http://www.tbo.com/news/politics/deal-would-give-rayjay-100m-in-renovations-20151202/?utm_content=buffer59167&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=buffer By Mike Salinero | Tribune Staff Mike Salinero on Google+ Published: December 2, 2015 | Updated: December 2, 2015 at 05:38 AMThe Tampa Sports Authority and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have agreed in principle to a deal that will pave the way for $100 million in upgrades at Raymond James Stadium and increase the share of money taxpayers get from non-Buc events.The improvements would give Raymond James Stadium the third-largest video board square footage in the National Football League, enhancing the stadium’s chances of bringing the Super Bowl here in 2019 or 2020. A new sound system and improvements to concession and concourse areas also are part of the package.The agreement would have to be approved by the sports authority board, the Tampa City Council and the Hillsborough County Commission. The sports authority, a public agency, owns and operates Raymond James Stadium.The key elements of the agreement call for the Bucs to pay a minimum of $58 million toward the improvements, while Hillsborough County would contribute $29 million. But the team would likely spend more than $70 million, said county Commissioner Ken Hagan, a member of the sports authority board.The county’s contribution would come from 4 cents of the 5-cent county tourist tax, which must be spent on sports facilities or promoting tourism. The county is obligated to pay part of the cost of any stadium upgrades under the original lease agreement with the Bucs.Hagan, who was involved in the negotiations, said the Bucs also agreed to increase the percentage of money the sports authority receives for non-Buc events at the stadium, such as Monster Jams, concerts and University of South Florida football games.The Bucs currently get the first $2 million annually from those events; the remaining profits are split 50-50 between the team and the sports authority.Going forward, the Bucs have agreed to increase the sports authority’s share to 67 percent until revenues reach $3.5 million. If profits exceed that amount, the split reverts to 50-50.The new sharing agreement would net taxpayers an additional $200,000 to $250,000 a year, Hagan said.“It was imperative to me that any renovations agreement dramatically improves the fan experience and saves the taxpayers money,” Hagan said. “Negotiations have been very challenging, but I am pleased we are protecting the taxpayers and are going to create state-of-the-art amenities.’’Brian Ford, the Buccaneers’ chief operating officer, declined to comment on the negotiations, which were expected to wind up today.“We’ve been actively talking,” Ford said Tuesday night. “We’re still working through it.”The expected $100 million investment will result in two new end zone video boards of 9,600 square feet each — a large difference from the current 2,200-square-foot boards. New 2,200-square foot video boards would be placed in the four corners of the stadium.The total of 28,000 square feet of video would put Raymond James near the top of the NFL stadium hierarchy. The video boards and a new “state-of-the-art” sound system are to be ready for the College Football Championship game that will be played in Tampa on Jan. 9, 2017.Hagan said the Buccaneers will pay for maintenance of the new equipment.Just a month ago, negotiations between the team and the sports authority seemed at an impasse. The two sides had been close to a deal that called for spending $52 million on larger, high-definition video scoreboards and an improved sound system. Each side would pitch in $26 million.Then the Buccaneers put new terms on the table: The team would double its investment to $52 million but wanted to play another home game away from Raymond James Stadium. The team already has the right to play one of its eight home games away from their home stadium, a perk the Bucs took advantage of in 2009 and 2011, playing at London’s Wembley Stadium.Hagan and sports authority executives rejected the offer, saying it would rob Bucs fans of a home game and could help the team establish a following in another city. That could give the team leverage when it comes time to renegotiate its stadium lease, which runs until 2028.“I was adamant about not allowing another regular season game to be moved,” Hagan said. “That was off the table.”As the talks wore on, the sports authority agreed to allow the Bucs to move both preseason games elsewhere in 2016 and 2017. The games would conflict with construction of the new video boards and other improvements, Hagan said. From 2018 on, the team can play one preseason and one regular season game away.Those were small concessions, Hagan said, because attendance at preseason games is much lower than during the regular season. Moving the games will also save $175,000 a game in operating costs that the sports authority is obligated to pay.“Giving up a preseason game, from talking to advertisers and season ticket holders, that’s not an issue,” Hagan said. “The big deal was not allowing them to move a regular season game.”In a final concession, the Buccaneers agreed to forgive $11.6 million the team said the county owed for construction of the Bucs’ new practice center near the stadium.County commissioners spent the money during the recession to help balance the budget, Hagan said.[email protected](813) 259-8303Twitter: @mikesaltbo
