Buccanners, Greedy Owners and Blacked Out Fans
Arrgghh, avast me hearties, the Buccaneers are once again robbing, plundering and pillaging Tampa Bay and many of the area’s citizens continue aiding them in their wanton greed for the prized booty taken in tax dollars. As a long time resident of the Tampa Bay area I was a long time supporter of the team and held season tickets for many years when the team was more commonly referred to as the “Yuccaneers” where if you left two tickets under your car’s windshield wipers, you were more than likely to find six or more when you came back after the game. But no more, as I will not give into this form of corporate piracy through the buying of tickets, merchandise or support for the team in anyway because the Buccaneers and their greedy owners, by continuing the home game blackouts, are much like a petulant child taking their ball home with them so no one else can play.
According to an on-line article written by Scott Meyers on sportsfans.org, “In 1995 when the Glazer family purchased the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for $192 million ($298 million in 2012 dollars), their family net worth was about $300 million ($465 million in 2012 dollars). In October, 2012, with the Bucs now valued at slightly over $1 billion, the Glazer family net worth is about $3.6 billion, as reported by Forbes recently. It is clear that the Glazer family is thriving financially, and in no small part because of the Bucs’ financial success.
In 1995 the median household income in Hillsborough County was $32,650 ($50,607 in 2012 dollars). In October 2012, the median household income is now $45,560 (see here – this figure was computed using 2011 number multiplied by 1.021 – inflation rate for year-to-date in 2012). Note that real median household income has dropped about 10% from 1995 to 2012. It is clear that the Tampa Bay area is not faring well with the weak economy, particularly since 2008.
The Hillsborough County citizens have paid for the full care and feeding of Raymond James Stadium – initial cost of $168 million ($240 million in 2012 dollars) – from its inception in 1998 and will continue to do so until 2026. This translates to about $15 million per year in direct subsidies to the Glazer family.
Also, consider that the Glazer family receives $2.3 million per year from Raymond James for stadium naming rights, and last fiscal year received $2.85 million for non-Bucs events held at Raymond James Stadium. This means that after paying their annual $3.5 million rent to Tampa Sports Authority, they are left with an additional positive cash flow of $1.65 million.”
Given that 14 of the last 16 games have been blacked out and over 4000 fans have contacted the FCC to complain about this unethical practice, one would think the Glazers and the other greedy NFL owners would see the error in their ways? As comedian John Belushi used to say though, “But noooooo!” because their actions (blackouts) certainly show that they don’t care about the fans that pay the taxes that subsidize them and make them even wealthier. As fans then, perhaps we should all be asking ourselves, why we should care about the Buccaneers and the greedy owners at the helm of their ship of --- making us all look like fools?
David Conkle
8:49 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
I sent a copy of this Blog Post to the attention of Community Relations on the Bucanneer's website today. I will keep readers informed of any responses that are received from the organization in this comment forum. Thanks again for reading my posts. -David Conkle-
Jeffrey Rosenfield
9:15 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Way to go David! Thanks for the insightful post!
Harborite
9:22 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Unfortunately, all owners of professional sports teams around the country act in a similar manner. They want the local taxpayers to buy them their stadiums and subsidize their teams. They believe in socializing their debt, but in privatizing their profits. For them, all of the financial risks belong to the public, but all of the profits belong to them. They are so spoiled that they will threaten to leave town whenever they don't get their way. I also used to be a sports fan, but now I no longer even watch sports on TV. I refuse to pay their exorbitant prices for tickets, food, drinks, merchandise, or parking.
Jeffrey Rosenfield
9:27 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Well said Joe.
David Conkle
9:40 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
I'm a big fan of the Barclays English Premier League and am proud to be a Liverpool supporter. The stadium that they play in holds 42,000 and was recently renovated after over a hundred years of service. The stadium is always packed to the rafters and hearing them sing in unison "You'll never walk alone" is a beautiful show of support and common purpose. Of course, when they beat the Glazer owned Manchester United on the pitch, it is a special joy to behold.
Jeffrey Rosenfield
9:56 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
That brings something to mind David. I recently heard a couple of sports radio guys complaining that more fans aren't going to the games and filling the stadium, but who told the owners to build the stadiums to seat 60, 70, 80,000 people? They set the capacity and expect the citizens to fill it every week. If the stadiums were smaller, like Liverpool's 42,000 seat 'bandbox", then it would be full, as you mentioned.
David Conkle
10:10 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
True that! I find it interesting that many football stadiums in Europe are over a hundred -years-old too. Think of all the new stadiums the public in this country have helped to build for these whinney wealthy owners over the last thirty years. You talk about corporate welfare! To use a English phrase or slang, we the public should tell all these sports fanchise fatcats to "piss off" the next time they come begging for a new stadium anywhere in the country. Enough is enough is...
Sheryl Hollen
10:21 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
This article goes to show you that people can find the down side to anything. Folks stop drinking milk because of the abuse to cows, people stop buying gas from BP because of the neglect, we stop eating at Chick-Filet because they support Anti-Gay...We could sit back and stop doing everything, if we dig deep enough. Sometimes we need to just let life be what it is. I love the Bucs, have been going to them from the beginning and will continue my season tickets until I don't know when...I love the togetherness and social aspect this brings out in people and am enjoying how fun the team is to watch right now. Take the good times where you can get them...drink some milk, buy gas for the car, go through the drive-through at Chick-filet, get to the Bucs game and enjoy life as it comes at us. (ok-really-forget going to chick-filet-not worth it!!) :)
Jeffrey Rosenfield
5:11 pm on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
I hear what you are saying Sheryl and agree with you to some extent. I used to have Bucs season tickets, in the old Sombrero; iit cost $500 for two seats for the season. Now that won't buy one seat for half a year! I think the point of David's piece is that the owners of these franchises expect the community to give, give, give without themselves giving anything back. Many years they wouldn't even pay market rate for the players on the field, as the team was WELL below the salary cap. I'm as big a sports fan as anyone, but when owners get taxpayer for money to indulge their fantasies of owning a team, then do little to improve the team AND ask people to shell out hard earned money during tough economic times, something's gotta give. And now more than ever, that thing is attendance.
David Conkle
10:37 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Hi Sheryl, I appreciate you loving the Bucs and the enjoyment you get from going to the games. However, that is you personal choice and that you can afford to go to the games is something to be thankful for indeed. Have you thought about all those that cannot afford to go to the games that pay sales taxes to subsidise these wealthy owners and are shut-out from the same enjoyment you receive due to the blackout policy of the NFL owner's committee? Yes, you can find a downside to everything and anything, but unfair benefits received off the backs of the working middle class and poor in our society are always wrong in my book of social justice.