The Bucs At Daytona?
July 8th, 2013
The folks who own Daytona International Speedway will try to lure NFL games, including Bucs games, when renovations are completed at the 100,000-seat facility.
This is beginning to become a major irritant to Joe.
Many NFL stadiums are either being upgraded or downright replaced with state-of-the-art facilities, including the Georgia Dome and Bank of America Stadium (Panthers).
Meanwhile, though contractually obligated by a voter-approved referendum, the overseers of the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, the Tampa Sports Authority, sit on their collective hands, forcing Bucs fans to endure analog JumboTrons and limited amenities that many other NFL fans take for granted.
It seems the people who own Daytona International Speedway are trying to do something about it.
That facility, too, is in the midst of a major makeover, and when complete, the powers that be at the NASCAR institution are trying to lure NFL games to their facility, including a Bucs game (or two), reports the Associated Press.
Track president Joie Chitwood III says he would like to lure football, soccer and rugby games to the famed speedway following its $400 million redesign. Florida, Florida State or even the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers would be potential candidates to play there.
The track broke ground on the three-year redesign Friday. The project is scheduled to be completed by January 2016.
When it’s done, Daytona’s aging grandstands will have a modern look and feel. There will be wider and more comfortable seating, improved concessions and countless big-screen televisions that will keep fans abreast of the action even when they step away from the stands.
Imagine that, a 100,000-seat facility with HD JumboTrons, likely also broadcasting the Red Zone Channel.
Now, this has about as much of a chance of happening as Joe luring curvy Rachel Watson to his lair this evening. The Bucs playing a home game in Daytona would likely break a lease the Bucs have with the lackadaisical Tampa Sports Authority, no matter how much it could benefit the Bucs, theoretically, or no matter how much NFL fans could benefit. But this isn’t as crazy as it appears on face value, a football game at a NASCAR facility. The owners of the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Tex., have been trying to lure the annual Red River Shootout, Oklahoma vs. Texas, to its track.
Simply put, the crowd who whines incessantly about the Bucs constantly being roughly 5,000 seats short of a sellout may want to start lodging their ire at the bureaucrats at the Tampa Sports Authority. They are obligated to upgrade the Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, and since the stadium has opened, they have made few meaningful upgrades (unless you call a weak few pieces of fake wood thrown together as a party deck an “upgrade.”)
The NFL is in an arms race as far as upgrading facilities. The Tampa Sports Authority is lagging way behind.
July 8th, 2013 at 8:10 am
Stick to the topic or pass on commenting. Thank you. –Joe
July 8th, 2013 at 8:17 am
“Tires on the line”
July 8th, 2013 at 8:45 am
Personally I don’t know why it’s so damn imperative to spend millions of dollars just to keep up with cities that needed renovation or rebuilding. If you ever had been to the Speedway you would know that it was a necessity to upgrade. It was literally falling apart. Raymond James is still in it’s infancy and nobody goes to the GD games anyway. I’m a season ticket holder and my seats are in the cheap seats because that is all I can afford. I will stop going if they jack up the cost just so Joe can get more of his monies worth from his luxury suites, and Joe cannot guarantee me that wouldn’t happen.
July 8th, 2013 at 9:02 am
Yeah, let’s spend money on tickets so that we get the “home” experience. Makes sense to spend millions of taxpayer funds to help subsidize billionaire owners and millionaire athletes….
July 8th, 2013 at 9:18 am
@robert
Obvious troll is obvious
July 8th, 2013 at 9:43 am
Let me add this, if they feel compelled to upgrade because of the pressure from outside sources, then instead of spending millions on more dpi’s on a jumbletron (that you can see from 2 miles away), get rid of 5000 seats and spread us out more. Give us more walk isle space and give us more space between each seat.
We’re packed in like sardines and it sucks to sit in the middle of any rows, especially when you feel the urge to go to the bathroom during game time. For people to get by, everyone has to stand up, and big shouldered people have to sit practically sideways to keep from rubbing shoulders with the person next to them in 90+ degree heat.
I will pay extra on season tickets for that but not for 3 hours of wyfy service and a new jumbletron.
July 8th, 2013 at 10:08 am
I have been to Daytona International Speedway many times and was just there this weekend. I don’t think it would happen and if it did I think it would only be for a preseason game at most. Having said that if it did I think they could do some things there to enhance the fan experience as they do a good job with NASCAR. Also I would be all for it even during the regular season if the track rules stayed the same for an NFL game because you can bring in your cooler with your own food and drinks including alcohol.
July 8th, 2013 at 10:09 am
I don’t think the displays are analog… they are HD… it’s just they are small as compared to the amazing screens coming out today.
Problem, in order to have those screens, you need to have a retractible dome because they won’t withstand the weather… especially Florida’s weather.
July 8th, 2013 at 10:43 am
Daytona is way better than London.Bucs & Jags, home & home??
July 8th, 2013 at 10:48 am
Will we be able to bring in our laptops in little NFL Approved “6 X “6 bags? …..Gee I hope so…I can’t wait to lug my laptop and other gear to a stadium….
July 8th, 2013 at 10:48 am
As an Orlando Bucs fan, I would definitely go to Daytona to watch a game, even if it makes me feel dirty inside.