August 14, 2026 • 10 mins
Point Park University in Pittsburgh is exploring the possibility of placing satellite programs in downtown Bradenton. Officials have been visiting and looking at potential sites. The two cities have been tied together for decades by Pittsburgh Pirates spring training. The university has a number of programs and schools focused on the performing arts, which can tie together with local employers including Feld Entertainment and IMG. We speak with Point Park University president Chris Brussalis and Bradenton mayor Gene Brown.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Gordon Bird here. Beyond the news, the city of Bradenton
continues working to upgrade the downtown core and opportunities in
the city, and this could end up being the next example.
Braidenton officials and Point Park University that's in Pittsburgh are
exploring a potential partnership to find out what that could
mean for the city and the university. We have Point
(00:21):
Park University President, doctor Chris Burslis and Bradenton Mayor Gene
Brown on the line with us to talk about it.
A good day to both of you.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Good afternoon, good afternoon, glad to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Well, first, for doctor Bursalis, what sort of presence are
you considering in Bradenton and what sort of academic programs
are you considering bringing here? And maybe a little bit
of introduction about Point Park University for those who aren't
familiar with it.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Sure. Yeah. Point Park University were about thirty nine hundred
students in downtown Pittsburgh. Found in nineteen thirty three, start
off as a business training college, came it to year college,
four year college, then university in two thousand and three,
and we have six schools in the university and probably
(01:08):
we're probably best known for our Conservatory of Performing Arts.
We have a school of Dance and School of Fear
of Film and Animation, and actually, you know, we're told
that more people perform on Broadway cumulatively, both on stage
and backstage from Point Park than any other school in
the country. So very strong performing arts school. And I
(01:28):
guess it started about nine months ago. You know, the
mayor sent a delegation to meet with me and you know,
kind of talked about the vision for Bradenton. They explained
that Brainton was one of the fastest growing cities in Florida,
one of the top ten fastest growing cities really in
the United States, and they're making some significant investments in
(01:51):
downtown Bradenton, including a developing a cultural district and anamers.
By the way, we're also building a twelve conservatory school.
And they said, hey, we've liked what you've done in Pittsburgh,
and we've positioned ourselves to really grow as a university
and help revitalize downtown Pittsburgh. We like what you've been
(02:12):
doing in Pittsburgh and your conservatory's world class, or they're
be an opportunity for us to kind of you know,
rub shoulders and maybe do something together, and that was
I think the hook to kind of get our interest
and come down and really see what was going on
in Bradenton and see the vision that the mayor and
(02:33):
his team has for Bradenton and also development in Manatee County.
So that was kind of the start of all this.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Now, doctor Briceelis, Who've been in town a couple of
days as we speak. Have you been looking at potential
locations and sites and how they could fit into things.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Yeah, so we've been here. We started this process, like
I said, about nine months ago. So we've made several
trips down here, and we're looking at, you know, the
reuse ofotential beautiful facilities and buildings in downtown Bradenton, and
you know, we're looking at, you know, starting with potentially
some of our conservatory programs. You know, we have we
(03:13):
have concert and commercial dance, commercials, jazz and hip hop,
We have acting, musical theater production. We have a new
program called Performance and Creative Industries, which is kind of
a quadruple threat, uh acting, musical theater, dance, film, and
(03:33):
then uh so some business uh communication and uh business
communication and the third program of AB right now. Uh
but you know, that's the programs like that, and also
are we have a very strong sports Arts Entertainment of
(03:56):
Sports Arts, Entertainments and music business program and a very
strong sports broadcasting program as well. We're looking at now.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
It's no secret obviously sports is one of the things
that connects Pittsburgh and Bradenton. Of course, as Brighton hosts
spring training for the Pittsburgh Pirates every year. I suspect
that that was sort of a veilance way to get
into this, Mayor would you confirm that is that was
(04:26):
that kind of a catalyst to get this going.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Yes, since nineteen sixty nine, the Pirates have did spring
training down here. Obviously we've had Triple A or Single
A Marauders, which is a Pirates sports team, and it's
just kind of one of those things that over the
years you kind of say, how do we become more
of a sister city with Pittsburgh. And we brought the
Regratta down twelve years ago from Pittsburgh. Obviously, our sports
(04:53):
in this area with IMG Academy coming in and it
all ties in. We also have felt entertainment here that
you know, really plays into what all of this is
with the Disney on ice and different things that really
excites the whole community, So not only through the sports,
but also through other industry that are right in our
Manatee County. That's really been something that's been intriguing to
(05:17):
keep working through in this exploratory stage.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
And understanding that this is exploratory and there's still a
lot of process left to go, is there for both
of you? Is there a potential timeline for making this
all happen down the road?
