Bucs Owner Malcolm Glazer and his family pledged yesterday
to come up with half the cost of a new stadium for the team,
according to the ST. PETERSBURG TIMES. Officials estimate that
over the next 30 years, the commitment could be worth more than
$200M. Tampa Stadium Authority Chair Steve Anderson: "They [the
Glazers] are going to spend 50 cents for every dollar of
construction costs. ... That's unheard of" (Jeff Testerman, ST.
PETE TIMES, 9/28).
NEW STYLE PSL'S? The Glazers have asked that Bucs fans
"support the team" by purchasing season tickets and participating
in a "Charter Seat Deposit Program" that requires one-time
payments of between $190 and $2,450 for games beginning in '98.
With the plan, fans will pay a seat deposit equal to the cost of
one year's season ticket. The money will be refunded to
ticketholders at the rate of 5% per year for nine years, with the
remainder reimbursed in year ten. If a ticketholder chooses not
to renew at any time during the 10 years, the remaining deposit
"is forfeited" (Jeff Testerman, ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 9/28).
Members of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce's Stadium Task
Force set a target of 40,000 regular ticket pledges from $190 to
$480; and 15,000 club deposits costing $950 to $2,450 (Joe
Henderson, TAMPA TRIBUNE, 9/28).
