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With renovations on the way at the University of Tampa, the team is checking its options.
By ROGER MILLS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 17, 2002
TAMPA -- For the past 14 years of Bucs training camp, nearly 100 players, coaches and members of the team's support staff annually have invaded the University of Tampa, sleeping in the dorms, eating in cafeterias and training at Pepin/Rood Stadium.
That streak appears to be over.
The Bucs' lease with the school expired at the end of the last training camp and with the university preparing for renovations, the team said it has begun to look elsewhere.
Among the sites believed to be in the picture are the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex, the IMG Academies in Bradenton and two in North Tampa.
"The Bucs received a letter dated November 2001, in which the university indicated that it would be undergoing renovations and expansions to their locker room, dorm and parking facilities," said Reggie Roberts, the team's director of communications. "From that standpoint, it appeared the renovation process would make it logistically impossible for us to conduct training camp at the University of Tampa."
Athletic director Larry Marfise, who described the relationship between the Bucs and the university as a "friendly one," said he believes the team won't be at Pepin/Rood this year.
"It looks that way and I'm hearing that they are looking elsewhere but we don't have anything official," Marfise said. "We are looking into building a new dorm on the north side of the stadium and we have notified the Bucs about the construction. That may have caused them to look for a new location."
Marfise said the construction may not begin until summer and the dust and debris could be a problem.
In the past three years, Marfise said, the Bucs have signed one-year deals with the university for the use of its facilities and added that the "very positive relationship" has been mutually beneficial.
"The economical benefits have been small but obviously having them here has brought some notoriety to our campus and to what we have here," Marfise said. "Having a professional athletic team on campus for three weeks helps us showcase the campus and the growth and change we have had here."
Marfise said he had not received complaints from the team about the facilities and the services provided, except for concerns about the seating in the stadium.
"The only thing that Bucs management has said to me is that it's too bad we didn't have more seats at Pepin/Rood," Marfise said. "Those are the only negatives I have heard. You think you would hear something about the food."
Marfise said the team traditionally signs the lease agreement in mid-spring and said there is a slim chance something can be worked out.
"There is still a possibility," Marfise said.
Considering the large-scale nature of training camp, the Bucs will have to find a site that can handle the volume of personnel.
Disney's complex, opened in March 1997, spans about 200 acres and includes five multisports fields. There is limited locker room space, primarily held in a indoor gymnasium facility.
Although known as the spring training site for baseball's Atlanta Braves, the complex has hosted football. The week of practices leading to the annual Gridiron Classic college all-star game are held at the complex. In 1997 and 1998, quarterback Jeff Blake and members of the Bengals conducted offseason minicamps at Disney. The Braves use a separate part of the complex.
Located on the other side of the Sunshine Skyway bridge, IMG's 190-acre complex already has three fields and there are plans for a new four-field complex in spring. The multisports academy has multiple residence facilities and includes a 30-square foot artificial turf indoor training facility.
Officials from Disney and IMG would not comment.