The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, one of the world’s most impressive sporting events, is taking over St. Pete’s downtown waterfront next weekend. If you’re planning to join the fun, we have everything you need to know to make the most of the weekend and enjoy the spectacle. And if you’re just looking at the competition tower being built on the pier and wondering what in the world is going on (totally fair), we have your primer here.
The big headline here is that all festivities are free to attend. Think of it like the annual fireworks on New Year’s Eve and 4th of July at the St. Pete Pier. You can walk, boat or paddleboard to your preferred viewing spot, then settle in for the show. Nearly all of the pier, waterfront, and waters surrounding the event are open to the public, with limited exceptions for a safe zone around the diving tower and small private areas for athletes, media and tour officials.
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The iconic custom-built diving tower, designed to look like the welcome to St. Petersburg markers along the interstate coming into St. Pete, will be located on the northwest end of the St. Pete Pier, facing north, with divers jumping into the north yacht basin between the pier and The Vinoy Resort. Portions of the basin will be open to boats and paddleboards. The space on the pier directly behind the tower will be closed, but the rest of the waterfront and the pier will be open to the public.
Key details for Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series St. Pete:
When:
Friday, June 5, 12-2:15 pm: Rounds Two and Three
Saturday, June 6, 12:30-3 pm: Finals Day. Pre-show at 12:30 pm, finals from 1-3 pm, and awards ceremony at 3 pm
Where to watch:
On foot:
Spa Beach Park (St. Pete Pier, includes large video board)
Bayshore Drive NE/North Straub Park (sidewalk areas and the park, includes large video board, road closed to traffic on Saturday)
St. Pete Pier public access points
5th Ave NE (in front of Vinoy and in Vinoy Park)
Vinoy Park (southern end by north yacht basin)
Boat or paddleboard/kayak:
The U.S. Coast Guard and St. Petersburg Marine Unit will be on site to control vessel attendance. Tampa Bay outside of the north yacht basin is open as usual. The north yacht basin will be divided into sections for vessels more than 30′, vessels under 30′, and paddleboarders and kayakers. Free swimming is not allowed.
Boats, paddleboards and kayaks will be permitted into the basin on a first-come, first-served basis. Boaters should coordinate with event safety personnel and local authorities upon entering the basin. Temporary anchoring locations will be assigned as available.
TV/Internet:
Rounds 1-4 will be live on YouTube and on @redbullcliffdiving. You can watch Friday here and Saturday here. The finals will also be live on Saturday, June 6 at 1 pm on Red Bull TV.
Getting there:
Rideshare, walking, or public transportation are recommended, as parking will be limited.
SunRunner: The PSTA bus rapid transport has its closest stop at the corner of 1st Ave N and 1st St, a 1 1/2-block walk to viewing area on Bayshore Dr NE., with service every 15 minutes.
Parking garages:
South Core Parking Garage – 101 1st Avenue S
City Center Garage – 100 2nd Avenue S
Plaza Tower & Courtyard Shops Garage – 255 1st Street N
Metered public parking:
Tropicana Field (1 Tropicana Dr) will have its usual lots open for paid parking via ParkMobile. The SunRunner has an eastbound stop on 1st Avenue South in front of the stadium and parking lots.
Food, drink and amenities:
Outside alcohol is not permitted on the event grounds around the pier. Usual city rules apply to other waterfront viewing areas. Alcoholic beverages will be sold on the pier and must remain in their designated event areas. Local authorities may conduct bag checks and security screenings within the permitted event footprint.
Food trucks and beverage vendors will operate in North Straub Park and on the St. Pete Pier.
Restrooms and public medical tents will be available in North Straub Park and Spa Beach Park on the pier.
What is the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series?
Now that you know how to watch, you may be wondering what exactly it is that you’ll be watching. The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series is one of the most elite athletic competitions on the planet, featuring the best divers from across the globe. Athletes train and compete for years to qualify for the World Series, which features six stops. This is the only North American stop on the tour, and it’s the first one ever in Florida.
The key things to know:
- Athletes dive from heights up to 90 feet (27m) for men and 70 feet (21m) for women
- Competitors reach speeds of 53 mph on their dive
- Divers are judged on difficulty, execution, and entry precision
For a frame of reference on the scale of these dives, the roof of Pier Teaki, on the other end of the pier from the diving platform, tops out at 52 feet. Standing on the roof, you’d still be more than 40 feet short of eye level with the divers on the platform.
