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New training facility remains a pipe dream

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 30, 2001

MINNEAPOLIS -- One of the richest franchises makes its players practice and its coaches coach in a cramped, dilapidated, 24-year-old facility that is so obsolete it's embarrassing to everyone who works there except, apparently, the team owners.

Even though the funds for a publicly financed training facility for the Bucs were earmarked during a sales tax referendum in 1996, no dirt has been shoveled.

A big announcement was supposed to be made in '98. Then '99. Then after Super Bowl XXXV. Then before the start of this season.

They even have the blueprints, if you care to see them.

They're bound to dust them off any day now; just as soon as they're done counting their season ticket money.

Depending on what day it is, the reasons for the delay are cost overruns, seeking a corporate sponsor or new property tax implications.

The franchise that has a season ticket waiting list of 21,000 must rearrange furniture in an offensive meeting room that doubles as the site for news conferences.

Players must lift weights outside in the 90-degree heat because the facility is not large enough to house half of the equipment. Some coaches offices are literally the size of broom closets.

There is no cafeteria, so players fill their plates in a buffet line in the hallway and eat at their lockers.

It's not much better for the front office, marketing or ticket personnel.

A maze of trailers, tethered together like a flotilla, make up 2 Buc (which should be known as Tim-Buc-2).

"Certainly, nothing has changed around this place since I've been here," said punter Mark Royals, the team's union rep who played for the Bucs in 1990 before rejoining the team two years ago.

"It's exactly the same as it was when I was here the first time. We keep hearing about them building a new facility, but it's something that's really out of the players' control."

Publicly, not a single player or coach has blasted the owners for their foot-dragging.

Instead, players and coaches have gone about their jobs, making no excuses while turning the Bucs' fortunes around on the field and at the ticket window.

Things don't get much better for players on game day.

Sure, they have a nice, 65,000-seat stadium. But because the owners didn't want to invest in a large home locker room, players also are cramped there.

Imagine, then, what went through the minds of Bucs employees while they watched International Plaza be built within a punt, pass or kick of their ragtag practice home.

The Glazers have done so much good for the organization that it might seem like nit-picking to mention the deplorable condition of One Buc Place.

But good grief.

What a travesty it would be if the Bucs win a Super Bowl and have no decent place to display the Lombardi Trophy.

Personally, I think it would look nice in Tony Dungy's house.

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