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TSA, Bucs reach agreement on improvements to Raymond James

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The first of three stages in the proposed improvement of Raymond James Stadium has passed.

The Tampa Sports Authority has approved a deal with the Bucs as part of an $89 million agreement designed to enhance the in-stadium experience. Some $29 million of the deal would be paid for by the taxpayers.

The only vote in opposition to the deal was by Andrew Scaglione.

The Hillsborough County Commission will vote on the deal next Wednesday and the Tampa City Council next Thursday.

Scaglione said the TSA erred in giving the Bucs $3 million more than required to renovate the stadium. He wondered why a franchise worth about $1.5 billion according to Forbes needed more money.

Part of the deal is that the Bucs get to move two preseason games next year and one a year afterward, a deal the TSA felt was preferable to the regular season game the Bucs had requested.

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Gary Shelton is one of the most recognized and honored sportswriters in the history of the state. He has won the APSE's national columnist of the year twice and finished in the top 10 eight times. He was named the Florida Sportswriter of the Year six times. Gary joined SaintPetersBlog in the spring, helping to bring a sports presence to the website. Over his time in sports writing, Gary has covered 29 Super Bowls, 10 Olympics, Final Fours, Masters, Wimbledons and college national championships. He was there when the Bucs won a Super Bowl, when the Lightning won a Stanley Cup and when the Rays went to a World Series. He has seen Florida, FSU and Miami all win national championships, and he covered Bear Bryant, Bobby Bowden and Don Shula along the way. He and his wife Janet have four children: Eric, Kevin, K.C. and Tori. To contact, visit [email protected].

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