There’s been no progress on a new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark this fall, but MLB Commissioner Bud Selig says he plans to address the issue after the World Series.
Earlier this year it appeared St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster was softening his stance that the Rays completely play out their lease at Tropicana Field. But talks between the two sides stalled, and it looks like Foster has been too wrapped up in his reelection to focus on a Rays ballpark solution. Then again, the Rays ownership may have decided they have a better chance by laying low and seeing how the election turns out before making a move. If Foster is going down — as the polls indicate — then the Rays may have a better shot at working out a ballpark solution if Rick Kriseman is elected mayor.
St. Petersburg and team officials had been talking and were believed to be close to a deal that would allow the Rays to consider potential sites in Tampa. But those talks stalled in August, and Selig said then he would consider appointing an MLB representative to get involved in the discussions.
Selig said Saturday that he had not yet decided on appointing an emissary and hadn’t yet plotted a course of action.
“I don’t know — Stu and I are going to talk some more,” he said. “Let me get through the World Series.”
We’re guessing that chat will be short and sweet: let’s do nothing until after the fall elections.
RELATED STORIES: Rays: We won’t buy out Trop lease on St. Pete’s terms; St. Pete mayor: Talks with Rays going poorly; Poll: little support for public funding of new Rays ballpark; Feeding frenzy begins on siting potential Rays ballpark; Selig: Time to resolve Tama Bay Rays ballpark situation; Negotiations begin: Tampa asks for at least $200M from Rays for new ballpark; Hillsborough County ready to talk new Rays ballpark; Sternberg: No plan to move Rays; Downtown tax for new Rays ballpark looking iffy; Sternberg: MLB doesn’t believe in Tampa Bay; Rays ballpark plan at Carillon Business Park withdrawn by developer; Study: New Rays ballpark shouldn’t require new taxes; Poll: St. Pete voters opposed to public financing of new ballpark; Foster: We won’t allow Rays to talk new ballpark in Tampa; Experts: St. Petersburg should worry about making Rays deal now, not damages down the road; St. Pete ratchets up legal threats over new Rays ballpark; Is a business park the best place for a Rays ballpark?; More land assembled for new Rays ballpark?; Rays propose ballpark talks after Trop situation worked out; Abundance of riches: Another new ballpark pitched for Rays; LeClair unveils intriguing ballpark plan for Rays; Rays: We’ll listen to St. Pete ballpark pitch; Letter: Rays can talk new ballpark — but only for St. Pete location; Ballpark pitch will be heard by St. Pete — but officials will not respond; Parking huge issue for proposed Rays ballpark site; Pinellas County, private investor want to pitch Rays, St. Pete on ballpark plan; Rays: We’ll talk new ballpark with Hillsborough County; Hillsborough County: Nothing legally bars us from talking new ballpark with Rays; Newly available land parcel could bring downtown Tampa ballpark — maybe; Immigration funds eyed for new Rays ballpark; Oakland contemplates foreign investments to help fund A’s ballpark; Hillsborough County ready to make run at new Rays ballpark; Rays: Prove to us Tampa Bay can support baseball; Could this be the year for a new Rays ballpark?; Regional ballpark authority pitched for Tampa Bay; Mayor, council differ on approach to Rays ballpark issue; Tampa: We could have $100M for new Rays ballpark
—-
Share your news with the baseball community. Send it to us at editors@augustpublications.com.
Are you a subscriber to the weekly Ballpark Digest newsletter? You can sign up for a free subscription at the Newsletter Signup Page.
Join Ballpark Digest on Facebook and on Twitter!
Follow Ballpark Digest on Google + and add us to your circles!