America's Got Talent ... from Tampa? - Patch.com

It was a beautiful introduction for America's Got Talent Monday night. Floating in on a luxurious yacht, America's Got Talent judge Howie Mandel was giving his best Titanic, "I'm the King of the World", pose as the boat pulled up to the Mahaffey Theater. 

The Dali Museum provided the backdrop to a line of nearly 10,000 people that were looking to get into the Mahaffey for the show's tapings wrapped around St. Pete's Bayfront to. 

Then the show's host, Nick Cannon, and the show's graphic said "from Tampa".

Patch readers voiced their displeasure on Facebook about a show filmed in St. Pete but titled as Tampa.

Lesa Gigante wrote:

"It's a shame that this does nothing for promotion or tourism for St. Petersburg, as it's promoted strictly as Tampa or Tampa Bay. It's as though our beautiful city is disappearing behind a regional term. I.e. Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Times... Sad."

Patch fan Rob McLean added:

"I'm so sick of St. Pete getting crapped on repeatedly. The description of the show on Bright House cable said, "Tampa, Florida". I'm proud of ST. PETERSBURG, not that other city. The mayor's office, city council and the Chamber need to launch a PR campaign to educate the media about OUR city."

The preview for Monday Night's show, which was filmed at the Mahaffey in April, read:

"Auditions continue as Howard, Howie, Sharon and Nick head to Tampa with an eye out for the acts that could take the million-dollar prize."

Joe Santiago, General Manager at The Mahaffey, touted how much the show and its staff loved St. Pete. 

“The on-site crew was absolutely enthralled with the venue," Santiago said in a news release sent out before the show aired. "They went so far as to say that it was truly one of the most beautiful venues that they have been in â€" with the view of the Bay, St. Petersburg, the Dali museum and the entire campus.”

There was no mention, however, of St. Petersburg during the show.

The next "Tampa" show is set to air on June 12 at 9 p.m. 

We want to hear from you, St. Pete? Are you offended the name St. Pete is replaced with Tampa Bay?