STUDY SHOWS THAT MLB PUTS NEARLY $200M INTO TAMPA ECONOMY

          A recent report by the Tampa Bay Regional Planning
     Council revealed that nine MLB teams with spring training
     sites in the Tampa Bay area "pump almost" $200M a year into
     the economy, according to Joe Newman of the ST. PETERSBURG
     TIMES.  The report noted that the nine teams "have an
     economic impact of about" $224M in FL.  Each team spends
     about $17M a year "locally" for a total of about $143M. The
     report found that for the three teams in Pinellas County --
     the Phillies, Blue Jays and Devil Rays -- spring training
     "employs nearly" 1,000 people and accounts for $46.6M spent
     each year on lodging, food, transportation and other goods. 
     Meanwhile, the Yankees and their fans spend about $26.3M
     each year in Hillsborough County (ST. PETE TIMES, 11/16).