By Ira Kaufman | Tribune StaffPublished: October 1, 2015 | Updated: October 1, 2015 at 02:13 PMTAMPA — Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan blasted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Thursday for “changing the parameters’’ of a stalled agreement plan for renovations at Raymond James Stadium.A potential $100 million renovation project for the stadium appears close to fruition except for three sticking points, including a request by the Bucs for the right to play two regular-season home games elsewhere every season beginning in 2018.The team’s current agreement with the Tampa Sports Authority (TSA) runs until 2028, and chief operating officer Brian Ford has been trying to negotiate a stadium renovation agreement since January.“I love the Bucs, but it’s night and day negotiating with them as opposed to dealing with the Lightning,’’ said Hagan, also a TSA board member. ”I know what’s going on — they keep changing the parameters. Something will get done, but we’re trying to figure out their real motivation.’’The current lease requires the authority to fund approximately $26 million for capital repairs and updates for the stadium, which opened in 1998 and also serves as the football home for the University of South Florida.The stadium also will host the college football national championship game in January 2017.Under the club’s proposal, which includes significant enhancements to the authority’s original plans, the Bucs would be responsible for making a private investment that could approach $75 million.“We’re contractually obligated to the $26 million in upgrades and we have to get that done in time to host the college football national championship,’’ Hagan said. “We’re on track to proceed with that. I can’t talk enough about the difference between dealing with the Bucs and (Lightning owner) Jeff Vinik. That guy walks on water. He’s the real deal.’’Ford, the team’s COO, declined to comment Thursday. In a statement issued late Wednesday, Ford addressed the negotiations:“During our conversations, many ideas have been discussed in an effort to continue growing our fan base in Tampa and securing large events such as the Super Bowl to our community. We look forward to concluding these discussions and announcing the exciting projects that are on the horizon in the very near future.’’The Bucs agreed to a request to waive the balance of the practice facility fund, foregoing an $11.6 million obligation by the authority, and proposed the profit split threshold for events at the stadium besides Bucs games be reduced from $2 million to $1.5 million.The sports authority has countered by asking for a reduction in the threshold to $1 million.The two sides disagree on a club request to have the option of moving an additional regular-season game to an international site or within the state of Florida, beginning in 2018.Under the current agreement, the Bucs are allowed to play one regular-season home game each year outside of Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay twice played in the NFL International Series, against the New England Patriots in 2009 and the Chicago Bears in 2011 at Wembley Stadium in London.In a response to the team on Sept. 22, the authority said the right to play a second home game each season outside of the Bay area should be contingent upon Tampa being awarded a Super Bowl during the remaining term of the agreement, or a written agreement by Premier League soccer club Manchester United to play a match at the stadium.The Glazer family, which has owned the Bucs since 1995, purchased Manchester United in 2005.“They own Manchester United — why can’t we get a game here?” Hagan said. “There’s a reason why the Glazers are disliked internationally. It’s frustrating. They said the request for a second home game elsewhere was an insurance policy.”The TSA, Hagan said, wanted to tie that request to an attendance threshold, a specific number, and if attendance fell below that number the request for a second away game would be granted.“They said no,” Hagan said. “Winning cures everything, historically, and this market has reflected that. If the Bucs win, people will return in droves.’’[email protected]Twitter: @IKaufmanTBO
