TAMPA, Fla. — Hillsborough County leaders are stepping up mask enforcement ahead of the Super Bowl to ensure the event doesn’t become a super spreader.
A new order allows Hillsborough County to not only fine businesses that aren’t complying with the mask mandate, but to fine individuals as well “as a last resort.” Those fines range from $150 for a first offense all the way up to $450 for a third or greater violation.
Code enforcement is now working longer hours, 7 days a week.
The pandemic also impacting a beloved focus of the Super Bowl events: radio row.
Typically hundreds of the nation’s top radio hosts from stations around the country flock to the host city to cover the biggest sporting event in the nation, but this year, there’s more plexiglass than people.
Randy Harris of Knock Out Radio says the difference from previous years to now is incredible.
“I really don’t want to say it this way this is depressing. That’s what the whole last year has been. I’ve been to 25 super bowls and the only thing I care about year in year out is radio row,” he explained.
Corey Spector is a Syracuse University student who works for Z-89 Radio. He covered last year’s Super Bowl Event in Miami.
“This year, it’s a weird feeling like this is the prime sporting event in the entire country that everyone focuses their attention on and you walk in and there’s four other people here,” he elaborated.
Despite all the changes, downtown Tampa is buzzing with a mix of excitement and nerves as Bucs fans get ready to cheer for their hometown team in the Super Bowl.
While many people are having to rearrange their plans to stay safe, they tell us their cheers on Sunday will be just as loud as ever.
There’s also some great rivalry growing in Tampa. Chiefs fans tell ABC Action News they’re really getting an earful while wearing their Bucs gear around town, but it’s all in good fun.
