Do the Glazers have any common sense?

by Buc Wild on Oct 20, 2009 10:18 AM EDT Comment 7 comments

I have to admit, I'm a bit baffled this morning. I've done my best to defend the Glazers and the Bucs when it's realistic to do so. The comments about the Glazers being cheap or being focused on Manchester United grow louder with each loss. I know there is some correlation between Man U and the Bucs, but until I inspect the company's financial statements, it's hard to say one is truly affecting the other. Afterall, other owners have otuside business ventures, as do players. I know the perception of the Man U deal is that the interest owed on the debt is monstrous for the next 2-3 years, and then levels off. I can't dispute that.

Here's where this all ties in with the Bucs. I joined the One Buc Club with the Bucs last year. It's free, you get updates via e-mail on the team (although I will say, breaking news is posted here before that email gets sent out usually), and it is another way to stay connected. Well this morning, I'm pretty sure the Bucs crossed the line.

Let me also get some other background info out there. I'm a soccer fan. I played for 18 years, and played in college some. I follow the Premier leagues but I more closely follow the World stage (i.e. World Cup, UEFA, etc). So I have nothing against soccer. But this morning, I got an e-mail from the One Buc Club asking for support in bringing the Wolrd Cup to Tampa in the future. Now, I can see where it might be semi-related because I'm sure they would be playing at Raymond James Stadium, but i still think this is a bad PR move by the Bucs.

You already have people cursing soccer and Man U's name due to the Glazers ownership and apparent blockade of spending on the Bucs due to the debt incurred in the purchase. Why on Earth would you send out this e-mail? Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel like it kind of spits in the face of the fans. I'm not saying the perception of the Man U deal hurting the Bucs is true, but let's pretend it is for the moment. "Hey guys, we know we screwed you in free agency this year and refuse to spend money, but since we have that out in the open, why don't you help us bring soccer to Tampa?"

I think the World Cup in Tampa, or any big sporting event will only help the city. I don't think it will do much to effect the Bucs in a positive or negative manner, I just think in a time when the city is at a pessimistic high, the boo birds are louder than ever, and everyone's head, including the janitor is being called for, that sending out this type of e-mail will do more to hurt public perception of Tampa and the Bucs, than it will do to help Tampa. The Bucs get nothing but negative press out of this (people like me writing columns), the city of Tampa would get the positive press.

C'mon Glazer guys, let's think this stuff through. I'd like to think you're bright people, but this latest stunt won't do anything to help your image.

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I think they have a porrous marketing department

Lets go back to this summer and when the team — before it had played a game, mind you — didn’t look particularly inspiring to the fans… What did the team do?

It sent out, illegally, txt spam to cell phone users in the the Tampa Bay area (and no doubt elsewhere) trying to encourage people to buy tickets and season tickets. The implementation was so poor and the idea so cheap that it baffled me how a professional entity like the Bucs coudl go in that direction with trying to woo fans?

The team is not doing much to promote itself, it’s not doing much to market the RJS experience as-so-much shove it down people’s throats… I find the World Cup deal another example fo this. The Glazers have a vested interest in the world of soccer and really out to stay the hell out of things and let the rest of Tampa Bay’s World Cup group do the work regarding the region’s bid.

Whomever decided to send that email out — as well as whoever thought up the unsolicited ticket txt message — should be fired… or at least demoted to a job such as scraping bubblegum off seat bottoms at RJS.

To strive, to seek, to find, and to forever keep it Raw. Raw Charge.

by John Fontana on Oct 20, 2009 10:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think it’s more likely they were asked by the group trying to get the WC here to put out the mailing. Of course they will support it because they get $$$ out of it with parking, concessions and so on. And anybody who knows football know that if the NFL found out they were using NFL money on other adventures, there would be some serious punishments. The Glazers are sneaky, and rogue-like, but I’ve never hear of them doing anything illegal as an NFL ownership group. As far as not spending any money, I really believe they’re committed to rebuilding this team and are tired of the quick fixes. There’s also the players union contract coming up which I think has a roll in the lack of spending, they’re not gonna go crazy if there’s no cap, there might not even be a season. Their club seat exemption is over now as well, they now have to share that money 60/40 with the other teams now. One more and I’m done, but did anybody notice how empty the stadium was on Sunday? People aren’t spending money, it effects them too.

by bucnut1 on Oct 20, 2009 11:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No lockout next year

There is no cap, there is also no floor. The Bucs are still a valued franchise. No one accused them of doing anything illegal but they only have “X” amount of dollars. If some of that goes to Man U, standard logic would tell you that means less is available for the Bucs.

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by Buc Wild on Oct 20, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If any Bucs money goes towards ManU, it’s against NFL rules, and I’ve read so many times the accusations of the Glazers doing that. I really doubt they would ever take that risk. And I would love to host a WC game here, it would be great for the area.

by bucnut1 on Oct 20, 2009 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If anyone can get production out of Gaines Adams, it will be Rod Marinelli. Good Luck Gaines and thank you Bucs for restoring my confidence that there is accountability.

by Niko Houllis on Oct 20, 2009 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs