Raymond James Stadium comes under microscope

Tampa Sports Authority (TSA), operator of Raymond James Stadium, has commissioned a report on the venue’s maintenance costs over the next two decades, as stakeholders consider the long-term future of the home of NFL franchise the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Populous, the stadium’s original architects, is leading TSA’s assessment, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal, with a report due to be released next month. Populous is being asked to build on an earlier 2024 report that estimated Raymond James Stadium maintenance and repairs to cost $137m (£110.2m/€130.8m) between 2028 and 2032.

The Journal notes the $137m estimate included in April’s report was based on rough comparisons in relation to other NFL venues and did not include costs of upgrades that could significantly alter Raymond James Stadium to keep it in-line with current league standards.

Raymond James Stadium opened in 1998, with the Buccaneers’ lease due to expire in 2028. The Journal notes that the team has been quiet on plans for the stadium’s future and rejected an offer from TSA to partner on its assessment of the venue in favour of pursuing its own inspection.

The last major infrastructure project at Raymond James Stadium came as the Buccaneers expanded capacity to cater to what it claims was “unprecedented demand” for 2022 season passes.

The Buccaneers introduced an additional seating area named The Krewe’s Nest, located in the south end zone at Raymond James Stadium. The additional 3,600 seats increased the stadium’s capacity to nearly 70,000 for one of the most anticipated seasons in Buccaneers history.

This came as legendary quarterback Tom Brady played his final NFL season, with his retirement seeing the Krewe’s Nest removed for the 2023 campaign.