful community and establish a Thanksgiving weekend tradition right here in Manatee County,” White said.
She continued, “But what makes this event especially meaningful is the Legacy Watch Party is a fundraiser benefiting RI5E’s youth initiatives, including scholarships, college tours, mentorship, financial literacy, workforce development and access to technology. … We want people to come for football but stay for the experience. Discover everything Manatee County has to offer and leave knowing they helped change a young person’s future.”
McPherson, estimating attendance at 2,000-4,000, said, “I believe it will be a day every year that families and … and friends in the community can just enjoy watching the game that we all love.”
Tourist development tax rises 28.52% in August
Manatee County’s tourist development tax revenues for August were up 28.52% compared to August 2025, according to a monthly report from the tax collector’s office.
The TDT, also known as the bed tax or resort tax, is a 6% tax on short-term accommodations rented for six months or less. Revenues are subject to restrictions under Florida law and must be used for tourism-related purposes. Revenues are allocated in Manatee by county commissioners, with recommendations from the TDC.
The August tax was collected during September and reported by the tax collector’s office in early October.
The revenue for the month was $2,552,217, up from $1,985,837 in August 2025.
The largest share of revenue, 39.09%, was the $997,674 collected from accommodations in unincorporated Manatee County.
Bradenton’s collections, $198,414, represented 7.77% of the total, and Palmetto’s, at $34,526, represented 1.35%.
Holmes Beach accommodations generated $586,427, or 22.98% of the revenue.
Some other tourist-tax numbers:
Anna Maria, $489,895, 19.19%
Bradenton Beach, $96,445, 3.78%
Longboat Key, $148,836, 5.83%
Collections for September — the final month in the 2025-26 fiscal year — will be reported in early November.
While TDT collections increased, other measures of tourism activity declined in August, according to Isiah Lewis, director of client relations at Downs & St. Germain Research. He provided the TDC with a “State of Tourism” report Oct. 12.
The August occupancy rate for all lodging was down 7.2% from August 2025. Data showed occupancy at 55.4% in vacation rentals, up 0.7%, but occupancy in hotels was 55.7%, down 14.1%.
“If I’m having to read tea leaves a little bit, I think it’s something we want to look at with September and see how September falls in line to see if this is … just a one-month occurrence,” Lewis said.
The average daily rate was up for vacation rentals, from $364 in August 2025 to $395 in August 2026, but down slightly for hotels, from $134 in August 2025 to $129 in August 2026.
Visitor numbers, room nights and direct expenditures also declined in August. Direct expenditures fell 16.2% to $104,719,700.
“That means visitors are still traveling,” Lewis said. “They are just tightening their pockets.”
— Lisa Neff