Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik appears to be in line to acquire the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina, reports the Tampa Bay Business Journal. No purchase price has been disclosed for the 719-room hotel, which is on the riverfront in downtown Tampa. A deal reportedly could close in the coming weeks.
The hotel's owner, a corporate entity tied to Marriott, filed paperwork in late August with the city to verify the zoning of the property, a move that the Journal said is normally done when an owner plans to sell or refinance a property.
Vinik already has acquired about 25 acres in downtown Tampa and also holds the ground lease to Channelside Bay Plaza, a waterfront mall area.
Built in 2000, the Marriott Waterside is the city’s convention hotel, with 50,000 square feet of meeting and event space.