ST. PETERSBURG — Late Tuesday night, across the street from the empty husk of Tropicana Field, a new pastime lured about 200 people to drink and jeer and scream in unison at Ferg’s Sports Bar and Grill.
The mostly-female crowd crammed into folding chairs and metal bleachers to watch drama unfold on a glowing 18- by 12-foot screen. They downed beers and chicken wings in between clapping or clutching their faces in agony. Occasionally, they booed. This is a sports bar, after all.
Sorry to the Tampa Bay Rays, but there’s a new game in town: “Love Island USA” fever has taken over bars, restaurants and clubs across Tampa and St. Pete. It helps that a local guy, University of Tampa graduate-turned-Airbnb host TJ Palma, flew all the way to Fiji to join the show midway through the season.
![TJ Palma, a Tampa Airbnb superhost and former University of Tampa baseball player, is currently competing on Peacock's "Love Island USA" in Fiji. His likeness was blown up on a 18 x 12 foot screen during a watch party at Ferg's Sports Bar and Grill on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 620 413"/%3E "TJ Palma, a Tampa Airbnb superhost and former University of Tampa baseball player, is currently competing on Peacock's \"Love Island USA\" in Fiji. His likeness was blown up on a 18 x 12 foot screen during a watch party at Ferg's Sports Bar and Grill on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.")
TJ Palma, a Tampa Airbnb superhost and former University of Tampa baseball player, is currently competing on Peacock’s “Love Island USA” in Fiji. His likeness was blown up on a 18 x 12 foot screen during a watch party at Ferg’s Sports Bar and Grill on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. [ GABRIELLE CALISE | Times ]
The seventh season of “Love Island USA,” inspired by the original United Kingdom series, broke records this month with 1.2 billion minutes streamed in nine days. According to Deadline, the show is the second-most-watched streaming show on television.
For the uninitiated, this reality dating show shares many similarities to organized sports. Instead of a stadium, the action takes place in a neon-soaked villa in the South Pacific. There are players to root for, in the form of bikini-clad “islanders” who fight and make up and make out in the pursuit of finding a partner. Or, you know, social media fame.
Much like Major League Baseball, there are hours and hours of content: For nearly two months, episodes air every night but Wednesdays.
The biggest link between sports and “Love Island”? Both are best consumed with a cohort of likeminded individuals, preferably while sloshed.
Simultaneous to the Ferg’s fiesta on Tuesday night, fans tuned in at a Water Street pizza joint, a nightclub by Tampa’s University Mall and a glamping-themed bar in downtown St. Petersburg.
At 511 Franklin in Tampa, ladies squeezed shoulder-to-shoulder to view the action unfolding on a wall of screens. They downed half-off drinks and themed cocktails like the “Soul Ties Spritz” and the “Shoulda, Huda, Woulda.”
“Women’s NFL,” said the caption in an Instagram story reposted by the bar.
“Sounds like game 7 in here,” read another, which showed the horde hooting, clapping and cackling during a surprise dumping.
Carrollwood-based influencer Zavier Torrence gets some of the credit for making this happen. Torrence grew his following on TikTok by uplifting Tampa Bay businesses and events. A video he posted last week, which urged local bar owners to consider themed watch parties, has over 30,000 views.
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“Love Island is like the hottest TV show out on television right now. Everyone is talking about it,” Torrence, 25, says in the video. “I don’t think bars understand the power that they would have if they were to just post a Love Island theme night.”
Torrence told the Tampa Bay Times that multiple businesses, including 3 Corners Pizza and American Social, reached out to schedule events after seeing the video. He spent Tuesday night soaking in the show at Ferg’s with friends.
“It’s definitely a sport,” said Torrence, who compared the “Love Island” finale to the Super Bowl. “You have your opinions. You’re locked in.”
Ten days ago, Mark Ferguson had no idea what “Love Island USA” was. Then the phone calls started.
“More of my friends said, ‘Hey, my girlfriend wants to watch this, are you going to be showing it?,’” said Ferguson, who owns Ferg’s.
Since Tropicana Field lost its top, Ferguson has been looking for creative ways to make up for lost game day revenue. In the patio area out back, which once housed a pirate ship, Ferguson added a concert stage with a jumbo screen. His event calendar includes farmers markets, a fishing tournament, 1980s cover bands and “midget wrestling.” Over the next few weeks, there will also be “Love Island USA.”
“For a normal Tuesday, it doubled our sales,“ Ferguson said.
![The crowd at Ferg's Sports Bar and Grill on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 during a "Love Island USA" watch party. Owner Mark Ferguson estimates the event brought in up to 200 people – doubling his revenue for a normal Tuesday.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 620 403"/%3E "The crowd at Ferg's Sports Bar and Grill on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 during a \"Love Island USA\" watch party. Owner Mark Ferguson estimates the event brought in up to 200 people – doubling his revenue for a normal Tuesday.")
The crowd at Ferg’s Sports Bar and Grill on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 during a “Love Island USA” watch party. Owner Mark Ferguson estimates the event brought in up to 200 people – doubling his revenue for a normal Tuesday. [ GABRIELLE CALISE | Times ]
At Ferg’s, the crowd was primarily women in their 20s and 30s, plus the men who support them.
Together, they rolled their eyes at cheesy pickup lines and cringed when one islander dangled her feet into a swimming pool without removing her high heels. In between seltzers, others contemplated just how much filler and Botox should legally be allowed to be injected into one’s face.
Some shook their heads at Tampa competitor Palma, who committed a faux pas during a recent kissing contest.
“I think what messed him up was he was harsh rating the girls’ kisses,” Torrence explained.
Maybe Palma can turn it around by the next watch party.
And if not? He’ll be returning to plenty of “Love Island USA” back home in Tampa.
Where to watch ‘Love Island USA’ around Tampa Bay
“Love Island USA” airs on Peacock nightly at 9 p.m., except for Wednesdays.
Lepley’s Kitchen & Lounge: The Tampa bar will air “Love Island USA” today, with half-off hookah from 6 to 8 p.m. and $7 lamb chops.
La La’s Sangria Bar in Tampa is offering drink deals from 8 to 11 p.m. today. The first 20 guests receive a free themed cocktail.
The Patio in Palma Ceia is hosting weekly parties on Thursday nights. The first 50 guests today get a free espresso martini.
American Social: The Tampa restaurant is hosting a watch party starting 8 p.m. June 30, with exclusive “Love Island USA” food and drinks.
MacDinton’s Irish Pub in SoHo: “Love Island USA” will air here every Monday night. Drinks are free between 8 and 9 p.m.; bottles of champagne cost $10.
Glamper in St. Petersburg: “Love Island USA” nights take place Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Specials include $8 “bombshell shots.”
3 Corners Pizza: Tuesday nights at the Water Street restaurant feature themed island cocktails and a “villa menu.” The festivities begin at 8 p.m. with a pre-show challenge. Stick around for giveaways and a debriefing.
Ferg’s Sports Bar and Grill: “Love Island USA” will air on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays when the stage isn’t being used for concerts. Ferguson says themed drinks are coming soon.