Jon Gruden Recalls ‘Tearing the Mall Down’ to Build the Buccaneers’ Training Facility

Jon Gruden’s successful run with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their head coach led him into the team’s Ring of Honor as the franchise’s winningest coach. With a 57-55 record over seven seasons from 2002 to 2008, he became the youngest coach ever to win a Super Bowl, capturing the title with the Bucs in 2002 at just 39 years old.

Another memorable moment from his tenure came when Gruden helped facilitate the Bucs’ move to a new practice facility in 2008. The coach literally operated a JCB to help demolish what had been the Tampa Bay mall.

Recently, Gruden reflected on that demolition and how the construction of the One Buc Place happened. “That used to be the Tampa Bay mall,” he said, before elaborating on the situation at the time.

“I tore down the mall so we could build the Buccaneer facility. We had to tear this structure down so that we could build the facility that the Bucs are currently in,” Gruden added on The Ronde Barber Show.

At the time, the Buccaneers’ practice situation was dreadful. “We used to be in a trailer park, remember that?” Gruden asked Barber, a former corner for Tampa Bay. 

Barber then recalled that the facility was also next to the Tampa Bay International Airport. So, they were inhaling jet fumes all day while running live plays in practice. It wasn’t particularly healthy for the players. Gruden recalled the scene.

“All day,” Gruden confirmed. “And, we got lightning before our first game against New Orleans, so we had to practice in that parking lot. Remember that?” They also shared some funny memories that the two wrote off as “the good ol’ days.”

Nowadays, the NFL has become so profitable that practically every team has prioritized a state-of-the-art facility. The Bucs’ building was planned and made future-proof. From the very beginning, it has been considered one of the best of the best.

The One Buc Palace was a $32 million project and spans over 137,000 square feet. There’s an iconic 55-foot-tall football entryway that seamlessly blends in with the overall structure. It’s a sight that Gruden and his team got to walk through countless times while going to work.

However, with the project now 17 years old, the practice facility could probably use an update. In an anonymous survey in 2023, given to players asking them to rank facilities, the Bucs came in at 26th. Not exactly a great score. 

Regardless, it’s a beautiful building. And Gruden was at ground zero during its inception. That JCB moment is a great image to look back on, for it perfectly captures the intensity the legendary coach carried in his career. Gruden wants a new practice facility? He’ll demolish a building and build one himself.