Helping people understand the business part of Tampa-area #SportBiz stuff since 2009. Spotted in the Forbes #SportsMoney50 list a few times.
Tampa Bay, Florida
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No idea why you’d trust me.
I’m just a guy who:
- worked in pro sports
- covered the biz of sports
- exposed corporate fraud
- busted bad politicians
- has no financial interest in a new Rays stadium
- will never get free luxury box tickets to a new stadium.
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As we’ve always known, corporate subsidies create winners and losers.
Hillsborough College kids are learning who the losers are.
“It's kind of strange that we got to be in a trailer for classes,” said one student who said they weren't notified about the Rays' plans to displace Hillsborough College for a $2B stadium. “I'd say that's definitely not really ideal for college students.” fieldofschemes.com/2026/09/2…
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Shadow of Stadium retweeted
2026 REGULAR SEASON ATTENDANCE REPORT
-1.41 million fans (2nd-most since 2014)
-17,468 fans per game (2nd-most since 2014)
-24 crowds of 20K+
-7 crowds of 24K+
Really solid year at Tropicana Field with big crowds expected for the playoffs #RaysUp
Tampa Bay Rays
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“Stadiums fail to generate economic growth because they mostly reallocate existing spending from elsewhere in the community, rather than stimulate new commerce.
“Any localized development/intangible benefits tend to be limited – nowhere near enough to justify the subsidies.”
The NFL is in the midst of a stadium building boom. I explain why in @ConversationUS. theconversation.com/taxpayer…
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Shadow of Stadium retweeted
"If you build it, they will come" ...Well, they built it, but no one came. Your reminder: sports venues do not spur surrounding development.
NEW | Orioles owner David Rubenstein has engaged sports real estate firm Seregh and begun “the multiyear effort to try to redevelop the immediate area around Camden Yards." thebanner.com/economy/rubens…
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The unfortunate thing is absolutely nobody will learn any lessons from this, continuing to believe local communities profit from large sports events.
Shocker: Atlanta hotel occupancy dipped this summer during World Cup, new data show ajc.com/business/2026/09/new…
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Time for an apology.
For the last 17yrs, this account has shared context, perspective, & quality info about Fla sports biz.
Nearly every prediction came true.
Nearly every explanation for why all the Rays stadium “done deals” wouldn’t work came true.
But I got one wrong.
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For nearly two decades, I had to be Debbie Downer & explain why Tampa didn’t have the cash for a new stadium.
But recently, I should have reevaluated.
What I SHOULD’VE said: “Tampa didn’t have the balls to spend 2B vital dollars on an MLB stadium after promising they wouldn’t.”
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Shadow of Stadium retweeted
My generation will never forget 9/11.
I did this story so younger viewers won't forget either.
lx.com/politics/the-man-who-…
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My favorite kind of feedback here, when ppl wants to dismiss info they don’t like:
“You’re just doing this for clicks,” shouted at experts whose primary source of $$ has nothing to do w/clicks.
It’s usually paired w/content from an influencer whose main source of $$ is clicks.
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Remember when JP & Romano & Rays fans insisted:
- the team NEEDED a new ballpark or they’d leave by 2024
- the team NEEDED a downtown ballpark because that’s the “MLB Model”
- the team NEEDED to draw 30k/night in TPA to succeed
…and I told you none of those things were true😉
Romano column: Downtown #Tampa & Downtown #StPete are ONLY options for new #Rays home (& St Pete has the advantage) tampabay.com/news/localgover…
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Shadow of Stadium retweeted
The guy getting a $1 billion subsidy says a new stadium will boost payroll. Yet, all existing research says it won't. But you don't even need to read an academic paper. Did The Battery allow the Braves to keep Freeman, Swanson, and Fried; or sign any other big-name free agents?
#Rays lead owner Patrick Zalupski on the significant impact new Tampa ballpark will have on team revenue/payroll, and details on the “world class” mixed use development they are “going to absolutely deliver on.” tampabay.com/sports/rays/202…
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Add up all the Rays’ lobbying, campaign contributions, and politician gifts…and it totals a few million dollars.
Now THAT❗️is return on investment.
Thank you, Governor! Your incredible leadership and support have been instrumental in helping us reach this point and ensuring the Rays remain right here in the great state of Florida. This is a huge win for Tampa Bay, our state, and baseball fans throughout the region! #RaysUp
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I know, Rays fans - you’re excited.
But this should piss you off:
The Rays secured a contract provision to charge fans hidden junk fees on tix. Except it’s not even capped, as it was in MOU.
So they’ll charge a fee—on top of the advertised price—that pads their bottom line.
7) The county did not strip out to the “ticket surcharge“ clause.
The Rays detail their plan to hide an additional mandated surcharge on top of the base price of tickets, that they will keep.
They plan to charge $120 million worth of these “junk fees.”
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Shadow of Stadium retweeted
Wild to see the amount of gloating & online trolling the last 24hrs from Rays bros here.
It’s just never a good idea to gloat when you’re still on the 2yd line. Ask St Pete!
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A lame duck governor.
A lame duck mayor.
Councilmembers running for mayor.
John Morgan doing them a solid.
The Rays owe a lot of thanks today.
But none more to the deinvestment in local journalism.
Selling bad deals & passing off bad information is just too easy these days.
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