St. Pete Mayor: Deal in Place for Tampa Bay Rays to Look for New Stadium Location

((ht: tampabay.com))

The Tampa Bay Rays have been chomping at the bit for years to get out of Tropicana Field. Attendance has always lagged at the indoor stadium, a stadium that while fitted for baseball, hardly feels like baseball.

But previous ownership signed a long-term deal with the City of St. Petersburg, some 20 miles or so from Tampa, to play in the Trop until 2027 with a crazy-expensive buyout option.

Until now.

The team, which has always struggled financially, due in part to the location and general crappiness of the Trop (we've been there), has wanted to look at locations in Tampa for years. Tampa has a much bigger population base than St. Petersburg and is much easier to get to.

But the City has held up the search....

St. Pete Mayor Rick Kreisman has a deal in hand with the team that would allow them to search for new stadium locations in the Tampa/St. Pete area and allow them to leave Tropicana Field.

Yes, there'd be compensation; $4 million a year for the 1st 3 years, $3 million the next 3 and $2 million the final three years left on the lease. And it calls for the team, should they land in Tampa, to essentially allow promotional items for St. Petersburg to be placed in the new facility.

But the deal would work for both parties though it has yet to be approved by the St. Pete City Council. Which appears likely.

Read more from TampaBay.com RIGHT HERE

The deal also specifies the Rays have until the end of 2017 to come up with a site or the agreement is nullified. We don't expect that to happen.

Tampa has more than enough population and business wise to support the baseball team. And it also makes the Rays easier to access from Orlando and points east. Very few of those people were willing to drive across I-4 and then navigate Tampa traffic to drive another half hour to St. Pete. A Tampa location would change that.

It gives the Rays a fighting chance. Long one of the lowest budgeted teams in Major League Baseball, they've managed to scrape together good teams. But anytime they had a player become a star, the Rays traded him before having to pay the price.

If they can get a new park, with new revenue, look for that to change.

WTSP-TV in Tampa/St. Pete gives us a TV explanation:

College Football Stadium Site Moved Because Of Eagles

((HT: WSB-TV))

Berry College is in the process of adding a new football stadium to their facilities to go with their burgeoning football program in NCAA Division III.

Here's a piece the HQ did on the Reinhardt and Berry College programs in Year One


They started thinking about building their own barn on campus, had Valhalla all picked out, but got visitors- bald eagles.
They put up a webcam to show everyone the eagles as they net- and it ended up with over 17-million views
You can still check it out hyah

The school is thinking discretion and moving across the street is the better idea...

Here's Fred Blankenship with some web cam video of the eagles...
"We didn't see the eagles coming," commented Berry President Steve Briggs. "But they certainly knew what they were looking for in a college. It would be difficult to find a more fitting home for a pair of nesting bald eagles than Berry's amazing campus. The eagles epitomize this place— both its uncommon beauty and its educational opportunity." So, the Eagles win and the Vikings get more room for their new barn.

OSG High: $60M Stadium Closed For Repairs

((HT: WFAA-TV))

The HQ knows all about the idea that high school football stadia are cathedrals in their home towns for fans, students, and parents. But the Allen (TX) ISD constructed a $60-million stadium for the Allen High School football team...

After only 18 months, it is now closed down because of a bunch of cracked concrete...
And that's not a good thing...

For Allen ISD or, especially, the contractor Pogue Construction...

Here's the response from the Allen ISD
Whoops...

Braves To The Burbs: Now, We Think We Know The Numbers...Until They Change...

The new Braves project is supposed to cost $672-million, the Braves would foot $372-million of that...

So, it's a 55-45 split...

The lease is set for 30 years with an option for 5 more- that would take things through the 2051 season
From Cobb County's perspective, $14 million would be for transit improvements, $10 million would come from the Cumberland Community Improvement District and $276 million from the Cobb-Marietta Coliseum and Exhibition Hall Authority.

It's the Braves barn to use as they see fit, and they can let folks use it if they give permission...

Here's the breakdown of the agreement between Cobb County and the Braves...

There will be taxes that will be added or restructured to make this go down right (if you're Cobb) in hotels, rental cars (which is interesting since there is no transportation hub to do it, unless you call a "mall" a transportation hub), and business property rates.

But this also may introduce some kind of rail system to alleviate traffic that is already there and will only increase once the project undergoes construction...something the county has steadfastly voted against in the past...

