Vandals trash youth league concession stand, office

SEFFNER, Fla - Cracked trophies.  Burnt carpeting.  Soda thrown on walls and floors.  This is just a small list of the damage vandals did to the concession stand and administrative office belonging to the Brandon Lions Football and Cheerleading League in Seffner.

Hillsborough County Fire Marshal David Watts believes the crime occurred between 10 p.m. Monday and 4 p.m. Tuesday.  Both buildings are located at E.L. Bing Park off Taylor Road.

"My heart just broke," said Clyde Wint, president of the league.

The league operates off of donations and funds brought in by the concession stand.  Nearly half of the kids in the league are there on scholarship thanks to sales, Wint said.

Wint closed up the office Monday night and said both the office and the concession stand were locked up. 

When Eddie Vega, the concession stand manager arrived at work Tuesday, he found the destruction.

"It hurts so bad because we are struggling to make ends meet," said a teary-eyed Vega.  "We were expecting a big night and they took that away from us."

Vega expected food and drinks sales to bring in anywhere from $1,500-$3,000.  Wint explained the money was needed because coaches recently purchased $7,000 worth of new equipment for the kids.

"This is our lives," he said.

Wint, along with other board members, staffers and coaches are not paid.  All have just come together to volunteer their time.

"It is all for the kids...to keep the kids off the street," Vega added.

Investigators told ABC Action News these vandals tried to do more damage but failed.

A propane tank taken from the concession stand was brought up to the administrative office where its valve was opened.  The vandals placed the tank next to a small fire they set on the rug hoping to cause a big explosion, investigators said.

Luckily, the propane tank was empty.

"The perpetrators could have blown themselves up," Watts explained.

Watts did refer to the small carpet fire as arson and took samples he will examine for any accelerators used.

Despite the damage and all the disappointment this caused, parents like Kelly Gonzalez didn't let that get the Lion family down.

"We have to keep supporting no matter what," explained Gonzalez.

Along with two other mothers, Gonzalez put the snacks that were not destroyed in a wagon and made a makeshift concession stand.

Gonzalez was quick to remind anyone who walked by they could get candy bars or bottles of water for just $2.

Anyone with any information about this crime is asked to get in touch with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.