NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue recommended yesterday that
Tampa receive the Super Bowl in 2000 if the team gets a new
stadium (NFL). Tagliabue's "bombshell" announcement came as the
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce Stadium Task Force launched a
campaign to sell seat deposits at the new stadium. Hillsborough
County Commissioner Phyllis Busansky said the "promise of a Super
Bowl" and its estimated $300-400M impact on area businesses
"could be enough to convince" the FL Restaurant Association to
drop its opposition to a restaurant tax, which has been suggested
as a funding source for a new facility (Joe Henderson, TAMPA
TRIBUNE, 10/18). A 30-minute TV special called "Home Field
Advantage" was seen on seven Tampa stations last evening,
outlining the seat deposit plan, which begins today. The program
is expected to raise about $35M toward construction of a $168M
facility, with Bucs Owner Malcolm Glazer providing half and local
officials the rest (Pat Yaskinas, TAMPA TRIBUNE, 10/18). An
editorial in the TAMPA TRIBUNE credits Glazer's proposed
contribution: "It's urgent for us to do what we can as
individuals to make the charter seat deposit campaign a
resounding success" (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 10/17). Today's ST.
PETERSBURG TIMES comes with a form for fans to send in their seat
deposit pledge (ST. PETE TIMES, 10/18).
