Bucs Might Want Shift of Tax Money

[Ricky the Bull]

OK,  here's the deal.  If the Bucs want to pay for their training facility to keep it 'private', great.   Having the Bucs then say that they want the money to go elsewhere... well, I have a problem with that.  Seems like if it's not used for the training facility, then the money needs to go where the Taxpayers say it should go.

If it is to go to the stadium, then this TAXPAYER wants to see the money used to make the USF presence in the stadium visible and permanent, not simply as a means of making the Glazers more money or to keep their players more comfy in their locker rooms (which we can't use).

Let's see an iconic "U" next to the Bucs flag on the exterior of the stadium (heck, I'll even be OK with the Bucs flag being on the left.  Let's see some murals of USF players on the walls.  Let's see some green and gold paint.  Let's make it a community stadium.

I know, 'community stadium' is a misnomer and the Bucs have us by the short hairs, but it's time that the Bucs pay their own way or the Bulls, as a major tenant, should start getting consideration.

Bucs Might Want Shift Of Tax Money

By MARK HOLAN The Tampa Tribune

Published: Aug 22, 2006

TAMPA - The $12 million in community investment taxes voters approved for a Tampa Bay Buccaneers training facility may be shifted to the team's stadium.

Bucs officials said Monday that they are paying the full tab for the training facility on Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard, keeping the property private.

As for shifting the $12 million, "it's premature to discuss these things publicly," Bucs Chief Operating Officer Eric Land said.

County Commissioner Jim Norman said the idea of shifting the Community Investment Tax money to Raymond James Stadium, which was built with $168 million in taxes, was raised earlier this year by Bucs Executive Vice President Joel Glazer.

"His thinking was it would be good for the community to invest another $12 million into the stadium," Norman said. "They would like to reinforce keeping it a first-class facility."

At the time, team and county officials were discussing ways to use a separate tourist tax for improvements at the football stadium, Legends Field and St. Pete Times Forum. The county approved the deal last month, setting aside $28 million for improvements at Raymond James Stadium.

Land would not say what stadium upgrades the team would like to see with the combined $40 million in tax dollars, other than improving locker rooms. Land also would not say how much the training facility cost. The team once estimated the cost around $35 million.

Whether the $12 million can be shifted to the stadium is unclear.

"If that's something the Bucs want to do, we need to go back to the attorneys for an interpretation," Norman said. "The legal team needs to go to work on how to solve that contract issue."

Reporter Mark Holan can be reached at mholan@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGB4CVHN5RE.html

[fishinBULL]

that 12million should be shifted to the USF athletic dept. as a starter for a future OCS fund...

[Joe]

The thing is if you read the tax increase it's worded so it's all out of the hands of the people now. Those who voted got to say yea or nay to the tax, but the spending instructions were put in the hands of others. I seriously doubt they are going to take USF's intentions into account.

As long as the Bucs have a stranglehold on that stadium and we're not pulling crowds that have some impact on the stadium, they won't give two flips whether we play there or have any presence in the stadium.  At a more realistic 30,000 fans a game we're more of a nuisance to their Sunday prep at times than a benefit to the stadium, at least thats how some of the higher ups view it.

The Bucs unfortunatley pull in 5-6 times the money from parking, tickets, consessions and USF just cannot compete with it.

[smazza]

how would a tax like that pass

you guys are subsidising billionaires

the money is gone fellas

[TyBull]

How about a large Bull opposite the Pirate ship (south end zone). The statue of the Bull behind The Jim in the 10 year DVD was way cool....

[Ricky the Bull]

How about a large Bull opposite the Pirate ship (south end zone). The statue of the Bull behind The Jim in the 10 year DVD was way cool....

I think the Bull should snort smoke out of its nostrils like the cannon fires when we score.

[outrunner]

[Joe]

Please, no, the Bull would be worse than the pirate ship. We're not a minor league baseball team we don't need Disney attractions blowing smoke to make out games interesting.

[Ricky the Bull]

Please, no, the Bull would be worse than the pirate ship. We're not a minor league baseball team we don't need Disney attractions blowing smoke to make out games interesting.

Of course we don't 'need' it for the games to be interesting.  The Bucs don't need the pirate ship.  It sure does add something to the experience, though.

[Joe]

Ya, like a comical attraction. Pirate Ships, Big Bulls, Giant Baseball gloves in the outfield (San Fran), and anything else like that is minor league and needs to stay in the minor leagues.

I'm at the game to watch football not some tacky pirate ship blow or anything else similar.