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Yeah, So, you know, we got this started. We're looking
into this, you know, starting about nine months ago, and
we're we've now engaged a consultant to help us assess
and understand the potential demand for some of our unique
programs that we have. We're also trying to estimate the
potential economic impact for the Bradenton community. I mean, this
(05:59):
has to truly be a win win for both, you know,
obviously university and our students, staff of the staff in
Pittsburgh and also for these citizens and perspective students on
the Brington campus.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
And a little more background about Point Park.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
I mean, we were found in nineteen thirty three as
a business training college all about we believe that the
adults learned best by doing so we have these these
very unique programs, high demand programs, and an urban university.
Our vision is a university is to be one of
the most dynamic urban universities in America. And so I
(06:37):
was a strategy consultant by trade my entire career and
kind of fell into this about three years ago at
Point Park. And you know, the way we position positioned
the university is there's an opportunity for us to grow
as a university while also simultaneously being a catalyst for
(06:57):
the revitalization of downtown Pittsburgh. You know, we you know,
I started right after the pandemic, right and after the
post pandemic world, these urban centers, the office workers aren't
necessarily coming back and droves. So these transformations are going
to be driven by the creator economy. These downtowns are
going to become centers of arts, entertainment, recreation. Was a university.
(07:19):
Guess what that just so happens to be in our
sweet spot. And so so that's what we've been doing
is university. We're one of the fastest growing private, independent
nonprofit universities in the country, particularly in the Northeast. Are
total enrollments up by about twenty percent over the last
couple of years. And you know, just for an example,
(07:39):
we had an economic impact Dudy done. This was May
of last year, may have twenty twenty five, so looking
at the previous year's numbers, this is before you know,
a lot of our growth. And we we had an
economic impact of about two hundred and thirty seven million
dollars annually and economic impact our university. We created about
(08:03):
thirty three hundred jobs annually. We bring in eighty thousand
visitors to the city at Pittsburgh annually. Our students put
out about twenty three thousand hours of volunteer community service.
So the impact is pretty real. And so that's why
(08:24):
I think, you know, we can bring some of that
magic to downtown Brainton. Not only educate students and you know,
and and professions that are the are in demand that
will give them a you know, a very very happy,
fruitful life, but we can add vitality, we can add
energy to a region and also that economic impact.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Yeah, and that's that's where I think that one of
the things that we'll have, hopefully within the next month,
is that study of how viable things are, what the
economic impact would be, and we know that the Pirates
just in coming down here for six weeks bring about
a fifty million a year economic impact, and that's just
during the six weeks. Then you have the rest of
the year when the you know, become the Pittsburgh of
(09:09):
the South. And I think this is a perfect relationship
that would flow into it while bringing our downtown an
urban core of that arts and culture district that you know,
six years ago when I started and we first meeting
that we had, we talked about Avenue of the Arts.
Second meeting we voted on and approved it. So it's
(09:31):
been something we've been looking at, and you know, sometimes
things and timing is opportunity. Obviously COVID was right at
the beginning of my term, but now opportunity is there,
and I think there's really a great synergy in this going, a.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Lot of potential here and we'll certainly look forward to
future developments. Bradenton Mayor Jen Brown and Point Park University
President doctor Chris Brusalists, thank you both for joining us
on Beyond the News.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Thank you, Thank you very much.
