Bill Gates backing Vinik's 'billion-dollar' development plan in downtown Tampa
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Sep 25, 2014

The investment firm controlled by Microsoft founder Bill Gates is backing Tampa Bay Lightning Jeff Vinik's plans for a "potentially billion dollar” development of the land he owns in downtown Tampa.

Tampa Bay Lightning CEO Tod Leiweke, speaking to a small group of reporters in his office in Amalie Arena Thursday, said Vinik has signed a deal with Gates' Cascade Investment LLC. Leiweke declined to give specifics of the partnership, and said that Vinik has not met Gates. Vinik will continue to be the face of the deal and is the managing partner, Leiweke said.

"Cascade has come and said we think this is an interesting assemblage of property,” Leiweke said. "We think it can be a commercial success. And if they're interested, it's a really good sign.

Vinik's team is still working on a master plan for the 25 acres it owns between Channelside and downtown Tampa, Leiweke said, and it could be unveiled by the end of the year. The overall theme – a mix of residential, hospitality and commercial uses designed to draw people to the area – remains the same.

"[Vinik] doesn't look like a rock star, but he's kind of a rock star, and he's a smart investor,” Leiweke said. "And [Cascade has] seen the mayor's speech, and they're going to take a long view of this – take a strategic view of this.”

The Business Journal has an in-depth interview with Vinik on his plans for both the Lightning and downtown Tampa in tomorrow's weekly edition.

Ashley Gurbal Kritzer is a reporter for the Tampa Bay Business Journal.