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oundtable:
Tampa Bay Sports Sports plays an integral role in any community and the Tampa Bay area is rich in professional teams that not only provide entertainment but also an opportunity to build relationships.
Josh Bullock
President Tampa Bay Vipers
What brought the Tampa Bay Vipers to Tampa Bay and what are your expectations for the team? The process of bringing this team to Tampa Bay has been exciting, intense and rewarding. Thankfully, we have great leadership, both in the region and throughout the league, starting with the chairman of the XFL who gave us the time and resources to build this league the right way. We anticipate playing a fast, fun style of professional football at Raymond James Stadium for Tampa Bay fans. I believe Tampa Bay is perfectly suited for this XFL team because of the great sports fans we have throughout our community. There are many entertainment options available and our community will continue to gravitate to products that are enjoyable, engaging and offered at an affordable price. That is exactly what the XFL is going to provide. What impact does sports have on the region? Sports can have a major impact in a lot of ways. Not only does a sporting event provide entertainment value for families, but it gives them an opportunity to relationship build and spend time together. Economically, we are proud of the jobs that the XFL has created, not only in the professional football space with our players and coaches, but also with the support staffs. We are really excited about the impact we will have on the local hospitality sector, where our team will house approximately 100 players and coaches for four months and accumulate approximately 4,000 room nights by the time our season is over. All of this plays a strong role in supporting the Tampa Bay region’s economy. 154 | Invest: Tampa Bay 2020 | TOURISM, ARTS & CULTURE
