$100 Million Stadium Upgrade Coming; Preseason In 2016 & 2017 Will Relocate
December 2nd, 2015
Big time changes are coming to the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway.
The Tampa Tribune reports that the Bucs, Hillsborough County, the city of Tampa and the Tampa Sports Authority are all in a happy place and approval of a $100 million upgrade to the stadium is imminent.
The expected $100 million investment will result in two new end zone video boards of 9,600 square feet each — a large difference from the current 2,200-square-foot boards. New 2,200-square foot video boards would be placed in the four corners of the stadium.
The total of 28,000 square feet of video would put Raymond James near the top of the NFL stadium hierarchy. The video boards and a new “state-of-the-art” sound system are to be ready for the College Football Championship game that will be played in Tampa on Jan. 9, 2017.
Also noted in the report is that Team Glazer will kick in more than half the cost, and the Bucs will relocate preseason games in 2016 and 2017. Allegedly, construction will take place during August of those years, so the games have to move.
There’s more in in the link above. Click on through.
This is great news for fans, except fans of preseason games. Joe suspects the Bucs will play at least half of those relocated preseason games in Orlando, where the team has expanded its marketing efforts significantly. The gorgeous renovated Citrus Bowl is a likely option.
December 2nd, 2015 at 8:19 am
The Billionaire Glazers will kick in more than half the cost…big effing deal!!!
They said that about the original cost and have they ever ponyed up. The Glazers get ZERO credit for this deal!! They are billionaires making a ton from OUR stadium. They get revenue from the USF games…parking concessions…not tickets. Why?
It’s about time for we sports fans to wake up and tell Billionaire owner and multimillionaire players they no longer get to behave like welfare Queens.
Jeff Vinik did this for the Lightning long before the Bucs have finally stepped up.
I’m truly glad for the fans and the city getting the CFA and SB games…but the Glazers are awash in money and watching people who earn on average $40,000 a year expected to pay for half of their investment just isn’t right.
But in fairness it isn’t just the Glazers or even the NFL…the MLB is even worse.
It’s basically legalized blackmail by a monopoly. Teams get to threaten to move because there is NO competition for them and the MLB even has a protected monopoly.
December 2nd, 2015 at 8:32 am
I agree St Pete. Lets just consider this a 10% tip (they dont tip 20%) from the Glazers for the 100s of millions of dollars the Glazers have made from the CITS over the past decade or so. IMO they really should be paying the whole upgrade with a smile knowing the fleecing will continue.
December 2nd, 2015 at 8:44 am
Because voters of Hillsborough County — not St. Pete — approved a referendum.
December 2nd, 2015 at 8:50 am
@Joe
Yes that explains why or how the Glazers fleeced us. If we educate the voters and the general public that can change.
In addition the polticians have a big hand in this. If Donald Trump had negotiated the deal with the Glazers the referendum language would look a lot different!
I’m very intimate with St. Pete Politics..served on a commission and I could tell you the stories of how they greased the skids for Sternberg and would have laid down and taken it up the chute if the public hadn’t risen up and said enough is enough.
December 2nd, 2015 at 8:52 am
@stpetebucsfan
That is why I am so glad that we have some people with brains that are not letting The Tampa Bay Rays walk away and steal the bank too!!!
No wonder Tampa people are yelling that we do not treat the Rays fairly!! They let the Bucs walk over that town!!! The Tampa Mayor might as well throw cash down on the sidewalk so the Glazers can walk to the stadium from the limo as not to get their shoes dirty!!!!
By the way, I did submit my plan for the pirate ship to sink when the Bucs lose at home!!!
December 2nd, 2015 at 9:01 am
As a STH this is a good deal.
Let some other market watch pre-season. The long time season ticket holder (such as myself) deserve a little break on the price of their tickets for sticking with this travesty as long as we have. Reducing our bill by 10%-20% (2 games of a 10 game season) and NOT touching regular season contests is a big deal.
I’m just glad the Bucs lost every London game they played. Didn’t have to pay for a loss…. TWICE.
December 2nd, 2015 at 9:04 am
Realist
Yet another time we agree! Actually aside from Lovie we frequently agree.
