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The Tampa Sports Authority Board, the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners and the Tamp City Council have approved the stadium renovation agreement between the Tampa Sports Authority and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, clearing the way for much-needed and long-awaited upgrades to Raymond James Stadium.
Bucs COO Brian Ford published the following statement:
"Today marks the culmination of more than a year's worth of work aimed at ensuring that Raymond James Stadium remains one of the finest sports facilities in the country. The agreement that was approved this week is a winning proposition for the entire Tampa Bay region and a shining example of a true public-private partnership that will benefit our community for years to come. These renovations will provide all Buccaneers fans with a completely enhanced in-stadium experience, while also ensuring that Raymond James Stadium remains a viable option to continue hosting major sporting events well into the future. We applaud the public officials at the TSA, Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa for their hard work and devotion to this process and we look forward to beginning the first phase of projects in the coming months."
And TSA president and CEO Eric Hart published a statement as well.
"On behalf of the Tampa Sports Authority, I would like to thank the TSA Board of Directors, the administrations of Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa, along with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for their partnership in finalizing this renovation plan. This extensive renovation will provide our fans an enhanced event experience and uniquely position Tampa to host future world class events such as Super Bowls and the College Football National Championship. The approval of this project is a win for the whole community, as these improvements will maintain Raymond James Stadium's place among the top facilities in the country."
The upgrades will cost at least $87 million, with new videoboards the most visible part of the upgrades.