Ball is in the Glazers' court after Jaguars' new stadium plans revealed
Big games in Raymond James Stadium still appear very close in the rearview mirror. After all, it's been just under a year and a half since Tom Brady and the Bucs fell to eventual the Super Bowl Champion Los Angeles Rams in the NFC divisional round. It's been just under two and a half years […]
Big games in Raymond James Stadium still appear very close in the rearview mirror. After all, it's been just under a year and a half since Tom Brady and the Bucs fell to eventual the Super Bowl Champion Los Angeles Rams in the NFC divisional round. It's been just under two and a half years since the Bucs became the first team to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in its home stadium.
And, for those who like good sight lines and a relatively close proximity to the field (at least in the 100 and 200 levels), then Ray Jay still does the trick. However, there's no denying that the Bucs will need a new stadium to keep up with the growing demand for bigger, better, fancier. And sooner than later.
And that need is becoming more pertinent after Wednesday's TIAA Bank Field renovations that were revealed by the Jaguars.
The Jaguars have been linked to London for years, given they've played a game there each year since 2013 (with the exception of the 2020 COVID-affected season) and will be playing two games there this fall. However, if this plan goes through, the Jaguars will be anchored to north Florida for decades to come.
The NFL is sniffing around to find someone to send overseas. Maybe a few someones. That's one of the league's worst-kept secrets. As such, certain teams that don't have a shiny new spaceship of a stadium (or, realistically, something built or massively renovated this century) will become fodder for relocation talks.
But it's not just unfounded talk. Stadiums/facilities are what makes or breaks a team staying in town or hitting the bricks. Oakland is Exhibit A, both for football and very likely baseball. Although Ray Jay is still an adequate facility, it's almost 25 years old (significantly old by today's standards) and the Bucs eventually won't be immune from that kind of talk and/or consideration.
There's still work to be done in Jacksonville. The project – with an accompanying entertainment district – is expected to cost between $1.75 billion and $2.068 billion. The plan calls for the city to pay half of the cost, which is a high number and might be untenable for local leaders.
But even so, they have a legitimate design and fiscal plan proposed. Something to potentially negotiate, at minimum. That's not nothing. And the Dolphins' home, Hard Rock Stadium, went through a massive renovation in 2015-2016, making it a state-of-the-art facility.
That would leave Raymond James Stadium and the Buccaneers as the only team in Florida without a modern stadium or a concrete plan to construct one. The question isn't necessarily one of a new or different location. It could be as simple as a major renovation or upgrade to the existing structure, which is what Jacksonville is doing. But something will have to eventually be done if the facility is expected to meet the level of what's becoming the league norm.
Ray Jay is a great place to watch a game. However, the NFL is about bigger, better stadiums that look like they could fly off at any moment's notice. Fair or not, the clock will continue to tick – and fans will begin to wonder – when it will be their turn to see a beautiful new plan for a stadium that will keep the Buccaneers tied to Tampa Bay for many, many more years to come?
That question can only be answered by the Glazer family.
Featured image via Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
