After much anticipation, the St. Pete Pier™ opened on July 6, 2020 — in the midst of the global pandemic. Despite the initial challenges, The Pier has since proven itself to be one of the most visited attractions in the entire Tampa/St. Petersburg region. Even with a limited budget, Paradise has been able to drive attendance to the Pier not only for special events, but for everyday use. By positioning it as an entire “exPIERience” rather than just a physical pier, we were able to attract global media interest, drive excitement locally and regionally, increase civic pride, and create a tangible economic impact to the community.