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Club all about fun and games

Most sign up to meet new people who share their interest in sports.

By BRYAN BURNS
Published March 24, 2006

BRANDON - As softball players from the Tampa Sports and Social Club congratulate each other after another game, a spectator asks what the final score was.  A few members look at each other quizzically. Nobody seems to know for sure.

Nobody seems to care for that matter.

Ask club director Grant Sampson, and he'll tell you the score is not important. What matters is giving athletic-minded people a forum to socialize with people they share common interests with.

"The sport is what gets it going, but it's just an excuse to meet new people,'' he said. "I love to see people have a good time, become more active, and also have more of a social life.''

Sampson has been running similar clubs since 2001, when he started the Miami Sports and Social Club out of his own desire to meet people and continue playing sports competitively.

When Sampson moved to Tampa in 2004, he saw the need for a club here and opened one in 2005.

A year later, Sampson expanded the Tampa club into Brandon.

"We started in Tampa, but there were so many people traveling from the Brandon area to Tampa that we decided to start one here,'' Sampson said.

The Brandon club, which kicked off its first league game on March 6, offers softball, flag football, basketball, soccer, and volleyball, although only the softball league has begun play. Plans are also in the works for kickball, dodgeball, and golf leagues as well.

"A lot of people sign up to meet new people,'' Sampson said. "Probably 60 percent of the individual signups are new to the area.''

Rita Montilla, 44, is one of those transplants. She moved to Riverview from Chicago with her husband, Frank, in October. Frank is captain of the Envy Me softball team; Rita comes to the games to watch.

"Frank is a baseball and softball freak,'' Rita said. "He loves the game. Me, I enjoy going to the bar after the game and socializing with everybody.''

Nick Franklin, a 25-year-old sales agent with Home Discovery Realty, got a club flier on his door and was intrigued because he liked playing softball. He started gathering people from his company to play.

Eventually he ended up with three teams, each with about 14 players.

"I'm single, so I wanted everybody to come out and have fun,'' Franklin said. "You work with all these people and never get a chance to really talk to them. This way we can have fun outside of work.

"I'm happy with the results,'' he added. "It definitely brought up morale in the office. There's a lot of trash talking around the office now.''

Sampson says that one of his greatest pleasures is watching strangers become best friends. Sometimes they become even more.

"It's nice when you're putting people on teams one day and later you get a wedding invitation from some of those people,'' Sampson said.

For more information on the Tampa Sports and Social Club, check out the club's Web site at www.playtampa.com or call the office at (727) 793-7529.

[Last modified March 24, 2006, 10:53:05]

TAMPA SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB BRINGS EXCITING NEW ENERGY TO THE GREATER BRANDON AREA

 Brandon, Florida – March 2006 – Tampa Sports & Social Club (TSSC), based in Brandon, Florida, brings a whole new energy to the Greater Brandon Area. 

Tampa Sports & Social Club is the only full-service sport and social organization committed to providing its members with a variety of adult sports leagues, social parties and events, volunteer opportunities & mini-affordable adventure vacations.  The club’s mission is to provide an exciting, socially active lifestyle to all adults. Club founder, Grant Sampson, says, “We are about changing people’s lifestyle to a healthy, positive way of living and giving.”  One of the club’s main objectives is organizing volunteer opportunities in the community.  Sampson says, “Making the time to actively help those in need will make you a better person as an individual and within your community.”  The club actively sponsors non-profit organizations in the Greater Brandon Area.  Sampson says, “Our club volunteers actively participate in fund-raising events by running or walking in races to collecting holiday gifts for non-profit organizations such as St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, Make-a-Wish Foundation, T.M.I. and E.C.H.O.”

The club, with organized activities and leagues scheduled throughout Hillsborough County, is offering Spring Specials for individual and team signups.  For an annual membership fee of only $35, the Tampa Sports & Social Club offers a variety of activities including flag football, basketball, soccer, softball, volleyball, kickball, dodgeball, tennis and golf.  Craig Densham, an avid soccer player and member of the TSSC, loves all that the organization offers and expressed, “After moving to Riverview from England a few years ago, I joined the club hoping to meet other adults who share my passion for a good game of soccer.”  Craig also enjoys the benefits of TSSC membership, which includes sponsorship discounts provided by local businesses such as Anheuser Busch, Play It Again Sports, M.J. Barleyhoppers, and Beef O’ Brady’s.  “I recouped the $35 membership fee through the discounts I received on a sporting goods purchase and one happy hour”, says Craig.  The club also offers an upgraded membership which includes an internal business network for members to access each other through a password protected website.

Smaller neighborhood leagues, as well as individuals, are joining the club, which offers a 10 % discount to corporate and neighborhood teams who wish to join.  Individuals can sign up as “free agents” or purchase gift certificates for family and friends looking for a more socially active lifestyle.  John, a Brandon business owner and member says, “I purchased a co-ed flag football team membership to provide my employees with recreational and team building opportunities. As a bonus, my company’s name and logo are represented on the players’ uniforms, providing advertising exposure both on and off the field.”  TSSC also organizes social events for its members at many great locations throughout Tampa Bay and the Brandon area.  Grant points out, “With thousands of members in the club, our negotiating power contributes savings for all members who take advantage of the great deals.” 

The club offers a positive social life to all adults.  “When I moved here, I didn’t know anyone.  Since joining the club, I get to play the sports I love and meet so many new people,” says Stacey, a TSSC member.  “I have made so many friends and we frequently get together for parties and volunteer efforts within the Club.”

After moving to Tampa Bay from Miami in 2004, Grant Sampson saw the need for a sports organization in Hillsborough County that would provide active adults with sports, social and charitable opportunities.  After establishing the club earlier this year, Grant moved the Club’s headquarters to Brandon, expanding the opportunities to the residents of the Greater Brandon Area which includes Riverview, Seffner, Valrico, Dover, Bloomingdale, Lithia and Apollo Beach.  For more information on membership, benefits and leagues, email info@PlayTampa.com. 

Grant has spent most of his life involved in sports, charitable efforts, and social activities.  He played sports throughout high school and college, before the conception and management of two successful sport & social clubs in Las Vegas and Miami.  He also volunteered his time with youth sports organizations and directed intramural sports for a college in Miami.  “The other clubs were so rewarding to me that it just made sense to bring the magic to the Tampa/Brandon area.”  Sampson added.  To enjoy a piece of the magic, visit the Tampa Sports & Social Club’s website at www.PlayTampa.com.  

PlayTampa.Com Sports Club

PlayTampa.com is the answer to a socially active lifestyle in the Greater Brandon Area! Born in Tampa, the Tampa Sports & Social Club has relocated offices to the Brandon area due to overwhelming response from its members. Club director, Grant Samson, started Miami's first sports & social club and since has created one in Las Vegas and now in the Tampa/Brandon area. For more information, call 727-793-7529 or visit www.playtampa.com.