December 2nd, 2015 at 9:10 am
Citrus Bowl is a dump
Sounds like you haven’t been there in the past year. –Joe
December 2nd, 2015 at 9:14 am
@stpeteBucsfan
It must be the nice weather we get in St. Pete!!! By the way, when we disagree about Lovie, I can hear you scream and yell from your house to my house!!!!
But seriously, maybe the truth of Lovie is right in the middle of our views!!
December 2nd, 2015 at 9:15 am
Pretty sure those video boards can be installed for free. They generate enough revenue that they easily pay for themselves.
If the Glazers insist that the boards cost $100 mil and they are signing up for half, that translates to a $100 million in tax free income shared equally.
They will also factor in operating, maintenance cost and of course depreciation.
Those “improvements” will not cost them a dime.
Ever wonder why you are bombarded with military flyovers, giant flags, recruitment ads and parades at CITS Stadium? Patriotism??
Those are paid for ads ($$ millions) by the Federal Government (taxpayers).
The Bucs are not one of the NFL teams that accepts money for military advertising/presence. –Joe
December 2nd, 2015 at 9:26 am
Stpetebucsfan.. There is always a choice. In the immortal words of Jedi Master Yoda… Do, or Do Not.
December 2nd, 2015 at 9:32 am
They really should have a preseason game in Tallahassee at Doak Campbell. Showcase Jameis in his college hometown and create some new Bucs fans
December 2nd, 2015 at 9:42 am
What’s not to be happy about? With three NFL teams trying to relocate right now, and Tampa not at the top of the attendance list, this is great news for stability in our city.
December 2nd, 2015 at 9:54 am
Joe,
The Glazers and TSA report this same damn thing every year and nothing every happens. That money will never be spent on the stadium, some lawyer will file injunction and it will be canceled again.
Not even worth reporting anymore, makes everyone look silly when nothing happens.
December 2nd, 2015 at 10:00 am
The Buc’s may not have accepted taxpayer money for military celebrations, but, they are part of an entity that does and I am sure they accepted the funneled revenue.
December 2nd, 2015 at 10:48 am
people should not go to preseason games anyway.
December 2nd, 2015 at 10:52 am
@R.O.
WTH are you talking about??? quoting Yoda!!! Yoda is the Mark Dominik of Star Wars!!!! They both ran their organizations into the ground, Then ran and hid on Dagobah system (Espn),, and then just sit around in the swamp (espn) telling people that they are “experts” and using hindsight vision the whole time!!!!!
December 2nd, 2015 at 11:12 am
Preseason games should not be required purchases for season ticket holders and they should not be full-price games. They should be sold separately, at bargain basement prices, to the general public and tons should be given away to children’s groups to help build the fan base.
I think one of the reasons the Bucs fan base is low now is due to the scarcity of tickets during the 1998-2005 seasons. Very few new fans were introduced to the game in person and a lot of other fans established other habits for watching games. Like buying big screen TVs, huddling up at friends houses, going to sports bars, etc.
My Dad took me to my first game back in 1980, against the Steelers. The Bucs fell behind early, made a valiant comeback, but the rally ended short and the Bucs lost 24-21. (The officials hosed the Bucs on the final drive. Sound familiar?) That experience drew me into Buc fandom and I’ve been a regular at the stadium my entire adult life.
The Bucs need to do a better job of growing the fan base organically by inviting children to games, and pre-season games seem to be a great opportunity to do that.
December 2nd, 2015 at 11:19 am
@Johnny
The fan base is low now because of the years we were winning? Because of the years tickets were at their highest demand?
December 2nd, 2015 at 1:58 pm
“The Billionaire Glazers will kick in more than half the cost…big effing deal!!!
They said that about the original cost and have they ever ponyed up. The Glazers get ZERO credit for this deal!! They are billionaires making a ton from OUR stadium. They get revenue from the USF games…parking concessions…not tickets. Why”
So, the fact that they have lots of money means they can’t profit for their investment? They make smart decisions, so thir evil ? I’, as Liberal a Democrat as they come & even I dom’t buy that crud.
Next, there was no gun held to the heads of thos 40 K a year voters in Hillsborough county.
Last, where is the Outrage, from you, about all those Millionaire Performers Profiting from the use of the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center ? Seems like the same principle would apply there, right ? Or is that OK cause you like the shows ? Or, is that Culture, and a Bucs game venue an unacceptable use of Public funds ? Who are you, to declare that the deal for the RayJay was a bad deal. If it was so bad, try buiding a comperable facility for anywhere close to what was spent, in any urban area of the same or larger size. Ain’t gonna happen.