Reps from the Braves met with Georgia Governor Nathan Deal and Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed on the move...
Deal is just calling himself an "interested observer..." and will not earmark or allocate any kind of dollars toward the new stadium...

Here's his recap of the meeting...
((HT: WSB-TV))

Orlando Approves New Soccer Stadium, MLS Around The Corner...

((HT: Orlando Sentinel))

It's almost official...

With the city approval of constructing a new soccer-only facility last night, the Orlando Lions will become a part of the new wave of expansion into Major League Soccer...

Here's the announcement after the 5-2 vote...


But Mike Bianchi's column caught up with an economist (and county commissioner) in Fred Brummer that calls the numbers for economic impact and bunch of bunk...

"The technical term for their (Orlando City's) economic study is 'twaddle.'" said Brummer on our Open Mike radio show Wednesday morning. "It reminds me of the old joke about CPAs and it goes like this: A client calls a CPA and says, 'You're a math expert, how much is 2 plus 2?' And the CPA says to the client, 'What did you have in mind?'

"The fact is when someone is paying for the economic study, you get the economic study numbers that you want," added Brummer one of the two dissenting votes in the County Commission's 5-2 tally Tuesday to approve the soccer stadium. "... If you hire me, I assure you I can come up with the numbers you want for your economic report, but in unfunded academic (studies), the results are that these stadiums do not increase economic development or per capita income."

MLS has all but guaranteed that Orlando would be a part of the league's growth if the stadium was built. They would be a part of the new Miami, Orlando, (insert third team here) gambit for the new round of expansion dollars to infuse the league with more capital and average play...

The HQ is looking forward to seeing another boondoggle in action...
Here's the report from MyFoxOrlando on $84-million to the building...
FOX 35 News Orlando

ICYMI: Falcons Going for Futuristic Looking Stadium

Give the Atlanta Falcons credit for aiming high.

The team got city approval for a deal to build a new stadium just a few weeks ago and on Tuesday, they named the architect. That architect, 360 Architecture, based in Kansas City, came to the table with some shall we say "Interesting" ideas of what the new "Retractable Roof" stadium should look like.

This is one idea on the right. It looks a little like the coliseum in the movie Logan's Run.



Concept two is to the left here, it's called "The Solarium". And basically, for lack of a better way to put it, it looks like a big greenhouse.

There's no guarantee the Falcons will choose either of these looks, they were both just concepts brought to the table by 360 to get the discussion started.

Either way, the project is budgeted at somewhere near $1 billion, with $700 million allocated for the stadium. 360 Architecture designed Met Life Stadium in New Jersey for the Giants/Jets, and the Falcons, according to team President Rich McKay, have stressed they want something "Unique" and a "New" fan experience.

Which is all well and good....if you'll be able to afford a ticket. Unlike many, we understand the Falcons wanting a new yard. And the fact that they are footing 70% of the cost is a good step. They want to increase their revenues, in which they are in the bottom 20's in the league. We get that. But ticket prices are going up and they've already gone on record saying they'll use Personal Seat Licenses for many tickets.

Great, if you can afford it. But try telling a family of four that want to come to one game, they'll have to fork over $65 per ticket, another $20 to park and assorted costs for concessions and you've got one of the many reasons the NFL is having trouble getting people off their couches in front of their HDTV's and in the stadium.


WXIA-TV gives a look at what's going on:

Will A New Stadium Keep The Bills In Buffalo...???

((HT: WIVB-TV))

The Buffalo Bills already play a home game in Toronto. And, for some, that's a home game (or two) too many home games north of the border and away from Orchard Park and Rich Stadium.

So, with Bills owner Ralph Wilson getting closer to the day when he won't be around and his family either divided or disinterested in keeping the Bills after that event, what's the solution to keep them around...???

How about a 72,000-seat lakefront stadium as part of a renewal project...???

It's part of a proposed US$1.4-billion idea that could be part of that whole project...

Lou Raguse has the early details...