Gordon Bird here. Beyond the news, the city of Bradenton
continues working to upgrade the downtown core and opportunities in
the city, and this could end up being the next example.
Braidenton officials and Point Park University that's in Pittsburgh are
exploring a potential partnership to find out what that could
mean for the city and the university. We have Point
(00:21):
Park University President, doctor Chris Burslis and Bradenton Mayor Gene
Brown on the line with us to talk about it.
A good day to both of you.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Good afternoon, good afternoon, glad to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Well, first, for doctor Bursalis, what sort of presence are
you considering in Bradenton and what sort of academic programs
are you considering bringing here? And maybe a little bit
of introduction about Point Park University for those who aren't
familiar with it.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Sure. Yeah. Point Park University were about thirty nine hundred
students in downtown Pittsburgh. Found in nineteen thirty three, start
off as a business training college, came it to year college,
four year college, then university in two thousand and three,
and we have six schools in the university and probably
(01:08):
we're probably best known for our Conservatory of Performing Arts.
We have a school of Dance and School of Fear
of Film and Animation, and actually, you know, we're told
that more people perform on Broadway cumulatively, both on stage
and backstage from Point Park than any other school in
the country. So very strong performing arts school. And I
(01:28):
guess it started about nine months ago. You know, the
mayor sent a delegation to meet with me and you know,
kind of talked about the vision for Bradenton. They explained
that Brainton was one of the fastest growing cities in Florida,
one of the top ten fastest growing cities really in
the United States, and they're making some significant investments in
(01:51):
downtown Bradenton, including a developing a cultural district and anamers.
By the way, we're also building a twelve conservatory school.
And they said, hey, we've liked what you've done in Pittsburgh,
and we've positioned ourselves to really grow as a university
and help revitalize downtown Pittsburgh. We like what you've been
(02:12):
doing in Pittsburgh and your conservatory's world class, or they're
be an opportunity for us to kind of you know,
rub shoulders and maybe do something together, and that was
I think the hook to kind of get our interest
and come down and really see what was going on
in Bradenton and see the vision that the mayor and
(02:33):
his team has for Bradenton and also development in Manatee County.
So that was kind of the start of all this.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Now, doctor Briceelis, Who've been in town a couple of
days as we speak. Have you been looking at potential
locations and sites and how they could fit into things.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Yeah, so we've been here. We started this process, like
I said, about nine months ago. So we've made several
trips down here, and we're looking at, you know, the
reuse ofotential beautiful facilities and buildings in downtown Bradenton, and
you know, we're looking at, you know, starting with potentially
some of our conservatory programs. You know, we have we
(03:13):
have concert and commercial dance, commercials, jazz and hip hop,
We have acting, musical theater production. We have a new
program called Performance and Creative Industries, which is kind of
a quadruple threat, uh acting, musical theater, dance, film, and
(03:33):
then uh so some business uh communication and uh business
communication and the third program of AB right now. Uh
but you know, that's the programs like that, and also
are we have a very strong sports Arts Entertainment of
(03:56):
Sports Arts, Entertainments and music business program and a very
strong sports broadcasting program as well. We're looking at now.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
It's no secret obviously sports is one of the things
that connects Pittsburgh and Bradenton. Of course, as Brighton hosts
spring training for the Pittsburgh Pirates every year. I suspect
that that was sort of a veilance way to get
into this, Mayor would you confirm that is that was
(04:26):
that kind of a catalyst to get this going.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Yes, since nineteen sixty nine, the Pirates have did spring
training down here. Obviously we've had Triple A or Single
A Marauders, which is a Pirates sports team, and it's
just kind of one of those things that over the
years you kind of say, how do we become more
of a sister city with Pittsburgh. And we brought the
Regratta down twelve years ago from Pittsburgh. Obviously, our sports
(04:53):
in this area with IMG Academy coming in and it
all ties in. We also have felt entertainment here that
you know, really plays into what all of this is
with the Disney on ice and different things that really
excites the whole community, So not only through the sports,
but also through other industry that are right in our
Manatee County. That's really been something that's been intriguing to
(05:17):
keep working through in this exploratory stage.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
And understanding that this is exploratory and there's still a
lot of process left to go, is there for both
of you? Is there a potential timeline for making this
all happen down the road?
