Lightning Owner JEFF VINIK has been deemed the best owner of a Tampa area pro sports team by the TAMPA BAY TIMES' John Romano, who writes it is "impossible to argue" with Vinik's results since he bought the team in '10. Vinik has "become a valuable community asset, he spends money on the team, and he doesn’t meddle in the team’s affairs on the ice." That is "pretty much the definition of a perfect owner." Romano: "You could make a strong argument that Vinik is currently the best owner in all of professional sports." Vinik is followed on the list by Rays Principal Owner STU STERNBERG (No. 2), late former Lightning Owner BILL DAVIDSON (No. 3) and the Buccaneers' GLAZER family (No. 4) (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 8/29).
BEST PRO SPORTS TEAM OWNERS IN TAMPA HISTORY |
RANK |
OWNER |
TEAM |
TENURE |
1) |
Jeff Vinik |
Lightning |
2010-present |
2) |
Stu Sternberg |
Rays |
2005-present |
3) |
Bill Davidson |
Lightning |
1999-2008 |
4) |
Glazer family |
Buccaneers |
1995-present |
5) |
Vince Naimoli |
Devil Rays |
1995-2005 |
6) |
Art Williams |
Lightning |
1998-1999 |
7) |
Hugh Culverhouse |
Buccaneers |
1974-1995 |
8) |
Tom McCloskey |
Buccaneers |
1974 |
9) |
Kokusai Green |
Lightning |
1991-1998 |
10) |
Oren Koules & Len Barrie |
Lightning |
2008-2010 |
