A letter from Bucs GM Rich McKay to Hillsborough County
Administrator Dan Kleman said the Bucs will not continue to
negotiate with Tampa and Hillsborough county officials unless
they commit "the necessary funds" now to build a new stadium,
according to the TAMPA TRIBUNE. County commissioners voted
Wednesday to ask the FL Legislature for permission to set a 5%
rental car tax or a 1% restaurant tax, but Bucs officials say
this is a waste of time because city and county negotiators have
told them the Legislature probably won't approve the taxes.
Stadium planners will now move to try and convince Bucs officials
a tax can pass the Legislature (Joe Henderson, TAMPA TRIBUNE,
1/11). Charean Williams writes from Orlando that McKay's letter
could "open the door" for Osceola County, as Bucs officials have
visited the area twice recently and said the Orlando area would
be their top choice if they move. Osceola County Commission
Chair Charles Owen is expected to meet soon with the Merrill
Lynch execs who devised bond packages to renovate the Jaguars'
stadium in Jacksonville (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/11). Orlando Sports
Commission Chair Charles Owen: "If we get our funding ideas
lined up and the Bucs approve them, we could have a deal done in
60 days" (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 1/11).
