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Bay Area's PGA Event In Jeopardy Beyond '08

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By MICK ELLIOTT, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 27, 2007

PALM HARBOR - With PODS reportedly in the process of being sold, Tampa Bay's PGA Tour event that carries the Clearwater-based portable storage unit company's name once again could be facing a title-sponsor search.

Less than one year after signing a six-year deal to host the PODS Championship, the company is considering exercising a two-year escape clause, thus putting the tournament's future in question beyond next year's March 6-9 event.

Originally, Sept. 3 was the deadline for full commitment to the six-year deal, but PODS requested an extension from the PGA Tour and now has until Dec. 31 to decide to pick up the four-year extension.

"Yes, it is true, PODS asked for a date extension," tournament director Gerald Goodman said. "They are looking at all possibilities.

"Even if PODS does not keep the tournament past 2008, we think Tampa Bay is still a strong market for the PGA Tour."

The tournament, won last year by Mark Calcavecchia, has a long history that dates to a mixed-team event that began in 1977. It has been plagued by sponsorship issues since becoming a PGA Tour event in 2000.

During its first three years of existence, the tournament did not have a title sponsor and was played as the Tampa Bay Classic. Then, just before Buick was to take over the event, it balked. Chrysler took sponsorship beginning in 2003, but when its contract expired in 2006, the tournament was again shopping for a corporate backer.

It was six weeks before this year's tournament in March that PODS stepped in with a hugely discounted 11th-hour deal.

Now, heading toward its second season as part of the PGA Tour's Florida Swing, the Tampa Bay event appears to be back at almost the same spot it was last year.

"We have a tournament in 2008 and PODS is going to be the sponsor," Goodman said.

After that, however, Goodman knows the drill.

According to reports, PODS has enlisted Morgan Stanley to put the sales agreement together. While new ownership could agree to assume the golf tournament sponsorship, it is considered extremely unlikely.

A small piece of good news is that most PGA Tour events have sponsorship arrangements that coincide with the network television contracts, which run through 2012.

"One of the good things is if that scenario happens, then we'll be one of few tournaments looking for a title sponsor after 2008," Goodman said. "Obviously, we don't want that to happen. We have been extremely happy with PODS and grateful to PODS for helping us bridge the gap and keep our tournament here in the Tampa Bay area."

Reporter Mick Elliott can be reached at (813) 281-2534

or melliott@tampatrib.com.

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