Legislature asked to consider money for sports teams

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – The Florida Legislature is being asked to give tens of millions to help sports teams in Jacksonville and Miami and Daytona International Speedway.

The state’s economic development agency on Monday forwarded three sports applications to state lawmakers to review. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity did not rank the applications but suggested that all three might be worthy of funding.

A group trying to get state money for a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers initially turned in an application, but state officials said the application was not complete.

DEO officials evaluated the rankings but suggested that the projects may generate more return on investment than their formula shows.

Some Republican legislators tried during the 2015 session to set aside $255 million for professional sports teams. But top House Republicans opposed the effort and are expected to do the same this year.