Mar 20 • 02:20 UTC 🇦🇷 Argentina La Nacion (ES)

The baseball fever in Florida: the fraternal refuge of Venezuelans in Tampa that attracted Telemundo

A spotlight on how Venezuelan community members in Tampa gathered at 'Panitas Bakery' to celebrate Venezuela's victory at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Venezuela achieved an impressive victory by winning the 2026 World Baseball Classic, a moment of national pride for the Venezuelan community. In Tampa, Florida, Venezuelan residents congregated at 'Panitas Bakery', a traditional Venezuelan bakery founded by Vanessa Chacón, to support their national team during the games. The bakery has become a cultural hub for locals and a gathering place for fans to celebrate their team's success.

Vanessa Chacón, the bakery's founder, shared in an interview that she established this venue not merely as a business but as a community space to foster connections among Venezuelans living in the area. Despite having no prior experience in the culinary industry and having learned baking on the job, she has successfully transformed 'Panitas Bakery' into a beloved establishment that reflects her heritage while serving authentic Venezuelan treats. This bakery has thus become a representation of how immigrants maintain and share their culture in a foreign land.

The success of the Venezuelan team at the World Baseball Classic resonated beyond just sports; it showcased the solidarity of the Venezuelan diaspora in Florida and created a sense of unity and celebration within the community. The involvement of media outlets like Telemundo indicates the broader interest in this event, highlighting how sports can connect and uplift communities, particularly immigrant ones, by providing not only entertainment but also a shared identity and pride.

📡 Similar Coverage