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Yeah, So, you know, we got this started. We're looking
into this, you know, starting about nine months ago, and
we're we've now engaged a consultant to help us assess
and understand the potential demand for some of our unique
programs that we have. We're also trying to estimate the
potential economic impact for the Bradenton community. I mean, this
(05:59):
has to truly be a win win for both, you know,
obviously university and our students, staff of the staff in
Pittsburgh and also for these citizens and perspective students on
the Brington campus.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
And a little more background about Point Park.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
I mean, we were found in nineteen thirty three as
a business training college all about we believe that the
adults learned best by doing so we have these these
very unique programs, high demand programs, and an urban university.
Our vision is a university is to be one of
the most dynamic urban universities in America. And so I
(06:37):
was a strategy consultant by trade my entire career and
kind of fell into this about three years ago at
Point Park. And you know, the way we position positioned
the university is there's an opportunity for us to grow
as a university while also simultaneously being a catalyst for
(06:57):
the revitalization of downtown Pittsburgh. You know, we you know,
I started right after the pandemic, right and after the
post pandemic world, these urban centers, the office workers aren't
necessarily coming back and droves. So these transformations are going
to be driven by the creator economy. These downtowns are
going to become centers of arts, entertainment, recreation. Was a university.
(07:19):
Guess what that just so happens to be in our
sweet spot. And so so that's what we've been doing
is university. We're one of the fastest growing private, independent
nonprofit universities in the country, particularly in the Northeast. Are
total enrollments up by about twenty percent over the last
couple of years. And you know, just for an example,
(07:39):
we had an economic impact Dudy done. This was May
of last year, may have twenty twenty five, so looking
at the previous year's numbers, this is before you know,
a lot of our growth. And we we had an
economic impact of about two hundred and thirty seven million
dollars annually and economic impact our university. We created about
(08:03):
thirty three hundred jobs annually. We bring in eighty thousand
visitors to the city at Pittsburgh annually. Our students put
out about twenty three thousand hours of volunteer community service.
So the impact is pretty real. And so that's why
(08:24):
I think, you know, we can bring some of that
magic to downtown Brainton. Not only educate students and you know,
and and professions that are the are in demand that
will give them a you know, a very very happy,
fruitful life, but we can add vitality, we can add
energy to a region and also that economic impact.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Yeah, and that's that's where I think that one of
the things that we'll have, hopefully within the next month,
is that study of how viable things are, what the
economic impact would be, and we know that the Pirates
just in coming down here for six weeks bring about
a fifty million a year economic impact, and that's just
during the six weeks. Then you have the rest of
the year when the you know, become the Pittsburgh of
(09:09):
the South. And I think this is a perfect relationship
that would flow into it while bringing our downtown an
urban core of that arts and culture district that you know,
six years ago when I started and we first meeting
that we had, we talked about Avenue of the Arts.
Second meeting we voted on and approved it. So it's
(09:31):
been something we've been looking at, and you know, sometimes
things and timing is opportunity. Obviously COVID was right at
the beginning of my term, but now opportunity is there,
and I think there's really a great synergy in this going, a.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Lot of potential here and we'll certainly look forward to
future developments. Bradenton Mayor Jen Brown and Point Park University
President doctor Chris Brusalists, thank you both for joining us
on Beyond the News.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Thank you, Thank you very much.
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