Joined: Feb 21, 2006 Posts: 4196 Location: Sanford, Fl
Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:26 am Post subject: Tampa Bay Bucs Moving Out
According to the Orlando Sentinel, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are relocating their spring practices from Disney Wide World of Sports:
Bucs pulling out of Orlando and their Walt Disney World training camp
Tampa Bay will move 2-a-day workouts to its headquarters
By Chris Harry | Sentinel Staff Writer
March 12, 2009
TAMPA - The radical changes going on with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will include a new training camp venue.
No more Disney World, Bucs fans.
The new-look Bucs, led by Coach Raheem Morris, will shift training camp to their $36 million team headquarters this summer, according to NFL sources, leaving their luxury accommodations at the Celebration Hotel and facilities Disney's Wide World of Sports for the first time in eight years.
An official announcement could come as early as Friday.
The team's three-year-old headquarters, located about a quarter-mile east of Raymond James Stadium, has plenty of adjacent space, thanks to empty site that once was home to the Tampa Bay Mall. Parking won't be a problem.
But details on how the Bucs will be able move and seat the hundreds of fans that attend training two-a-day camp workouts will be hammered out over the next few months. Team officials also will have to find a nearby hotel to house players.
After years of staging camp at the University of Tampa, the Bucs moved to Disney in 2002 upon the arrival of Coach Jon Gruden, who preferred sequestering his team during preseason preparations.
Gruden, along with General Manager Bruce Allen, was fired in January. Given the down economy, the Glazer family ownership figured to weigh the pros and cons of paying for out-of-town facilities against holding camp at the headquarters that opened in 2006 and stands as one of the finest in the NFL.
Joined: Jun 04, 2008 Posts: 236 Location: Pensacola, FL
Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 5:19 am Post subject:
Oh well, they were just something extra to do at WDW. I will not be making any extra trips to Tampa just to see practice. It was nice to be able to stop by will spending a week at WDW.
I wondered the same thing. I've never been to the WWOS complex before and wonder if this revelation will cause the demise of the facility. _________________ When you're curious, you find lots of interesting things to do.
--Walt Disney
Joined: Feb 21, 2006 Posts: 4196 Location: Sanford, Fl
Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:28 am Post subject:
This is the second franchise they lost, the Tampa Rays relocated their spring training facilities/games away from WWoS also...
I think this has to hurt the revenue for the complex, especially since they are expanding the complex and adding a larger arena... _________________ Up or Down North, South, East, or West An Adventurer's Life is Best!
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Utilidors Audio Broadcasting / Utilidors.com / uabmagic.com are in no way affiliated with, endorsed or promoted by the Walt Disney Company or any of its subsidiaries.
All Music and requestable media Copyright the Walt Disney Company or their respective artists / Composers.