However, the NFL has used Super Bowls (much like MLB has done with All-Star Games) as a carrot to dangle in its stadium-building campaigns. And as the Tampa Bay Times' Drew Harwell writes, 14-year-old Raymond James Stadium will face stiff competition:
Eight newer stadiums have yet to field a Super Bowl, though nearly all are in northern climates typically cold for the late-winter game. The game next February in New Jersey's MetLife Stadium will be the first Super Bowl held in an outdoor northern stadium.Tampa's Super Bowl bid is secretive, but it most likely included a bevy of incentives and kickbacks for the NFL. That's just the norm these days as competition between cities often negates some of the benefits the Super Bowl is supposed to bring.
In fact, the league is in such a position of power over bidding cities, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told Houston officials - after they built the new Reliant Stadium for the Texans - they should spend another $29 million to demolish the adjacent Astrodome to create 2,500 parking spots.
KHOU-TV reported Goodell called demolition a "game changer" in Houston's bid. Then the commish cranked up the pressure, saying, "That issue is for the community to decide, but I think having an extra 2,500 parking spaces would enhance Houston’s bid."
Houston officials actually refused to cave in to the pressure at the time and decided against blowing up the Astrodome. So how integral was that new parking to Houston's bid? They landed the 2017 Super Bowl anyway.
Sounds like ANOTHER big event in Tampa at the stadium that "wasn't worth building"... lol
ReplyDeleteAt best, TB will get a super bowl about every 10 years. So, 'B. Dufala', how much money have you personally pocketed for the 4 Super Bowls (1984, 1991, 2001, 2009) that have been played in TB to date?
ReplyDeleteAre you trying to call-me-out Scott? Really? Given how petty that is, fyi, I moved down here from Pittsburgh in 03', BUT for a regular dude from SW PA, I did fly down here in 01', stayed w/ at my aunt & uncle's, went to the punt-pass-and kick thing, and in 09' we did the same, then partied downtown w/ Steeler fans after the game, so maybe $500-$1000!
ReplyDeleteThough, it's not about me, smart alec, it's about the muti-billion dollar empire of the NFL hosting the most important sporting event in the United States of America, all the other big businesses, the media, and everyone else that comes to spend thousands (not including the "indirect spending" after having many millions of people around the world see your city put on a show). "every 10 years(?)", It's a big shot-in-the-arm financially to host 1, let alone host at least 3 more (if not 5-10 more) because we have a nice stadium to host the game! Besides, ask the other 15 NFL cities that haven't hosted a Super Bowl if they would want to if they had the chance... Yup, I thought they would...
Thanks for playing Scott, please try again...
"Yup, I thought they would...", I wonder why Scott?
DeleteB. Dufala,
DeleteI asked you how much money you pocketed, not how much you spent.
Wow, what a petty question, though to answer it, it's hard to gauge, considering I don't own 1 of the thousands of business in the Tampa Bay area that has & will gain a lot directly from our city hosting big events like a Super Bowl, though I've probably sold vehicles to those that used the extra money stemming from the nice financial shot-in-the-arm in which I've pocketed...
DeleteThough Scott, you might want to live in a progressive area while living like a digressive, but I take comfort in knowing that I pay the same amount in taxes, and get to enjoy some of what it goes to! Unlike a small digressive town like Brooksville or Bartow that I might only notice a few fixed potholes, or extra street lights...
Also, I have to say Scott, you make my arguments against your ideology easy...
B. Dufala,
DeleteNot a petty question at all. I just am trying to better understand who benefits from the economic windfall that TB enjoys every 10 years or so.
Newsflash! It's not about me or you, it's about seeing our community progress while enjoying the "benefits" from the things that were built because of the continuous financial shots-in-the-arm that Tampa Bay area "benefits" from. You gotta admit regardless of who makes money, the Tampa Bay area gets nicer & better before every big event! Ever been to downtown Jacksonville, or even the smaller towns, not as nice, and not as much to enjoy (I know Jax hosted a SB, they could use a couple more)...
DeleteBut, back to the point of the posted article, "Sounds like ANOTHER big event in Tampa at the stadium that "wasn't worth building"... lol"!
Super Bowls make a lot of people rich...just not always the cities that host them:
ReplyDeletehttp://dfw.cbslocal.com/2011/01/26/cities-not-seeing-great-economic-boom-from-sbxlv/
? http://www.neworleanssaints.com/news-and-events/article-1/UNO-Study-Calculates-480M-Economic-Impact-for-Super-Bowl-XLVII/cbca86b4-b23c-42c2-8672-dfd075aba590
Delete"Stephen Ross, the team’s billionaire owner, took a personal shot at House Speaker Will Weatherford after an incentives package for the team failed on the final day of the legislative session. It stalled after the Wesley Chapel Republican would not bring it up for a vote."
ReplyDelete--> http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/2013-09-02/story/floridas-pro-sports-teams-lobbying-record-levels#ixzz2dqWS14sB