Strip Clubs In Tampa Struggling Despite Increased Exposure For Sunday’s Super Bowl

When it comes to cities hosting the Super Bowl, one thing is almost always a given – people come from far and wide ready to spend massive amounts of money.

In a male-driven sport like the NFL, that means money is ready to be spent on gentlemen’s clubs, and women in the area are ready to cash in on increased traffic.

That doesn’t appear to be the case in 2021 though.

Sunday’s Super Bowl in Tampa is taking on a totally different feel, mostly due to the fact that the country is still in the midst of a pandemic, one that has hamstrung many businesses and employees since it started 11 months ago.

Tampa Local 10 reports that this year, the Super Bowl is not producing the windfall of traffic or cash for clubs, and it’s hurting women who have been counting on this week and weekend to make a serious amount of money.

“It’s not the same,” a local employee at Scores Gentleman’s Club in Tampa told the news station.

Another difference is the fact that ladies are required to wear masks when up on the stage, which is something that takes getting used to.

“It’s been an adjustment. Now I face away from the customer a majority of the time,” the female entertainer said.

Sunday’s Super Bowl at Raymond James Stadium will boast only 22,000 fans for the game, well below the 65,890 fans that would normally attend a Bucs game, which is another reason it’s been tough for clubs to attract fans.

“I’m thinking we’ll get an increase in business, but it’s not going to be like anything it was,” Joe Redner, the owner of strip club Mons Venus said.

“This COVID makes it a whole different world.”

Strip clubs are not the only places struggling this Super Bowl Week, as bars and restaurants are also having a tough time bringing in customers.

It remains to be seen whether business in the area around Raymond James Stadium will pick up over the next few days, or whether they will struggle to get fans coming into Tampa to patronize local establishments that normally would be cleaning up during the biggest weekend of the year.