Taxes To Pay For Most Of Raymond James Stadium Upgrades

Raymond James Stadium will receive nearly $19 million in upgrades, with tourists visiting Hillsborough County picking up most of the bill, Mike Salinero of The Tampa Tribune reports. "It's to the point where we have to make some major investments back into the building," said Eric Hart, executive director of the Tampa Sports Authority. "Over the next two years you'll be starting to see a major overhaul of everything." The TSA manages the 13-year-old stadium. Adding high-definition replays to the scoreboard, which carries a $7.7 million price tag, is part of the improvements that will be made to the stadium by 2013.

Source: Mac's Football Blog

 

Tampa bay area will support this. We earn a crap ton from tourists.

 

It's those Phucking Phillies Phans that will be paying for that "crap hole" of a sinking ship!

 

now if we can just help them out on the baseball stadium situation.

 

Public Money Will Be Used For Upkeep Of Buccaneers Luxury Suites

According to the St. Petersburg Times, nearly half of the $7.8 million in public money that will be used for renovations at Raymond James Stadium next year will be committed to the luxury suites. If nothing else, it’s a public relations hit for a franchise that had trouble last season putting fans in the regular-guy seats, the report breaks down how the money, the majority of which is supplied via taxes on tourists, will be spent, ice makers will cost $225,940, carpet is running $597,200, furnishings at a price tag of $2.3 million account for the majority of the expenses. All money generated from the suites goes directly to the Bucs. In the agreement with the Tampa Sports Authority, the suites must be kept up, still, some county commissioners have questions about the use of funds. A total of more than $18.5 million will be spent on the stadium over the next two years, the priciest item is a new high definition scoreboard at a cost of $7.7 million. Obviously, the work needs to be done to keep suites up to par, it’s part of the agreement even if it doesn’t sound good that tax bucks are funding the work.

Source: National Football Post

 

What the article fails to point out is the Super Bowl selection committee visited the stadium and "suggested" the improvements to the club and luxury levels. Again the a story can be slanted in anyway the writer wants it to sound. The tourist tax money is already allocated for ALL venues. Legends Field (Yankees Spring Training Home) is getting over $2M, the Plant City Stadium that the Reds left vacant is getting over $800,000 over the next two years.

Besides this tax revenue can only be to upgrade/repair sports venues, the convention center, tourism advertisement, or to pay debt.