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Ray-Jay Is Bullish On Profit

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 12, 2007

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For the Tampa Sports Authority, earning $2 million a year from non-Tampa Bay Buccaneers events is the equivalent of a touchdown.

Under an agreement with the team's owners, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lay claim to the first $2 million of all non-team events held at Raymond James Stadium. After that, the sports authority gets half the profits.

Since opening the stadium in 1998, the taxpayer-backed authority has crossed the $2 million threshold only once. That was last year, on the back of country superstar Kenny Chesney, who headlined a daylong concert that earned more than $351,000.

The TSA doubted the feat could be accomplished again this year - until Bulls fever began. Fans came to USF games in droves, far exceeding projections.

And the stadium expects strong turnout at three more marquee events between now and January: the Outback Bowl and a Monster truck show, and the final USF home game this Saturday.

By the time the current event year ends in January, the authority expects to break last year's earnings of $2.03 million for non-Bucs events.

Here's what a difference a year makes:

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