December 2nd, 2015 at 2:01 pm
This is FANTASTIC news! Glazers putting in some of their own money and INVESTING in Tampa. $100 million renovation is huge. All of the haters gonna hate. I’m a Season Pass Member and very excited for the future of this franchise. GO BUCS!!
December 2nd, 2015 at 2:14 pm
Sounds good to me. If glazers aren’t making money we don’t have a team. Sounds like a win win for owners and fans. Good news for Tampa Bay Area. Need a few sell outs next. Sounds like some grumpy old men don’t like it. Big surprise there lol..
December 2nd, 2015 at 4:51 pm
Fritz 50
The Tampa Bay Arts Center. Are you freaking kidding? I’m not going to do your work for you and google all the information. First off the public expenditure is a pittance compared to the Bucs. Virtually every part of that venue is named for a philanthropist who helps pay the way. Where does the money from Raymond James go…to the public to offset the cost…like it does at the TBPAC? No it goes right into the Glazer’s pocket.
They make smart decisions, so thir evil ?
Bernie Madoff made a lot of smart decisions. Was he evil? That’s called a straw man it’s not my point.
I’m not saying the Glazers are evil…they are simply average pro sports owners bilking the public. My point is we are like battered wives who let theem get away with it. To use your political point..I’m no Republican but i have no doubt if Donald Trump had been leading the pols who negotiated that deal we’d be in far better shape. It’s simply incredibly lopsided.
Somebody posted that hey at least we’re not at the top of the list for LA and that’s true…because we gave the Glazers a golden goose why would they leave?
Look at how Sternberg lied to the public to get over. If I told you all the tricks and shenanigans he used to basically swindle the best parcel of waterfront property for his team..and not just baseball..if you paid attention you would have seen he was going to get a chunk of the Mahaffey parking lot and control of a bunch of retail associated with the project along Beach Drive.
He would have done exactly as his mentors..the Levi Jacobs family did in Baltimore…get the new stadium and flip the franchise to quadruple his money in less than ten years. Stupid? Of course not. Smart…for Sternberg for St. Pete NO! That would have been a white elephant. If people are beotching about driving to Tropicana one of the most perhaps THE MOST convenient location in Pinellas County how would they feel to have added another :30 to :60 minutes after getting of interstate to crowd through streets built out in the 20’s.
It would have NEVER worked!!! Don’t take my word for it simply pay attention!
What happened in 45 days after their White Elephant got shot down? They released a report of places they want to go and they unequivocally said downtown St. Pete was not a suitable location…just 45 days after they failed getting a half billion from the taxpayers claiming that downtown ST. Pete was an awesome location.
MLB fans have a problem and it’s the sport that needs to look into the mirror.
Economic research has shown that this market cannot support THREE major professional franchises…the Bucs are part of America’s pastime..when they win the stadium will be packed…the Lightning sell out night after night. That’s not a slam against the Rays or MLB…it’s simply the fact.
Now if Tampa wants to keep the team I hope you guys succeed!!! I like to go to about three games year and I won’t whine about making the drive over the bridge like the Tampons have. I even have the solution for you.
Move the Rays Stadium right across the street and build it on Steinbrenner field. Parking and infrastructure are already in place. It’s give you a chance to test the theory that downtown workers might stop off for seven innings on the way home.
What’s in it for the Steinbrenners and St. Pete. We get the Yankees(a team I truly loathe but we’re talking business here) in a remodeled and updated..requires about 50-75 million levied as a ticket tax over ten years..The Yankees get to return to the place of their glory years with Ruth and Gehrig.
The Yankees get to open a huge memorabilia store with some of that 75 million and they would obviously pack every Spring training game. St. Pete gets ancillary business…EG I might start up a tour for all of our northern friends..taking them to the downtown Condo where Ruth and Gehrig lived…taking them to the Vinoy Golf Course to play the very same course that Ruth and Gehrig and other Yankees played. Taking them to the field at Cresent Lake where the Yankees trained.
It makes perfect sense. Pinellas is the tourist county we should get the return of Spring Training OUR REAL tradition..and Tampa the urban working community gets it’s MLB team. It’s a freaking win win!