Comments on: Top NFL Honcho Envisions Smaller Stadiums

By: gbuc

gbuc — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 18:41:48 +0000

Yo, I’m a twenty year buc season ticket holder. I could give two sh*ts about the dolphins. My point was comparing the two cities and how Miami gets things done compared to us. We need to keep the pressure on Tampa’s politicians and the Glazers to get the best in-house product we can have. Unlike some fans, I enjoy the tradition and true feel of the being at the games. There is no better perspective of each individual player’s and the team’s performance than being at the game. Forgive me if I missed your recent articles on the subject, however I know that it is at the forefront now and it might be a good idea to rally our fans.

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 17:36:09 +0000

gbuc:

First, this is a Bucs site, not a Phins site. Second, Joe has written about the Miami situation relative to the Bucs before.

By: gbuc

gbuc — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:49:10 +0000

joe,
why no stories on what’s happening with the stadium in Miami? I think it should be pointed out the massive renovations that are planned there. The Miami politicians are already going to the state for funding. I believe the NFL is also involved in helping them with the funding. This would be a perfect time for Tampa’s pols. to jump on board with them to get a piece of that pie to take RJS to the next level. They’re talking about erecting a massive awning for the sun, along with giant replay boards at each of the 4 corners of the stadium, among other improvements. Our plans for RJS are weak compared to theirs. Miami’s political pull has always put ours to shame. I see a huge fight coming between Sports Authority and the Glazers. And for what? We need to think progressive and propel our stadium back to an elite status.

By: MadMax

MadMax — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 07:12:58 +0000

“Haven’t the Bucs already done that?”

I know, but Im talking about all the teams. I live in SC and its not like complaining about Buc game prices can do anything for me anyways. But I have friends who drive to see the Falcons and Panthers (2hrs or less drive from here), and thats what they complain about and they’ve been to less games the past 3 years.
We all know how prices get jacked up on concessions……and its hard to get a cheap ticket but not want to enjoy some beer and food too, and thats where it can cost more than the ticket. I know just from our semipro baseball and hockey teams here, they get you on the concessions, and its just too much for some people, especially with kids.

So if they would just lower the prices across the board, im not saying give stuff away for $1, but a reasonable price, then maybe more people will start attending.

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 04:44:42 +0000

Miquel:

The rumble that we just felt was Chris Thomas rolling in his grave.

A bit of a history lesson for you. The stadium was built from tax funds approved by a majority of voters in a Hillsborough County referendum, which if Joe is correct, also sets aside funds for a variety of public services, cops, schools, etc.

Repeat that last sentence a couple of times so it can sink in. The upgrade to the CITS was/is part of that same voter-approved referendum.

Joe loved Chris Thomas like few others did but his ax he had to grind with the Glazers was out of hand and frankly, unethical since he was supposed to be an objective reporter during his real job.

If the meager bump in taxes he suffered was so offensive — and trust Joe, Thomas wasn’t exactly making $10 an hour — he could have easily moved to Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, Hernando, Citrus, Manatee or Sarasota counties to escape paying for the stadium. Instead, he built a new house after the stadium was erected. Guess he wasn’t so against the stadium tax afterall, but Joe assumes it made for some interesting radio. :/

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 04:38:48 +0000

rj:

The NFL is killing itself. enough already.

The NFL has never been more healthy financially. Joe will quote a Forbes article from last year.

Financial terms have not been released, but the three networks are expected to pay roughly $3 billion a year on average annually compared to the current $1.93 billion they collectively pay. ESPN re-upped its deal with the NFL earlier this year at an annual rate of $1.9 billion. Factor in other media deals with the NFL Network, DirectTV ($1 billion annually), Westwood One radio and others, and NFL teams will divvy up nearly $7 billion in media money starting in 2014. That is more than $200 million per team every year before one ticket, beer or jersey is sold.

So you can see that whatever few thousand the Bucs are short of a sellout each home game is a drop in the bucket to the gross income of the NFL.

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 04:35:43 +0000

Max:

Lower the prices of the seats, including season tickets, and stop price gouging on beer and concessions. Starting there will go a long way.

Haven't the Bucs already done that?

By: USN_bit

USN_bit — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 03:55:49 +0000

NOOOOO! THIS IS WHY THERE ARE MASS SHOOTINGS IN THIS WORLD! THE BIGWIGS OVERSTEP THERE BOUNDERIES AND WE CAN’T DO A THING! i want these stadiums to stay. screw intimacy. I DONT WANNA STAND FOR 4 HOURS. this is premium high class B.S. ugh. i friggin hate that Roger “goodbye NFL tradition” Goodell is letting this just happen. FIRE HIS NEUTRAL ASS AND GET A COMMISH THAT HAS BALLLLLLLLLLS! AND WILL STAND FOR TRADITION! ANYONE ELSE WITH ME ON THIS!?

By: blackmagic00

blackmagic00 — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:47:36 +0000

Brees to Vincent jackson touchdown. Wow

By: XRAY Vision

XRAY Vision — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 23:25:20 +0000

Just dropped my season tickets to free up the money for family vacations.
I still plan to attend a few games a year, but the price gouging is out of
control & offends me. Other past longtime ticket holders have told me
the same (regardless of financial status).
Not just empty stadiums telling a story – who here walked a country mile
only to pass the 3/4 empty Jr College parking lot on Sundays ($25) ?
The price of the food/beer?
Good luck with this approach! The young club-hoppers will likely jump
aboard, but many will then move on to the newest fad, individually or
collectively. The trend of core season ticket holders and family’s bailing
will continue if pricing gets higher – Period..!
The NFL & owners better start up another slush fund to pay off drinking
& driving lawsuits. Big wallet, BIG target, & where will the sympathy
come from? Consider the public’s perspective on stadium politics,
player salaries, price gouging, & a stated goal of getting the young beer
drinkers off their couches and out of their neighborhood sports bars.

By: Yar

Yar — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 23:12:13 +0000

Sure why not, 70k at $100 a ticket ($7mil), or 40k at $200 a ticket ($8mil) and for those that can’t afford $200 they can stand in a bar for $40 ($800k) or borrow the money from their parents. Don’t you just love big business.

By: rj

rj — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 22:29:34 +0000

The only thing that’s going to bring people back to the game is lowering the price of the game experience. It shuoldn’t cost a weeks pay to take your family to a game. If they make smaller stadiums there going to raise ticket prices even more. The NFL is killing itself. enough already.