Group pitches stadium idea to council

The Bills reaction is a "Thanks, but no thanks" idea around right now... But the city is still willing to listen to ideas- especially when the matter involves, maybe 30-percent public funding... Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz issued a statement: “We are pleased that there is so much interest in keeping the Buffalo Bills in our community. However, we were not contacted by the proponents of this latest plan to discuss the matter. We look forward to discussion and debate when our negotiations are complete and the proposal to keep the Bills in our community is presented to the public for consideration and to the Erie County Legislature for its approval. In regards to the proposal released today, as we have noted before, there are several problems with the proposed Outer Harbor site, such as a lack of space needed for parking, distance from the downtown core, and insufficient road infrastructure (particularly in bad weather) to accommodate the thousands of fans heading to the site. Just this morning, we witnessed the Skyway being closed due to an accident, which resulted in traffic delays of 1-2 hours from the Skyway back to Hamburg; the Skyway currently serves as the only access point to this site. As we have stated in the past, we will continue to work on negotiating a lease with the Buffalo Bills at their current home in Orchard Park, which the Bills have indicated they do not want to leave. While these ongoing negotiations have been productive, we will not be discussing their content in the media.”

Your NFL Team wants to price you out of their stadium

This is apparently an outdated Ga.Dome

((ht: ajc.com))

You've heard us rant multiple times about pro sports stadium issues. You've heard us decry the blatant blackmail efforts of the NFL in Minnesota. We've railed on about AEG trying to steal a team in Los Angeles. And we've spoken about the fraud the Atlanta Falcons are about to perpetrate on their fans too.

And you know what? We're right. And now we've found a story and some numbers that prove it.

We've heard from NFL fans who say "They have to build a new stadium to keep the team. It brings tourists to the area and business to the community".

Uh...no it doesn't.

Especially the way the trend in prices is going.

According to an excellent story in Sunday's Atlanta Journal-Constitution written by Tim Tucker, the last 3-teams to build stadiums have increased their ticket prices by an average of nearly 26-percent. And in a couple of cases, have added PSL's where there were none before.

Read the very detailed article from AJC.com RIGHT HERE

Now, we'll just say we aren't "Anti-Stadium" period. But we are "anti-stadium" in places that already have one. And in the case of the Falcons, a rather nice one that just doesn't have enough "Club Seats".

The reason: Simple. The owner doesn't pay for it. Or if he "does", he just passes the cost down to you. The city doesn't pay for it. They just take it from "Tourist Taxes". Even though on "paper" their may be no cost to the taxpayers of a city or state, its the longtime season ticket holders or family that wants to catch a game that pays for it.

We were stunned to see in the story that the average cost for a family of 4 to attend an NFL game is over $421.

Yeah...$421.

Able to fork that over a couple times a season?

Sure, we know this sounds like we are railing on the NFL, the most popular sports league of all-time. And maybe in a sense, we are. But that's because the NFL and its teams don't really care what you think. Or what we think.

All they care about are luxury/club seat holders. If they could get away with charging you a PSL and Club Seat price for every seat in their "Luxury Stadium", they would. They won't tell you that publicly, but it sure is the impression they give.

Think about it.

If you have 2 kids, a wife and make $30,000 a year, you are just trying to keep your heads above water. Now imagine one of your kids is an Atlanta Falcons fan. Today, you aren't paying the league avg., you are only paying roughly $390 to take your family to the game.

That's roughly 3 weeks of groceries. That's more than a car payment.

And that price is likely to go up.

The Falcons are going to get their new stadium. Believe us, its already been signed off on. And guess who is going to pay for it.

Yeah, team owner Arthur Blank will "Front" a good chunk of the nearly $1 billion. But you do realize that savvy businessmen make investments, don't you? They don't spend their money unless they know they are going to make it back.

And Arthur, much like Zygi Wilf, Jerry Jones and others will make it back. In spades.

And the cost will be passed down to you.

Your $80 dollar mid-level, end zone seat, $100. And that is if you want to pay oh $750 to $1000 for the right to buy it.

Really, we are kind of gloating here a bit because we found something to validate our opinion. And to be totally honest, most people these days can watch a game in the comfort of their own home. They don't get subjected to the massive crowds, the non-stop stream of TV Timeouts and the ability to do what they want when they want to.

We will get off our soapbox now. Mostly because we know it isn't going to change your behavior, your spending habits or really your thoughts about the NFL. We just want to make you think about it a little more. And realize that as much as you'd like it to be representative of you and your city, it's really all about the owner and the league and how much money they can make off of people who actually have it...and occasionally those who don't.

A perennial favorite. And what this is all about: