Wednesday, July 22, 2015

The Glazers' Sweetheart Deal Keeps Getting Sweeter

You know that "sweetheart deal" the Bucs got at Raymond James Stadium, where they basically pay for nothing and keep all the profits?  The Times' Rick Stroud reports it's about to get better as the county will spent $25 million more to upgrade the place "as a part of a bid that landed the January 2017 college football title game for Tampa."

More significant upgrades are still on the table, however, as the Bucs and Tampa Sports Authority (TSA) are also dangling the "Super Bowl" carrot over taxpayers, since you know, you can't get those big community "benefits" without paying the NFL's ransom upgrade demands first.  And clearly, Super Bowls demand far more from a facility than the NCAA championship game would.

But don't worry, taxpayers will totally benefit from RayJay's new scoreboards and flat screens and seat cushions since you know, otherwise, Raymond James Stadium wouldn't be able to attract top-notch events to Tampa. 

Oh wait, what's that you say?  Taylor Swift tickets are selling like hotcakes for the October RayJay show?  Even without those upgrades?

Maybe Hillsborough County could get great economic returns from an unrenovated Raymond James Stadium after all!

Oh wait, what's that you say? The first $2 million of profit from the Swift concert - and 50% of everything after that - goes to the Glazers even though a concert has nothing to do with football?

That is one helluva sweetheart deal. 
But don't worry, elected leaders swear it'll never happen again...




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25 comments:

  1. CarlJuly 22, 2015 at 1:54 PM

    Well, Rays fans have:

    - Free transport: (http://tbo.com/life/blogs/free-and-cheap/free-ride-to-rays-games-courtesy-of-psta-20150722/)

    - Free tickets if you live in Clearwater

    - Free tickets if you're a vet

    Any takers?
    And still dead last in attendance

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownJuly 22, 2015 at 4:40 PM

    "Oh wait, what's that you say?" SO Tampa will get profits from the Swift concert, and wouldn't of without a stadium, like you prefer?
    "Oh wait, what's that you say?" Everyone out of town bought gas, food, beer, etc. before they got to Tampa & booked their hotel stays in Pasco & Polk & parked & walked from Polk & Pasco?
    "Oh wait, what's that you say?" Everyone that will attend the NCAA Championship, last 2, and next 2 Super Bowl will ALL spend the same way (Not in Tampa)?
    And upgrades are apart of the deal when you rent a place, duh...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. scott myersJuly 22, 2015 at 5:40 PM

      How come Jeff Vinik didn't get your message?

      Delete
    2. scott myersJuly 22, 2015 at 9:15 PM

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    3. Noah PranskyJuly 23, 2015 at 11:28 AM

      Tampa won't likely get profits from Swift concert; Glazers likely will.

      Yet public had to take on entire risk of paying her millions to come (read the Times article).

      Delete
    4. UnknownJuly 23, 2015 at 3:13 PM

      Don't question me, I was at the last Taylor Swift concert at the Forum... lol

      Delete
  3. UnknownJuly 23, 2015 at 12:51 AM

    Newsflash Scott, the RNC basically paid for his upgrades, which the tax payers & donors paid them to party there in town...
    And would we of got the RNC w/out the $86 mill Tampa spent, among ALL the other events?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Noah PranskyJuly 23, 2015 at 11:29 AM

      RNC did NOT pay for Vinik's renovations. That is incorrect.

      He paid for initial renovations himself; current renovations coming from tax dollars.

      Delete
    2. UnknownJuly 23, 2015 at 3:17 PM

      Com'on Scott, your not that dumb, follow the money...

      Delete
  4. UnknownJuly 23, 2015 at 1:05 AM

    Com-on, Raymond James was built for ONLY $168.5 mill. w/ an estimated $250 million impact for Tampa for just that 1 game in the stadiums 17 years... #NoBrainer

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Noah PranskyJuly 23, 2015 at 11:30 AM

      That $250M impact quote is BS. Unsubstantiated.

      And RayJay cost $168M in up-front bonds, but after financing, it has cost Hillsborough County residents much much more than that.

      So maybe you should just stop throwing around numbers....

      Delete
    2. scott myersJuly 23, 2015 at 11:44 AM

      Not to mention on-going operating and capital improvement expenses, lost property taxes, etc. The $168.5 million ($247 million in 2015 dollars) is just the tip of the iceberg.

      Delete
    3. scott myersJuly 23, 2015 at 11:46 AM

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    4. scott myersJuly 23, 2015 at 11:46 AM

      This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    5. AnonymousJuly 23, 2015 at 2:03 PM

      Dufala, you do not show any proficiency in writing, math, or economics beyond a 12th grade level.

      Delete
  5. scott myersJuly 23, 2015 at 11:45 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  6. scott myersJuly 23, 2015 at 11:46 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownJuly 23, 2015 at 3:21 PM

    SOOO we're saying that the city of Tampa has not make even a dollar profit from Raymond James? I know a lot of smarter people then on here connected to our sports that disagree...
    But, I know, I know, everyone else is wrong...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. scott myersJuly 23, 2015 at 5:01 PM

      One realizes profits when total revenues exceed total expenses. Please show me the math of how Tampa and Hillsborough County are making a profit with RayJay.

      Delete
    2. UnknownJuly 23, 2015 at 7:43 PM

      Well, simply go into ANY restaurant, bar, club, hotel, gas station, gift shop, mall, etc., and ask them how much busier they are when a big event like the Super Bowl is in town?!
      It isn't rocket science...

      Delete
    3. Noah PranskyJuly 24, 2015 at 6:31 AM

      Would you trust the state's report on stadium incentives? Says there is lots of money that comes back to a region from sports.....however, it's still only 1/3 of what those governments spend on stadiums.

      Delete
    4. scott myersJuly 24, 2015 at 8:16 AM

      Super Bowl happens once every 10 years at best - not a viable economic model IMHO. How much money have you personally made off the previous 4 super bowls held in Tampa?

      Delete
  8. UnknownJuly 24, 2015 at 2:37 PM

    Well, without simply doing my own research, I would "trust" the gov. data over the one-sided conservative media's...
    And Raymond James host over around 100 events a year...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Noah PranskyJuly 25, 2015 at 8:30 AM

      Worth pointing out:
      1) You haven't done your own research;
      2) You trust the group of folks with an agenda, over journalists, who act as the public's watchdog;
      3) You haven't read this government stadium report, which suggests subsidizing them is a terrible idea:
      http://shadowofthestadium.blogspot.com/2015/01/shocking-revelation-state-stadium.html

      Delete
  9. UnknownJuly 24, 2015 at 2:46 PM

    and I haven't lived in Tampa during any of the Super Bowls Raymond James hosted, BUT in 2001 my parents bought me a plane tix from PA to my uncles in Tampa where we went to the punt, pass & kick among other things, plus spent hundreds, there...
    Plus, I came down here in 2009 from Ocala, and spent hundreds again in town...
    SSOOO to make my point myself, I've taken a $1000 or so from PA & Ocala in put it into Hillsborough's economy because of those Super Bowls...

    ReplyDelete

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