PC Stadium fate uncertain as XFL files bankruptcy
The XFL created many questions when it unexpectedly shut itself down last week, and its future only became more uncertain when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Here’s one of those questions: what happens with Plant City Stadium now?
Since it has never been a public-use stadium, it’s a situation in limbo at the moment. The Tampa Bay Vipers had a two-year contract with the City of Plant City and Alpha Entertainment, Inc. fully funded stadium and facility renovations, but the team has essentially been dissolved with all personnel laid off. If the XFL is sold to a new entity and the Vipers are brought back, City Manager Bill McDaniel said, negotiations would most likely have to restart to strike a new deal if the team expresses interest in returning to Plant City.
The stadium now has overhauled locker rooms, equipment, offices and classrooms and could feasibly host another professional sports team in a similar capacity if needed, as the Vipers have proven. But McDaniel said it will be a while before anyone knows what the future will hold for the former home of the Vipers, the International Softball Federation and the Cincinnati Reds.
“To be honest, I’m not even thinking about that yet,” McDaniel said. “One, we’re all called up to deal with COVID right now. Second, this is still very much pending, but all of Alpha and the XFL’s equipment is still in there. We have weeks in front of us dealing with (the bankruptcy) and when we get there, when see what happens, that’s when we’ll start evaluating what will be done with that building.”