Tampa Bay Considering Four New Stadiums

It's crazy to think various interests are considering four new stadiums in Tampa Bay right now...and of course, all of them would likely require significant public contributions.  The Rays and Rowdies have been thoroughly covered in this blog.

But we also now have USF seemingly testing the waters a little more on an on-campus football stadium, as the Tampa Bay Times reports AAC commissioner Mike Aresco has spoken with USF President Judy Genshaft about the idea.  No surprise, he likes it.

Then, there's the Gary Sheffield-sponsored spring training idea in Pasco County, where Sheff suggested a deal to possibly relocate Braves spring training was "imminent."  Well, the Tampa Tribune reports the deal lost its financing backing prior to Friday's county financing deadline.  So what did the county do?  Extend the deadline, of course.  I'm still skeptical spending tens of millions of dollars - regardless of where they come from - on a massive baseball complex makes sense in Pasco County.  But the new deadline is now Tuesday.

So, possibly four new stadiums in the next decade in Tampa Bay...and that doesn't include the inevitable "ask" from the Glazers for Raymond James Stadium upgrades!